Kyari Reflects on Humble Beginnings: From Almajiri School to NNPCL GCEO

NNPCL GCEO, Kyari, reflects on his remarkable rise from humble beginnings in an Almajiri school to leading Nigeria’s foremost oil corporation.

Mallam Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), revealed that he rose from being an Almajiri school pupil to leading the national oil company.

Kyari mentioned this on his X account, @MKKyari, on Wednesday while celebrating his 60th birthday.

He expressed deep gratitude to Nigeria for the opportunities that allowed him to rise from his humble beginnings to the level of success he has achieved.

He expressed gratitude to Nigeria and specifically acknowledged former President Muhammadu Buhari and current President Bola Tinubu for giving him the opportunity to serve as the final Group Managing Director of NNPC and the first CEO of NNPCL.

Looking back on his life, Kyari remarked that he experienced both highs and lows, challenges and victories, sorrow and joy, setbacks and achievements. He observed that only Allah’s sufficiency could account for these experiences.

He expressed his gratitude, stating that “By Allah’s grace, I have been spared to witness this special day as my 60th birthday, which arrived even earlier according to the Hijri calendar.”

I am deeply thankful to my country for providing the opportunity to progress from being a student at an Almajiri (Tsangaya) school to becoming the CEO of Africa’s largest energy company.

I am especially grateful to Presidents Muhammadu Buhari and Bola Ahmed Tinubu for granting me the extraordinary privilege of serving as both the final GMD of NNPC and the inaugural CEO of NNPC Ltd.

Simply looking back cannot fully encompass the profoundly eventful life I’ve led so far, experiencing both ups and downs, challenges and victories, pain and joy, failures and successes. Only Allah’s sufficiency can truly explain it all.

Reaching this milestone, I feel compelled to serve with even greater dedication and heightened anticipation of deeply satisfying eternal rewards.

I am deeply grateful to my family for their understanding and support during the many years I dedicated to serving our nation and promoting the common good.

I am deeply grateful to my family, friends, associates, colleagues at work, and teachers—both from Western backgrounds and the Almajiri tradition—as well as many others not explicitly mentioned. Each of you has contributed significantly to my accomplishments with your unconditional support and care for my overall well-being.

This is a pivotal moment, and I ask for forgiveness from anyone I may have hurt unintentionally or unavoidably.