Bello Rabiu is a Nigerian business executive, founder, and CEO of Dankiri Farms and Commodities Ltd. Prior to this, he served for over 28 years in the Nigerian energy sector, advancing through the ranks to become the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Group Executive Director (GED) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) Upstream Business Unit. Two years after retiring from NNPCL, he was appointed as a Senior Independent Non-Executive Director at Seplat Energy.
During his tenure as COO/GED at NNPCL, Mr. Rabiu championed the successful implementation of the 7 Critical Domestic Gas Development Projects, including the AGPC, which was an extension of the Nigerian Gas Master Plan. This initiative aimed to leverage gas for Nigeria’s industrialization, economic growth, and development. His strategic leadership ensured the alignment of the projects with fiscal rules and commercial considerations, contributing significantly to the sector’s advancement. Mr. Rabiu retired in July 2019 after 28 years of active service.
Before his role as COO/GED, Mr. Rabiu held various key positions at NNPCL, including Group General Manager of the Corporate Planning & Strategy Division, Senior Technical Assistant to the Group Managing Director, and General Manager of the Competitive Analysis Department within the same division. He also served as Planning Officer and Pioneer Head of Material Management and Frontier Exploration Services at the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) Division.
His educational background reflects his commitment to personal growth and professional development. Mr. Rabiu holds a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Statistics from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria. Motivated by his passion for the energy sector, he pursued a Master’s Degree in Petroleum Engineering from Imperial College, London, UK. Additionally, he has attended various career advancement programs, including the prestigious Wharton Executive Development Program at the University of Pennsylvania and the Leading Global Business Program at Harvard Business School.
As a strategic leader, Mr. Rabiu combines a deep understanding of Nigeria’s Exploration & Production (E&P) industry with a rare ability to merge commercial and fiscal knowledge with operational expertise. One of his key achievements was the development of the 2016 Nigerian Government-approved upstream Joint Venture funding scheme, which restored the confidence of International Oil Companies (IOCs) and Independent Partners in Nigeria’s Upstream Joint Venture. This initiative contributed to an increase in national oil production, reaching 2.3 million barrels per day by 2019.
With his extensive experience and leadership focus, Mr. Bello Rabiu effectively oversaw NNPCL’s upstream businesses, including the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), National Engineering and Technical Company (NETCO), Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), Integrated Data Services Limited (IDSL), and NNPC Oil Field Services (NOFS). His innovative mindset also played a key role in driving strategic initiatives during his final years at the corporation.
A mindful team player, Bello Rabiu has collaborated with prominent figures in the energy sector, including Augustine Avuru and Fabian Ajogwu, to bring dynamic leadership and impactful change to the industry.
With leaders like Mr. Bello Rabiu on board, NNPCL is well-positioned for a significant surge, moving towards becoming a global standard in the Nigerian Energy Industry, one that is worthy of emulation.
