Bala Wunti

Bala Wunti
Born
Bala Maijama'a Wunti

Bauchi State, Nigeria
CitizenshipNigerian
OrganizationNNPC Limited

Bala Maijama'a Wunti is a Nigerian petroleum engineer and corporate executive. He is known for his leadership and contributions in the oil and gas industry,[1][2] He served as the Group General Manager of the NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS) formally known as National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS),[3][4][5] a subsidiary of the NNPC Limited.[6]

Early life and education

Bala Wunti was born in 1970 in Bauchi State, Nigeria. He earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.[7] He later pursued a master's in business administration at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi.[8] Furthering his academic, he attended Harvard Business School.[9] Wunti is a Fellow of the Energy Institute and a Fellow of the Chemical Society of Nigeria.[10][11]

Career

Wunti joined the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC Limited) in 1991, he has held several positions including Managing Director of the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC) and Group General Manager of Corporate Planning & Strategy.[12][13][14] In 2020, He was appointed the Group General Manager of NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS).[15][16][17][18]

Impact and recognition

Wunti, as the Chief Upstream Investment Officer at NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS), played a pivotal role in addressing the pervasive issue of crude oil theft in Nigeria. Under his leadership, NNPC developed and implemented a security architecture that integrated advanced surveillance technologies, community-based initiatives, and multi-agency collaborations like; "Operation White".[19][20][21] These measures were instrumental in tackling the estimated daily loss of 700,000 barrels of oil, which equated to over $700 million in monthly revenue losses.[22] This strategic approach lead by Wunti, resulted in a significant improvement in Nigeria’s crude oil production, with output recovering from historic lows to over $1.24 million barrels per day by late 2022.[23][24][25]

Wunti's contributions to the Nigeria's crude oil production through the NNPC has earned him the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) Exemplary Service of the Year Award 2022 for his contributions in tackling crude oil theft[26][27] and the Ministerial award for the outstanding performance at Nigeria International Energy Summit.[28] He was listed among the 100 Most Reputable Africans by Reputation Poll International in 2025.[29][30][31]

Wunti was a speaker at the Energy Council 2022 World Energy Capital Assembly,[32] the 24th NOG Energy Conference & Exhibition,[33] Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES) 2024,[34][35][36] and the 11th Practical Nigerian Content Forum 2022.[37][38]

See also

References

  1. ^ "The Settlement Agreement between NNPC Ltd and Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, Mobil Development Nigeria Inc., and Mobil Exploration Nigeria Inc". NNPC. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
  2. ^ Jeremiah, Urowayino (25 November 2021). "PIA will enhance competition in Oil & Gas industry — Wunti". Vanguard News. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  3. ^ Oladipo, Oladehinde (17 March 2020). "Bala Wunti: The new head of Nigeria's oil asset, NAIPMS". Businessday NG. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
  4. ^ Ibeh, Ifeanyi (3 August 2023). "NNPC advocates for strategic balance in managing Energy transition". The Guardian Nigeria News. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
  5. ^ "The Spectacular Rise of Bala Wunti as the Group General Manager, National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS)". Nigerian Voice. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
  6. ^ "Restructuring: NNPC Changes NAPIMS to NUIS". thisdaylive.com. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
  7. ^ "Bala Wunti | NNPC | Speaker". Energy Council. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  8. ^ Rilwan, Muhammad (27 December 2019). "Graduates of Balewa varsity launch magazine". dailytrust.com. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  9. ^ "Oduwole, Wunti, Olu of Warri, Adeboye, Elumelu, Wunti, 11 other Nigerians Make List of 100 Most Reputable Africans". thisdaylive.com. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  10. ^ Chiamaka, Igboanusi (28 October 2021). "85m Nigerians do not have access to electricity". Businessday NG. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  11. ^ "Kyari, Wunti, Bag Fellowship Award". thewhistler.ng. 27 November 2020. Archived from the original on 27 November 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  12. ^ Awojulugbe, Oluseyi (28 October 2019). "NNPC to digitize petroleum products marketing to block leakages". TheCable. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  13. ^ "Wunti, Now NAPIMS' Boss in Major NNPC Reshuffle". thisdaylive.com. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
  14. ^ "Meet Bala Wunti, NNPC's strategist-in-chief". TheCable. 16 August 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  15. ^ Oladipo, Oladehinde (17 March 2020). "Bala Wunti: The new head of Nigeria's oil asset, NAIPMS". Businessday NG. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  16. ^ Nigeria's Oil Production Recovery On Track - Bala Wunti. Arise News. 4 June 2023. Retrieved 10 January 2025 – via YouTube.
  17. ^ Emmanuel, Joy (6 May 2023). "Group faults attack on Wunti, alleges blackmail". Blueprint Newspapers Limited. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
  18. ^ "Wunti, GGM NAPIMS, says Shell's Bonga Best in Class". Energy Focus Report. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  19. ^ Oil Theft: New Security Architecture Responsible for the Increase in Oil Production - Bala Wunti. Arise News. 7 December 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2025 – via YouTube.
  20. ^ Amoye, Temisan (12 October 2019). "FG launches 'Operation White' to track petroleum distribution". Vanguard News. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
  21. ^ Adugbo, Daniel (10 October 2019). "FG launches 'Operation White' to track fuel supply, movement". dailytrust.com. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
  22. ^ Okonkwo, Omono (7 December 2022). "NNPC's estimated crude oil theft loss is 700,000 bpd -Wunti". Nairametrics. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
  23. ^ "BALA WUNTI: We Have Succeeded in Stopping Crude Oil Theft". thisdaylive.com. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
  24. ^ Izuaka, Mary. "Nigeria's oil production rises to 1.6 million bpd as theft reduces — NNPC". premiumtimesng.com. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  25. ^ "INSIGHT: How indigenous producers are scrambling to stop crude oil theft". TheCable. 20 September 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  26. ^ Kwen, James (30 April 2023). "May Day: Kyari, Wunti bag TUC's outstanding employer, oil theft tackling awards". Businessday NG. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
  27. ^ UKPE, Philip (30 April 2023). "PHOTOS: Kyari, Wunti Bag TUC's Outstanding Employer's Award For Role In PIA, Curbing Crude Oil Theft". thewhistler.ng. Archived from the original on 24 December 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
  28. ^ "NAPIMS GGM Wins Ministerial Award at Nigeria Energy Summit". thisdaylive.com. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
  29. ^ Doya, Khalid Idris (6 January 2025). "'We Are Proud Of Wunti's Contributions To National Development'". leadership.ng. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
  30. ^ "Oduwole, Wunti, Olu of Warri, Adeboye, Elumelu, Wunti, 11 other Nigerians Make List of 100 Most Reputable Africans". thisdaylive.com. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
  31. ^ "We Are Proud With Bala Wunti's Contributions To National Development, Says Northeast Ambassadors". Abuja Politico. 9 January 2025. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
  32. ^ "Bala Wunti | NNPC | Speaker". Energy Council. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
  33. ^ "Bala M. Wunti - 24th NOG Energy Week Conference & Exhibition". nogenergyweek.com. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
  34. ^ Oil & Gas | A Dynamic Landscape: Subduing Challenges and Seizing Investment Opportunities (PDF). Nigeria International Energy Summit. NNPC. 26 February – 1 March 2024.
  35. ^ "Bala-Wunti". Nigeria Energy Summit. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
  36. ^ "rapporteur's report". Nigeria Energy Summit. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  37. ^ Akintayo, OpeOluwani (15 January 2023). "W'Bank blames technical problems for oil production decline". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
  38. ^ Izuora, Chika (30 December 2022). "Nigeria Ranks 11th Of 20 Countries With Largest Oil Reserves". leadership.ng. Retrieved 12 January 2025.