About Surajdeen Afolabi

Surajdeen Afolabi (also known as Surajdeen Bolanle Afolabi and Bola Afolabi) is an accomplished oil and gas professional of over three decades, with experience in the upstream and downstream sectors. He is globally recognized as a distinguished contracting and procurement strategist, an energetic and commercially oriented individual, and also an arrowhead of supply chain practice in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry.

Surajdeen Afolabi’s Work Experience

He retired as the NNPC Group General Manager of Research & Development (R&D), where he worked as the Chief Executive Officer for the NNPC’s science and technology research center. Before then, he was the Group General Manager LNG Investment, responsible for managing Nigeria’s investment in all LNG ventures (NLNG, Brass, OKLNG etc) and has held senior roles in IT and transformation. Dr. Afolabi is a great motivator and excellent reformer. Before NNPC, he spent over two decades with Shell Petroleum Development Company and retired as Senior Adviser – Supply Chain.

His work experience includes:

  • 2018 – Date, Lecturing MBA Strategic Supply Chain Management, Malaysia University of Science & Technology (Lagos & Abuja Multimix Outreaches)
  • 2021 – Date, Bureau of Public Procurement/World Bank SPESSE Project – Senior Procurement Specialist
  • 2017 – NNPC, Group General Manager, Research & Development
  • 2016 – NNPC, Group General Manager, LNG Investment Management Services
  • 2016 – NNPC, Group General Manager, Strategy & Execution – Downstream
  • 2015 – NNPC, Chief Information Officer (Head of Group Information Technology)
  • 2014 – Group General Manager Group Materials/Supply Chain and Program Director, SAP
  • 2007 – General manager/Project Director – SAP – Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation
  • 2005 – Senior principal consultant – NNPC Transformation Shell Netherlands
  • 2004 – Head supply chain business improvement, Shell Nigeria
  • 2002 – Head supply chain – major oil & gas development projects, Shell Nigeria
  • 1999 – Head material operations management, Shell Nigeria
  • 1997 Head of strategy, planning & management information, Shell Nigeria
  • 1995 – Head, contracts & commercial services, Shell Nigeria
  • 1995 – Investment recovery project, Shell Netherlands & Shell Oil Houston USA
  • 1993 – Senior stock analyst, Shell Exploration & Production Company, Aberdeen, UK
  • 1992 – Operations controller, Shell Exploration & Production Company, Aberdeen, UK
  • 1990 – Senior operations superintendent, Shell Nigeria
  • 1988 – Senior stock analyst, Shell Nigeria
  • 1985 – Stock analyst, Shell Nigeria

Moreover, he has served as a board member of a number of companies, including:

  • 2019 – Date, CypherCrescent Ltd – a Nigerian company in frontier hydrocarbon technology development 
  • 2017 – NLNG Ship Management Ltd – a wholly owned subsidiary of Nigeria LNG responsible for manning very large LNG carriers that lifts LNG products across the world
  • 2017 – West Africa Gas Ltd – a joint venture between NNPC and Oceanbed Energy, selling and transportation of natural gas liquids across sub-Sahara Africa
  • 2014 – 2016: Member – Regional Innovation Board, SAP EMEA
  • 2008  –   1st Non-European President, Board and Council member of CIPS, UK
  • 2003 – 2007: Member of Governing Council and Chairman, Appointments Board, CIPS UK
  • 2007 – 2012: Adjunct Professor of Supply Chain University of Fort Hare, E/Cape

Surajdeen Afolabi’s  Education

Dr. Afolabi had his undergraduate studies in Transportation Planning at the Centre for Business Studies, U.K., a Master of Science Degree in Marine Transportation at the State University of New York, Maritime College, USA, and earned his Ph.D. in Regional Development & Environmental Science at the University of Port Harcourt.  He has led many successful change initiatives which translated into multi-million-dollar savings and process improvements.  He joined the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (CIPS), U.K., and was elected to its governing council as pioneer Councilor representing Africa, he later became a Council and Board member and was appointed Vice President in 2008 and Global President in 2009, thus became the first non-European to be appointed President of the world body on supply chain management.

Surajdeen Bolanle Afolabi attended several senior management development programs at famous institutions such as Harvard, Wharton, Columbia, and Cranfield. He contributed immensely to the emergence of the Public Procurement Act.  In 2007, Bola was appointed Adjunct Professor of Strategic Supply Chain by the University of Fort Hare, South Africa where he supervised postgraduate students and promoted academic research.

Afolabi’s education and professional affiliations include:

  • AdvDip (Centre for Business Studies, London) 1979
  • MCIT (Centre for Business Studies, London) – 1980
  • MSc Marine Transportation (State University of New York, Maritime College) – 1982
  • PhD (Regional Development & Environmental Science, UNIPORT, Nigeria – 2002
  • Fellow – The Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply, UK
  • Fellow – Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators – 2018

Surajdeen Afolabi’s Experience as a Teacher

A consultant per excellence, Surajdeen Afolabi currently teaches MBA Strategic Supply Chain at the Malaysian University of Science & Technology, Lagos and Abuja Campuses, in addition to his numerous consultancy roles in oil and gas, strategic supply chain management, commercial leadership, arbitration, business planning and development and a host of other cutting edge consultancy services including investment advisory, forex Ai intelligentsia, and capital market trading.

Surajdeen Afolabi’s Involvement in Professional and Social Development

Afolabi always demonstrates huge capacity through involvement in professional and social development. In 2010, he hosted The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and many local and international dignitaries during his tenure as Captain of IBB International Golf & Country Club, Abuja, to celebrate Nigeria’s 50th independence anniversary. He is a regular resource at many management development programs.

Surajdeen Afolabi’s Honors and Awards

Surajdeen Afolabi is a recipient of the Life-Time Achiever Award in Supply Chain Excellence, a Paul Harris Fellow, a great family man, a golfer, and an author, Bola has to his credit, articles and published academic works amidst other enviable recognitions. He is a Fellow of the Nigeria Institute of Chartered Arbitrators.

Afolabi is recognized as a supply chain subject matter expert and has gained many awards including but not limited to:

  • Life-Time Achievement Award – for excellence in Supply Chain, CIPS Int. 2014
  • NNPC Top Management commendation for excellent Service Delivery 2009
  • 1st non-European Global President, Board and Council member of CIPS, UK
  • Chairman, Appointments Board & member of Governing Council, CIPS UK, 2010
  • Recipient – Top 25 World Procurement Superstars among 97,000 global leaders in Supply Chain Management, United Kingdom, November 2006
  • Recipient – International Award of Excellence for contribution to the profession of Procurement & Supply Chain Management, South Africa, May 2008
  • Best Individual Performing Shell Consultant – NNPC Project PACE 2006 and 2007

Surajdeen Afolabi’s Participation in Projects & Committees

In the course of his career, Bola Afolabi has participated as a member of many projects and committees, including:

  • Member – NNPC/IDSL Asset Management Operational Excellence Blueprint Review    Committee (2020)
  • Program Director – NNPC Supply Chain Management Implementation (2012 – 2014)
  • Member – Regional Innovation Board, SAP EMEA (2014 -2016)
  • Chairman – NNPC Special Committee on Air Travels Cost & Savings, (2009)
  • Member – NNPC Special Committee on Procurement & Authority Limits, Abuja (2009)
  • Contributor to the Public Procurement Bill – Nigeria (2006)
  • Member – IOC Implementation Committee on e-marketplace (NNPC Project PACE)
  • Member – Board of Governance – CIPS, U.K (2006 – 07)
  • Member – of Governing Council (1st African Representative in Council) – CIPS
  • Member – Value Assurance Reviews (VAR 4) for major oil & gas projects. An assurance review conducted on behalf of shareholders to enable them make final investment decisions on capital projects:
  • Gbaran/Ubie Integrated Oil & Gas Project in the Niger Delta (US$600m) (2003)
  • Nembe Creek / Kolo Creek Major pipe trunk-line (US$500m) (2004)
  • Member – SAP Implementation Committee Shell International, Port Harcourt (2002)
  • Leader – NAPIMS Oil Industry Trade & Tariff Committee on Onne Zone (2000)
  • Chairman – NNPC Oil Industry Committee on Cost Rationalization & Standard Tariff (1999)
  • Leader – Excellence & Leadership across Shell Nigeria Business Planning Project (1999)
  • Leader – Contracts Management Information Systems – Process Acceptance Test (1998)
  • Member, Committee – International Trade Exhibition on Nigerian Content Oil & Gas (1977)
  • Member – Corrective Action Team (CAT) on Quality Improvement Project on Drilling and Work-over Materials Logistics (1994)

Surajdeen Afolabi’s  Selected Executive Leadership Development Programs

  • Peculiar People Management Executive Leadership Program, Las Vegas, Nov 2013
  • IIDA International Gas Business for Business Leaders, Lagos December 2013
  • Glomax Mastering Project Management Leadership Program, New York, Dec 2013
  • Harvard Business School, Boston, USA June 2010, Global Strategic Management Program. Discovered how to design and implement powerful strategies that help the company neutralize competitive threats, create social value, enter new markets, or build global advantage. Learned how to adjust strategy as the business environment and objectives evolve. Balancing strategic insight with proven management frameworks, the program examined competitive advantage, government and economic changes, global reach, and strategic agility from the perspective of successful business leaders.
  • Wharton University USA, June 2009, Strategic Thinking & Management for Competitive Advantage
  • Columbia University USA, June 2005, High Impact Leadership: Maximising Individual & Organizational Performance. Leadership Management Program for senior executives desiring maximum profit potential for their organization.
  • Cranfield University, UK – February 1995 – Organizational & Interpersonal Skills. Developing the personal awareness of participants in relation to self-management and better management of own staff.  Appreciation of human behaviour, psychology, and the avoidance of conflict in a multi-cultural environment.  Being an effective member of a team and leading a team. The main challenge concentrated on habits & pattern of behaviour that affects participants’ inter-personal and organisational effectiveness.
  • Sheffield University UK – January 1995 – Metallurgy of Iron & Steel. Gaining an understanding of both the micro and macro characteristics of metallurgy.  The course provided me with better technical knowledge of iron and steel.  Major topics covered include iron & steel making, shaping & solidification, microstructure, properties & application of steel.  Steel structures and performance including elastic/ plastic deformation and general knowledge of corrosion in metallurgy

Surajdeen Afolabi’s Selected Presentations & Participation at Conferences & Seminars

  • Participant at the CIPS/IPSA Annual Supply Chain National Conference: Presented a paper titled: Spend Analysis – The Science of Strategic Sourcing, Misty Hill, Johannesburg, South Africa, 18th May 2007
  • Speaker at the British High Commission, Aberdeen / Newcastle Road-show to woe British Investors to Nigeria: Presented a paper titled: Business Opportunities in the Nigerian Oil & Gas Sector – Prospects & Challenges Northern Ireland, 14th – 17th Mar’06
  • Speaker at the University of Fort Hare 2005 Supply Chain: Presented a paper titled: Category Management in the Oil & Gas Sector, University of Fort Hare, East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa, 8th November 2005
  • Speaker at the Geosciences & Regional Development Conference on: Inequality in the Niger Delta Region. Presented a paper titled: Inequality in Service Provision Between Coastal & Hinterland Areas of Niger Delta, Dept. of Geography, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, 16th August 2005
  • Speaker at the Pan African University Seminar on: Logistics Outsourcing in the Nigerian Oil & Gas Sector. Presented a paper titled: The Challenges & Prospects of Logistics Outsourcing in the Nigerian Economy, Lagos Business School, Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria, 12th July 2005
  • Speaker at the 2005 CIPS/IPSA Annual Supply Chain National Conference: Presented a paper titled Supply Chain Management Conference in Africa – Example of Best Practices & Key Challenges from Shell Nigerian: Misty Hill, Johannesburg, South Africa, 17th May 2005
  • Speaker at the Zambian National Annual Supply Chain Management Conference: Presented a paper titled: Managing Risk in Multi-Modal Cargo Movement, Lusaka, Zambia, May 2005
  • Speaker at the Zambian National Annual Supply Chain Management Conference: Presented a paper titled: Risk Management & Competence Development – Essentials of Strategic Supply Chain Management, Lusaka, Zambia, 10th February 2005
  • Speaker at the Budget Monitoring & Price Intelligence Unit Seminar on: Public Procurement Reform in Nigeria. Presented a paper titled: Concept & Tactics for a World Class procurement Reform, Due Process Office – The Presidency, Abuja, Nigeria, July04
  • Speaker at the Inauguration and Launching of CIPS Nigeria: Delivered a Key-Note Address titled: The Role of Supply Chain to Corporate Profitability & Economic Development, Port Harcourt, Nigeria, 2nd October 2004
  • Speaker at the CIPS Botswana 2004 Annual Supply Chain Dinner / Lecture: Delivered the Key-Note Address titled: Competence Development – The Panacea to Corporate Profitability, Gabarone, Botswana, 29th November 2003

Surajdeen Afolabi Selected Authorship & Publications

Dr. Afolabi has to his credit many articles and published academic work, including:

2022 – Procurement Principles and Best Practices: Value Optimization & Sustainability, NIALS Press Abuja (available at Kindle and Amazon.com)

2020 – Managing Contracts in the Supply Chain – Core Values for Public-Private Sectors Survival, Kings Publishers, Lagos, Nigeria (now available at Kindle and Amazon.com)

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