Secretary-General of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Muhammad Barkindo died late Tuesday, 5th July 2022, at age 63.
The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mele Kyari, announced Barkindo’s death, in a tweet posted to his verified Twitter handle, @MKKyari, in the early hours of Wednesday, July 6.
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He said,
We lost our esteemed Dr Muhammad Sanusi Barkindo. He died at about 11pm yesterday 5th July 2022. Certainly a great loss to his immediate family, the NNPC, our country Nigeria, the OPEC and the global energy community. Burial arrangements will be announced shortly,
Kyari tweeted;
We lost our esteemed Dr Muhammad Sanusi Barkindo. He died at about 11pm yesterday 5th July 2022. Certainly a great loss to his immediate family, the NNPC, our country Nigeria, the OPEC and the global energy community. Burial arrangements will be announced shortly.
— Mele Kyari (@MKKyari) July 6, 2022
Barkindo, who is the outgoing OPEC secretary general, was in Nigeria where he delivered the Chairman keynote address at the ongoing Nigerian Oil and Gas Conference (NOG) in Abuja on Tuesday.
At his last official outing at the NOG, Barkindo was given a standing ovation by industry stakeholders for his outstanding contributions to the Nigerian and global oil and gas industry.
Born on April 20,1959 in Yola, Adamawa, Barkindo served as the Secretary General of OPEC since Aug. 1, 2016 and would have bowed out on July 31, 2022 following the completion of his tenure.
He completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, in 1981 and Masters of Business Administration degree from Washington University in 1991.
Prior to MBA, in 1988 he earned a PostGraduate Diploma in Petroleum Economics from Oxford University.
Also, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Federal University of Technology Yola.
Barkindo previously served as the acting Secretary-General in 2006 and represented Nigeria on OPEC’s Economic Commission Board from 1993 to 2008.
He also led the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation during 2009 to 2010 and headed Nigeria’s technical delegation to UN climate negotiations since 1991.
Barkindo will be replaced by Mr Haitham Al-Ghais, a veteran of the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC), as the organisation’s Secretary-General following his demise.
President Muhammadu Buhari, had on Tuesday, honoured Barkindo, describing him as a worthy ambassador of the country, at the State House, Abuja.
Reacting to Barkindo’s death, a former lawmaker in the eighth Assembly, Senator Shehu Sani, tweeted to his Twitter page;
Muhammad Sanusi Barkindo, former GMD NNPC and until recently, @OPECSecretariat scribe, was honoured yesterday. He died 11pm yesternight. May Allah grant him Aljanna firdausi. Amin. That is the ephemerality and transience of life.
Muhammad Sanusi Barkindo,former GMD NNPC and until recently,@OPECSecretariat scribe,was celebrated and honoured yesterday.He died 11pm Yesternight.May Allah grant him Aljanna firdausi.Amin.That is the ephemerality and transience of life. pic.twitter.com/lpidbKXqaw
— Senator Shehu Sani (@ShehuSani) July 6, 2022
