Mele Kolo Kyari OFR (born 8 January 1965) is a Nigerian geologist, crude oil marketer and was the Group Chief executive officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum company limited (NNPC Limited) from 2019 to 2025. Before this appointment, Kyari was the Group General Manager, Crude Oil Marketing Division of the NNPC and the Nigerian National Representative at the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) since 2018.

Kyari was born on 8 January 1965 in Maiduguri, Borno State. He attended Government Community Secondary School Biu in Borno State between 1977 and 1982. In 1987, he obtained his Bachelor of Science (BSc) in geology and earth science from the University of Maiduguri.^[1]

After the retirement of Maikanti Baru from the corporation on 7 July 2019,^[2] Kyari was appointed by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari as the 19th GMD of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.^[3] In 1991, he joined NNPC Processing Geophysicist with Integrated Data Services Limited. In 1991, he started his career with the Department of Geological Survey of Nigeria as Field Geologist. He worked as an Exploration Geophysicist with the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) in 1998. In 2007, Kyari headed the Production Sharing Contracts Management in Crude Oil Marketing Division (COMD).^[1] In 2014, he became the General Manager, Crude Oil Stock Management while in 2015 he was promoted to the post of Group General Manager, COMD.^[1] He's the focal person for the Open Government Initiative, the initiative helps the government to track the buyer and seller of crude oil. On 13 May 2018, he became the Nigerian National Representative at OPEC.^[4][5] While celebrating 60 years, he reflected on his progress how he journeyed from being an Almajiri (Tsangaya) boy to NNPCL boss.^[6]

On April 2, 2025, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced the removal of Mele Kyari from his position as Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL)^[7]. This decision was part of a broader restructuring of the company’s leadership, which also included the dissolution of the existing board. Bayo Ojulari, a former executive at Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company, was appointed as the new GCEO, with Ahmadu Musa Kida named as the non-executive chairman^[8]. 

The restructuring aims to revitalize Nigeria’s oil sector, with objectives to increase crude oil production and enhance refining capacities. The newly appointed leadership is tasked with conducting a strategic review of NNPCL’s assets to ensure value maximization and improve overall efficiency^[9][10]. 

Analysts view these changes as a significant step toward addressing longstanding challenges within NNPCL, including issues related to transparency, financial performance, and operational efficiency. The new leadership is expected to implement reforms that will position the company for a potential initial public offering in the future. ^[11]

• Order of the Federal Republic (OFR): In October 2022, President Muhammadu Buhari conferred a national honour of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) on Kyari.^[12]
• Outstanding Employer of The Year 2022 Award: Kyari was named the outstanding employer of the year 2022 by the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) in April 2023.^[13][14]

• NNPC Limited