NNPC deploys over 1,000 young professionals after a one-year internship, with CEO Bayo Ojulari highlighting merit-based recruitment and workforce development

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has deployed more than 1,000 young professionals into its workforce following the successful completion of a one-year internship, intensive training and performance evaluation programme.

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The announcement was made on Friday by the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Bayo Ojulari, who described the deployment as a significant milestone in the company’s efforts to build a highly skilled and merit-driven workforce.

According to Ojulari, the newly deployed employees earned their positions after undergoing a rigorous process that combined practical internships, structured training and comprehensive performance assessments.

“Today marked a huge milestone for us as we officially deployed over 1,000 young professionals into NNPC Ltd after one year of internship, intensive training, and evaluation,” Ojulari wrote on the company’s official social media platforms.

The NNPC chief said the recruitment exercise reflected the organisation’s commitment to rewarding talent and competence rather than personal connections or geographical background.

“Different paths, but the same door. And we opened it. That’s what NNPC Limited stands for today: not who you know or where you’re from, but what you can do,” he stated.

Ojulari explained that while the candidates were initially offered internship opportunities, their commitment and performance throughout the programme ultimately secured their permanent deployment into the company.

“Their offer letters got them in, but their work this past year kept them here. They proved themselves day after day, under real pressure, and that’s the standard we’re building. Talent. Hard work. Fairness,” he added.

He encouraged the new employees to embrace innovation, contribute fresh ideas and take ownership of their professional development as they begin their careers with the national oil company.

Addressing the recruits directly, Ojulari urged them to remain mindful of the journey that brought them into the organisation and to create similar opportunities for future generations.

“To the over 1,000 newly deployed: you are not just our future. You are our present. Our energy. Our proof. So don’t hesitate to lend your voice, share your opinions, and challenge the status quo. Own your development.

“But don’t forget the wait. Don’t forget the process. Because one day, when you’re sitting where I am, you’ll remember this moment, and you’ll open that same door for someone else.”

The deployment forms part of NNPC’s broader workforce renewal strategy following its transition into a commercially driven energy company under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

The recruitment exercise was first announced in July 2024 during the tenure of former Group Chief Executive Officer Mele Kyari, with successful candidates undergoing a year-long internship before securing permanent positions.

Also read: Imported Petrol Now Costs More Than Dangote Fuel – Report

The latest deployment underscores NNPC’s ongoing investment in human capital as it seeks to strengthen operational capacity and position itself for long-term growth in Nigeria’s evolving energy sector.