Midwestern, an indigenous independent oil and gas company, has announced the appointment of Elozino Olaniyan as its new managing director and chief executive officer, effective 1 December 2025.
This appointment makes Olaniyan the first female CEO of the company, “reflecting a new era of inclusive leadership and reaffirming Midwestern’s commitment to responsible growth, strong governance, and national energy development,” the company said in a statement seen by BusinessDay.
Olaniyan brings a wealth of expertise across upstream operations, corporate strategy, and stakeholder engagement, gathered over 30 years of service in the energy sector. “I am honored to lead Midwestern in the pivotal stage,” she said.
“Our focus will be on operational discipline, transparency, and sustainable growth that benefits all stakeholders. Together with our strengthened leadership team, we are poised to deliver long-term value and play an even stronger role in Nigeria’s energy future.”
Chairman of the Board of Directors, Emeka Okwuosa, said that Elozino “represents the new face of Nigerian energy leadership, technically grounded, strategically minded, and deeply committed to sustainability and people.” He expressed the Board’s firm belief that Elozino can lead the Niger Delta-based firm “through its next phase of growth.”
This transition ushers in Midwestern’s focus on governance reform, leadership stability, and long-term value creation.
By reconstituting the Board of Directors with a strong core of independent non-executive directors to ensure enhanced oversight and accountability; expanding local content impact through renewed partnerships, talent development, and energy growth initiatives aligned with national priorities; and strengthening the executive leadership team by bringing together a new generation of energy professionals to drive operational excellence, the company has taken significant steps to reinforce its governance framework and leadership quality.