Roland Onoriode Ewubare is a globally recognized business leader, renowned for the high-level leadership positions he has held both in Nigeria and the United States. His wealth of expertise also led him to serve as a visiting lecturer at the University of Maryland and the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he taught a module on Energy Policy and Climate Change.
During his five-year tenure at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Ltd (NNPCL), Roland achieved several transformational milestones. Notably, within his first two years—beginning in 2015—he successfully turned around Integrated Data Services Limited (IDSL), NNPCL’s seismic subsidiary, which had previously been a consistent loss-maker. Under his leadership as Managing Director, IDSL became a profitable arm of the corporation in just 18 months, enabling it to make dividend payments to NNPCL.
His tenure as Group General Manager at the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) also marked a major financial turnaround. Under his guidance, the team recorded a surplus of ₦1.8 trillion for the Federation Account in 2018 and ₦2.6 trillion in 2019. This came after reversing a deficit of over ₦1.6 trillion, showcasing his ability to drive financial performance in critical national assets. His achievements earned him subsequent promotions to Chief Operating Officer (COO) Upstream in 2019, and later, COO, Joint Ventures and Business Development, a position he held until his resignation in May 2020.
Roland Ewubare’s academic credentials further reflect his drive for excellence. He earned a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU), followed by a Master of Laws in International Business Law from Queen Mary & Westfield College, University of London. He then obtained an additional LL.M. from Harvard Law School. Complementing these, he holds an Executive Certificate in High Performance Leadership from Oxford University. Beyond academia, he has contributed his expertise as a visiting tutor at multiple international universities and currently serves as an Alumni in Residence at Harvard Law School.
Ewubare’s international experience began with his role as Corporate Counsel at Schlumberger in New York. He later rose to become General Counsel of NPTest (a Schlumberger subsidiary) in California, and Executive Director of Schlumberger Nigeria, handling complex operational roles. He also worked as a Corporate Associate at the prestigious law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in New York.
Roland Ewubare’s career trajectory demonstrates versatility, adaptability, and a consistent ability to drive results across multiple sectors and geographies. His recent appointment to the newly constituted NNPCL board by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu underscores the administration’s commitment to strong, innovative leadership in the oil and gas sector. With his appointment, expectations are high for progressive reforms, strategic development, and sustainable growth within the NNPCL.
Deborah Anyanwu is a member of the editorial team of TheScript Newspaper.
