Secretary General of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Muhammad Sanusi Barkindo, is dead.
He died last night at the age of sixty-three (63) years.
The Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mele Kyari, announced Barkindo’s death in a tweet in the early hours of today.
Kyari said the former Secretary General of OPEC died at about 11pm on Tuesday, describing his demise as a great loss to his immediate family, NNPC, Nigeria, OPEC and the global energy community.
Meanwhile, earlier on Tuesday, President Muhammadu Buhari had described the outgoing OPEC Secretary General as a worthy ambassador of Nigeria when he received him at the State House in Abuja.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President said posterity would remember Barkindo kindly for making the nation and himself proud during his six years of meritorious service at the helm of affairs as the fourth OPEC Secretary-General from Nigeria and was to end his tenure at OPEC later this month.
The outgoing OPEC secretary general delivered a long speech at the ongoing Nigeria Oil and Gas conference in Abuja few hours before news of his sudden death, late Barkindo appreciated the support he received from President Muhammadu Buhari’ led administration and cooperation of members of OPEC.
As at the time of filing this report, the cause of his death was yet to be ascertained nor made public.
Who is Late Mohammed Sanusi Barkindo?
The late Mohammed Sanusi Barkindo was an indigene of Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria and was born on the 20th of April 1959. He served as the Secretary General of OPEC from the 1st of August 2016 until his death.
He previously served as Acting Secretary General in 2006, represented Nigeria on OPEC’s Economic Commission Board during 1993 to 2008, led the NNPC from 2009 to 2010, and headed Nigeria’s technical delegation to United Nations Climate negotiations since 1991.
Apart from holding several positions with the OPEC, between the Years 1982–85 he worked with Nigerian Mining Corporation, Jos, up to the Level of Principal Administrative Officer, Liaison Office, Lagos. He was also a Special Assistant to the Minister of Mines, Power and Steel, Lagos between 1984–86.
Late Barkindo held several international, national and local positions prior to his demise. He completed his bachelor’s degree in political science from Ahmadu Bello University (Zaria, Nigeria) in 1981 and Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Washington University in 1991. Prior to MBA, in 1988 he earned a postgraduate diploma in Petroleum Economics from Oxford University.
The late Barkindo was married, with children.
By: Joseph EMERIBE
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