Executive Management
Our business strategy at VIRGIN FOREST ENERGY LIMITED is anchored on our very loyal and dedicated employees who represent the pillars upon which the operational structure of the company stands. The company is managed by a team of highly experienced, dynamic and resourceful professionals from a variety of backgrounds, who pride themselves on carefully listening to our clients’ needs and integrating all information and constraints and clearly communicating our recommendations and results.
They have a policy of integrity and obedience to the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and are governed by the strictest code of ethical conduct.
They are as follows:
Mr. JOHNSON CHUKWU is the Chairman, Board of Directors of Virgin Forest Energy Limited. He is also initiator/founder and Managing Director of Cowry Asset Management Limited. Prior to the establishment of Cowry Asset Management Limited, he has been actively involved in the Nigerian capital market and was instrumental to the establishment of one of the most vibrant capital market operator, as the pioneer General Manager/Chief Executive Officer of Guardian Express Trust Limited, (later Spring Capital but now Pan Africa Capital) – a subsidiary of Guardian Express Bank Plc, (later Spring Bank Plc but now Enterprise bank Limited). Aside from his job as the Chief Executive of Cowry Asset, Mr. Chukwu is also the Chairman of Standard Alliance Insurance Plc.
Before joining Cowry Asset Management Limited on fulltime basis in October 2007, Mr. Chukwu was between February 2006 and September 2007 a Deputy General Manager and Group Executive, Operations of Spring Bank Plc. While in Spring Bank he was responsible for integrating into a single platform the diverse operations units of the six constituent banks that merged into Spring Bank. Between December 2000 and January 2006, Mr. Chukwu worked in Guardian Express Bank Plc and supervised at various times such functions as Structured/Corporate Finance, Treasury, Risk Management, Operations, Human Capital Management, Information technology and Facilities management. He was also the Bank’s pioneer Chief Financial Officer and was responsible for setting up Guardian Express Bank’s Accounting systems, processes and Management/Financial reporting systems. His banking career also includes a 3-year stint as the Deputy Financial Controller of Diamond Bank Plc (1997 – 2000) and 5 years experience with Intercontinental Bank Plc (1992 – 1997) where worked in Credit and Marketing (Trade Finance), Financial Control, Treasury Operations and Branch Operations.
Mr. Chukwu is a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) second class upper degree holder in Accounting and a University of Lagos Scholar. He also holds an MBA from Lagos Business School (Pan Atlantic University). Among his professional qualifications are Fellowship of both the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and Chartered Institute of Taxation. He has attended several courses both locally and internationally including IESE Business School (University of Navarra) Barcelona, Spain; Wharton Business School (University of Pennsylvania) Philadelphia, USA; etc.
In addition to his professional duties Mr. Chukwu is actively involved in the training of Financial Industry professionals as a facilitator with Terrapin (A World leader in business events, with offices in London, New York, Singapore, Sydney, Dubai and Johannesburg), the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and the Financial Institutions Training Center (FITC), a specialized institution established by the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Bankers’ Committee for the training of professional bankers. He is also a regular media commentator on the Capital Market, Banking industry and general economic issues.
NNEOMA JOHNSON-CHUKWU is the Managing Director/CEO of the company. As the pioneer Chief Executive, Nneoma was instrumental to the establishment of the company’s operational facilities and business structures. Prior to venturing into petroleum marketing, Nneoma established her reputation as a successful marketer, as one of the earliest dealers in telecommunications products, at the dawn of GSM telecommunications services in Nigeria. A tested and competent administrator, Nneoma is a graduate of English /Literature from Abia State University.
She has also attended several courses including the Owner Management Program from Lagos Business School and Strathmore Business School. She is responsible for implementing the company’s business planning and the day to day running of the company.
EFEMENA ELUTABE is our Chief Financial Officer, a graduate of Accountancy from Yaba College of Technology with an executive MBA from Metropolitan School of Business & Management UK. He has over 30 years of experience in the Finance and Banking sector, Manufacturing and Oil & Gas. Prior to joining Virgin Forest Energy, he was the Country Controller of Exterran Nigeria, wholly owned subsidiary of Exterran Corporation in the US where he provided leadership in the Finance and Control function and acting as the Managing director at various times. His team is the first and only to have 100% in Gallop employee survey in the history of the company.
He worked as the GL Leader in General Electric, Budget & Planning Manager in British Gas and as Senior Accountant with Shell Petroleum Development Company where he was involved in various process re-engineering projects to improve the efficiency of the Finance team in supporting the company’s operations. He was also the secretary of the JV Budget and Performance Technical Committee and also develop a model for forecasting the JV funding requirement. Prior to joining Shell he spent 9 years in the Finance and Banking sector among which are Allstates Trust Bank(Now integrated in Access Bank) and CitiBank Nigeria where he received company award for quality performance.
A Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria where he won the overall best student in the professional exams and is also an Associate member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation.
MOSES CHINWEUBA ANI is our Company Secretary and Head, Human Resources. He holds a Bachelor of Law, LL.B (Hons) degree from the prestigious Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State and Barrister at Law (B.L) Nigerian Law School, Lagos campus.
Moses has vast experience in the legal profession. He oversees the Company’s Corporate and Legal affairs as Secretary and as an in-house counsel. He is also the Head, Human Resources Department of the company. Before joining Virgin Forest Energy, Moses was a Senior Associate in the Law Firm of Emeka Etiaba SAN, Etiaba & Co., specializing in Litigation, Corporate Matters and Property. Prior to working in Emeka Etiaba SAN, Etiaba & Co., he was an Associate in Tsedaqah Attorneys, a purely corporate commercial Law Firm, where he was the Head of the Firm’s Regulatory Compliance Department. Prior to that, he was an Associate counsel in the Law Firm of Joe Dappa & Co, a full litigation firm in Katsina where he did his NYSC. Moses has also attended several training courses such as the NBA Workshop on the Rule of Law in Nigeria; the NBA/ SLP Workshop on Key Lawyering Skills in a Global Economy; and the National Workshop on Peace Building and Leadership Development.
Moses is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA); Amnesty International and an accredited member of the Corporate Affairs Commission, Nigeria.
SAMUEL ONAKORORO OLOTEWO is the Head, Operations and Logistics Department of the Company. He is an ND holder in Computer Science and also a bachelors’ degree holder in Geology from University of Maiduguri, Borno state. He has over ten years (10yrs) working experience in the oil and gas sector. Before joining the Company in 2010, Samuel started his exploits in the oil and gas sector with Visions and ventures Energy Ltd as a Marketer/Logistics officer which he helped to pioneer to a formidable force in the sector. Samuel joined Virgin Forest Energy Ltd as a Marketing officer and has since then grown from the ranks of a marketing officer to the Head of Operations and Logistics of the company.
Samuel is a dedicated staff with a passion for excellence. He is a team player, a motivator and solution provider.
Mr. JOHNSON CHUKWU is the Chairman, Board of Directors of Virgin Forest Energy Limited. He is also initiator/founder and Managing Director of Cowry Asset Management Limited. Prior to the establishment of Cowry Asset Management Limited, he has been actively involved in the Nigerian capital market and was instrumental to the establishment of one of the most vibrant capital market operator, as the pioneer General Manager/Chief Executive Officer of Guardian Express Trust Limited, (later Spring Capital but now Pan Africa Capital) – a subsidiary of Guardian Express Bank Plc, (later Spring Bank Plc but now Enterprise bank Limited). Aside from his job as the Chief Executive of Cowry Asset, Mr. Chukwu is also the Chairman of Standard Alliance Insurance Plc.
Before joining Cowry Asset Management Limited on fulltime basis in October 2007, Mr. Chukwu was between February 2006 and September 2007 a Deputy General Manager and Group Executive, Operations of Spring Bank Plc. While in Spring Bank he was responsible for integrating into a single platform the diverse operations units of the six constituent banks that merged into Spring Bank. Between December 2000 and January 2006, Mr. Chukwu worked in Guardian Express Bank Plc and supervised at various times such functions as Structured/Corporate Finance, Treasury, Risk Management, Operations, Human Capital Management, Information technology and Facilities management. He was also the Bank’s pioneer Chief Financial Officer and was responsible for setting up Guardian Express Bank’s Accounting systems, processes and Management/Financial reporting systems. His banking career also includes a 3-year stint as the Deputy Financial Controller of Diamond Bank Plc (1997 – 2000) and 5 years experience with Intercontinental Bank Plc (1992 – 1997) where worked in Credit and Marketing (Trade Finance), Financial Control, Treasury Operations and Branch Operations.
Mr. Chukwu is a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) second class upper degree holder in Accounting and a University of Lagos Scholar. He also holds an MBA from Lagos Business School (Pan Atlantic University). Among his professional qualifications are Fellowship of both the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and Chartered Institute of Taxation. He has attended several courses both locally and internationally including IESE Business School (University of Navarra) Barcelona, Spain; Wharton Business School (University of Pennsylvania) Philadelphia, USA; etc.
In addition to his professional duties Mr. Chukwu is actively involved in the training of Financial Industry professionals as a facilitator with Terrapin (A World leader in business events, with offices in London, New York, Singapore, Sydney, Dubai and Johannesburg), the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and the Financial Institutions Training Center (FITC), a specialized institution established by the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Bankers’ Committee for the training of professional bankers. He is also a regular media commentator on the Capital Market, Banking industry and general economic issues.
NNEOMA JOHNSON-CHUKWU is the Managing Director/CEO of the company. As the pioneer Chief Executive, Nneoma was instrumental to the establishment of the company’s operational facilities and business structures. Prior to venturing into petroleum marketing, Nneoma established her reputation as a successful marketer, as one of the earliest dealers in telecommunications products, at the dawn of GSM telecommunications services in Nigeria. A tested and competent administrator, Nneoma is a graduate of English /Literature from Abia State University.
She has also attended several courses including the Owner Management Program from Lagos Business School and Strathmore Business School. She is responsible for implementing the company’s business planning and the day to day running of the company.
EFEMENA ELUTABE is our Chief Financial Officer, a graduate of Accountancy from Yaba College of Technology with an executive MBA from Metropolitan School of Business & Management UK. He has over 30 years of experience in the Finance and Banking sector, Manufacturing and Oil & Gas. Prior to joining Virgin Forest Energy, he was the Country Controller of Exterran Nigeria, wholly owned subsidiary of Exterran Corporation in the US where he provided leadership in the Finance and Control function and acting as the Managing director at various times. His team is the first and only to have 100% in Gallop employee survey in the history of the company.
He worked as the GL Leader in General Electric, Budget & Planning Manager in British Gas and as Senior Accountant with Shell Petroleum Development Company where he was involved in various process re-engineering projects to improve the efficiency of the Finance team in supporting the company’s operations. He was also the secretary of the JV Budget and Performance Technical Committee and also develop a model for forecasting the JV funding requirement. Prior to joining Shell he spent 9 years in the Finance and Banking sector among which are Allstates Trust Bank(Now integrated in Access Bank) and CitiBank Nigeria where he received company award for quality performance.
A Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria where he won the overall best student in the professional exams and is also an Associate member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation.
MOSES CHINWEUBA ANI is our Company Secretary and Head, Human Resources. He holds a Bachelor of Law, LL.B (Hons) degree from the prestigious Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State and Barrister at Law (B.L) Nigerian Law School, Lagos campus.
Moses has vast experience in the legal profession. He oversees the Company’s Corporate and Legal affairs as Secretary and as an in-house counsel. He is also the Head, Human Resources Department of the company. Before joining Virgin Forest Energy, Moses was a Senior Associate in the Law Firm of Emeka Etiaba SAN, Etiaba & Co., specializing in Litigation, Corporate Matters and Property. Prior to working in Emeka Etiaba SAN, Etiaba & Co., he was an Associate in Tsedaqah Attorneys, a purely corporate commercial Law Firm, where he was the Head of the Firm’s Regulatory Compliance Department. Prior to that, he was an Associate counsel in the Law Firm of Joe Dappa & Co, a full litigation firm in Katsina where he did his NYSC. Moses has also attended several training courses such as the NBA Workshop on the Rule of Law in Nigeria; the NBA/ SLP Workshop on Key Lawyering Skills in a Global Economy; and the National Workshop on Peace Building and Leadership Development.
Moses is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA); Amnesty International and an accredited member of the Corporate Affairs Commission, Nigeria.
SAMUEL ONAKORORO OLOTEWO is the Head, Operations and Logistics Department of the Company. He is an ND holder in Computer Science and also a bachelors’ degree holder in Geology from University of Maiduguri, Borno state. He has over ten years (10yrs) working experience in the oil and gas sector. Before joining the Company in 2010, Samuel started his exploits in the oil and gas sector with Visions and ventures Energy Ltd as a Marketer/Logistics officer which he helped to pioneer to a formidable force in the sector. Samuel joined Virgin Forest Energy Ltd as a Marketing officer and has since then grown from the ranks of a marketing officer to the Head of Operations and Logistics of the company.
Samuel is a dedicated staff with a passion for excellence. He is a team player, a motivator and solution provider.