Platforms Africa in this closeup on the man, his mien and his mantle after 29 years in NNPC, Unveils the “Obateru you may not know”
The Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Kenny Obateru, will hit the diamond age of 60 on Friday, September 24, 2021.
Platforms Africa gathered that Obateru who has garnered accolade from professional groups like the Nigerian Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI), the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) as well as from the Presidency over his professionalism as the spokesman for the NNPC, will after 29 years of meritorious service ti his fatherland, proceed on statutory retirement on the said date,
A major redeployment, which he earlier announced through a statement on August, showed that Garba Deen Mohammad will take over from him, though the release was silent on Obateru’s movement.
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Obateru, an investigation by Platforms Africa showed, still paddle the canoe of the Group Public Affairs Division (GPAD) of the NNPC till Friday, the day when he shall proceed on retirement and officially hand over to Mohammad, his successor whose name has already been announced.
“An official statement will still be issued to that effect and sent across. Sure, a lot of industry people are moved by that story. They have witnessed unprecedented approach of openess Obateru adopted for public speaking at NNPC and so, they actually wanted to know what really happened.
“What happened is that Dr. Kenny Obateru will be 60 years old by September 24 and he shall be proceeding on statutory retirement. As a corporation that recognises proper transition, Garba Deen Mohammed, another professional who has just been announced as his replacement, has been working with him for the period of over 44 days before he finally takes over the mantle of leadership at the GPAD,” a top managment staff at the corporation told Platforms Africa after his anonymity was guaranteed.
In a bid to strengthen and reposition the NNPC towards attaining global excellence and profitability, the Management of the Corporation has on Monday announced the promotion and redeployment of some staff to fill key vacant positions.
Platforms Africa reports that this was contained in a statement released by Dr. Kennie Obateru early August.
An Obateru You May Not Know
The Obateru was about 60 years ago blessed with a set of twins. Today, Taiwo and Kenny have reached the apogee of their chosen cateer. While Taiwo, who is also a PhD holder lectures at the Department of Mass communication, University of Jos, Dr. Kenny is the GGM, GPAD, NNPC.
President and Chairman of Governing Council, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Mallam Mukhtar Sirajo (left), inducting the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, NNPC, Dr. Kennie Obateru, into the Fellowship of the Institute during the Annual General Meeting of the Institute in Bauchi, Bauchi State … Thursday.
Before his appointment as the Group General Manger, Group Public Affairs of the NNPC in 2020, he was the General Manager, NNPC London Office.
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He joined the services of the Corporation in 1992 as an experienced hire and since then has held several key and strategic positions in the Public Affairs Division.
He was Manager, Public Affairs of the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), a corporate service unit of the NNPC between 2010 and 2015.
Prior to that, he was Manager, Public Affairs Department, Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) between 2008 and 2010 and was Manager, Media Relations in the Group Public Affairs Division from 2007 to 2008
Dr. Obateru was Deputy Manager, Media Relations in GPAD between 2006 and 2007, and served as a team member in Project PACE-SMS, CP Core Process Teams between 2005 and 2006.
From 2001 to 2005, he served as Supervisor, Budget & Planning in GPAD.
He also doubled as Supervisor, Audio Visual, between 2000 and 2001.
His versatility was brought to bear on the print side of the corporate communication business when he diligently served as Editor, NNPC News, a monthly publication of the Group Public Affairs Division from 1998 to 2000.
Between1993 and1998, Dr. Obateru was the Protocol Officer to the then Honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources. He cut his teeth in the Corporation as a Protocol and Consular Officer between 1992 and1993.
He is an alumnus of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos; University of Ilorin and University of Stirling, Scotland, United Kingdom, where he obtained a Certificate in News Reporting, a B.A. (Hons) Performing Arts and an M.Sc. in Public Relations respectively.
In 2012, Obateru joined the doctoral club of eggheads when he was awarded a Doctorate Degree in Management (Honoris Causa) by the Commonwealth University, Belize.
He has attended numerous professional courses and conferences at home and abroad which included three (3) International Public Relations Association Conferences, five (5) World Petroleum Congresses (WPCs) and 15 OPEC Ministerial Conferences among others.
Dr. Obateru is a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, a Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants, a member of the International Public Relations Association, a senior member of the Africa Public Relations Association as well as a member of the Nigeria Institute of Management.
His hobbies include Lawn Tennis, Table Tennis, reading and dancing. Dr. Obateru is happily married and his union is blessed with four children.
Dr. Obateru bows out after 29 years of meritorious service to the NNPC.
