As it has been said, Life is but a vapor and so often, it moves quicker than most people desire! This was certainly the case with the sudden demise of the Secretary-General of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), His Excellency, Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo. It is a reminder that it is appointed unto us to come and then to return to eternity, leaving behind the works that we have done. Today we recognise the great works that Dr. Barkindo was able to accomplish during his lifetime.
In the relatively short time that he had on earth, HE Barkindo came, lived a life of significance and left suddenly in a blaze of glory, when the ovation was at its loudest, bringing to mind the immortal words of Shakespeare, stated by Calpurnia, the wife of Julius Caesar:
“When beggars die there are no comets seen. The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.”
Dr. Mohammad Barkindo made a significant impact on the Nigeria and global oil and gas industry for more than two decades. He began his career in the Nigerian Mining Corporation in 1982. A few years later, in 1986, he was appointed as a special assistant to the Minister of Petroleum HE Dr. Rilwanu Lukman, who would become his lifelong mentor, and whose career path he would largely mirror. A large part of the career of HE Barkindo was spent in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in various capacities, including General Manager London Office, Group General Manager Investments in NNPC Headquarters, Deputy Managing Director Nigerian LNG Ltd, Coordinator (Special Projects), finally becoming Group Managing Director on January 12th, 2009, where he served until April 2010.
Dr Barkindo had a long relationship with OPEC and served that organization in various capacities- as Nigeria’s representative, Governor, acting Secretary General, and finally, as the substantive Secretary-General from 2016 until his unexpected demise in 2022. That Barkindo was a worthy acolyte of his mentor and former Secretary General of OPEC Dr Rilwanu Lukman is an understatement. They both represented Nigeria well and were worthy ambassadors of Nigeria in the global energy sphere.
The Nigeria Association for Energy Economics (NAEE) considers the OPEC SG as a wonderful ambassador and an advocate of energy Availability, Accessibility, Affordability, and Sustainability for all, all of which are values that align with the mission and vision of NAEE. Whilst remaining a climate change enthusiast, HE espoused that energy equity is a must if energy transition is to be optimal and so as to avoid global energy crises. I remembered listening to his remarks at COP 26 in Scotland as HE responded eloquently against defunding petroleum resources development as the optimal path to zero carbon in 2050. He was persuasive and passionate about energy equity and access. He opined that technology advances and an energy mix strategy were the keys to resolving the tensions between climate change and the need for enhanced energy access.
Now, we speak in the aftermath of the Russian-Ukraine crisis that has led to global gas shortages and skyrocketing oil prices, the defunding petroleum mantra to have lost its steam, if only for the moment. As he quietly noted during his last speech at the Nigerian Oil and Gas Conference on 5th July 2022:
“Furthermore, I would respectfully point out that the G7 countries only a few weeks ago called on energy-exporting countries to increase oil production and acknowledged the critical role of OPEC in this regard.
Then at last week’s G7 Summit in Germany, the leaders took a step in the right direction by recognizing the need for continued investment in fossil fuels to help meet the world’s energy needs. It is imperative that they translate these words into policy actions that affirm the importance of a broad portfolio of energy options, including oil and gas, and support an investment climate that makes this possible.”
HE Barkindo was an astute administrator who was one of a kind. He almost made OPEC into the cartel that the world has erroneously called by that name, with the creation of an expanded OPEC under his watch. Perhaps quite a lot of people might be unaware of the heterogeneity of OPEC and OPEC+ both in structure and philosophy. But HE Barkindo managed the institution so well with all the challenges in the global oil and gas industry during his tenure. Only a transformational leader of the likes of HE Barkindo could have managed OPEC+ as a key player in the global oil and gas industry as efficiently and effectively as he did from 2016 to 2022.
As he prepared to bow out meritoriously from OPEC, HE Barkindo was recognised and celebrated worldwide by governments and global institutions. To mention a few, the Atlantic Council honoured him as a Fellow, and the University of Dundee appointed him as Honorary Professor, He received the received highest Honour of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, while the Australian President bestowed him with the country’s National Honour. In fact, the World Bank described HE Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo as a transformational leader that made OPEC one of the most impactful institutions in the world.
The Nigeria Association for Energy Economics will miss his eloquent discussions on energy transition issues and sustainable energy for all philosophy. HE participated virtually in the petroleum roundtable session at the 2021 NAEE conference in Abuja, highlighting that the strategic optimal path to carbon zero in 2050 must include petroleum resources in the energy mix. HE was always willing to participate at energy events organized in Nigeria.
Indeed, a great patriotic Nigerian intellectual and administrator par excellence has left the global energy scene. He will not be forgotten. The executive committee of NAEE has gladly recommended to its Executive Council to name its annual award for outstanding contributions to the management of public sector energy institutions in Nigeria after HE Barkindo. The award will henceforth be christened as HE Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Management of Public Sector Energy Institutions in Nigeria.
Finally, this world, indeed, is a stage. We are all players for a defined period. HE Barkindo came, played his part extremely well and added significant value to the national and international energy industry. HE Dr. Barkindo has departed the stage meritoriously. Our prayers are with his family, friends, NNPC, OPEC, the people of Nigeria, and the global energy industry.
Professor Wumi Iledare For and on behalf of the Nigerian Association for Energy Economics (NAEE)