Uduimo Itsueli

SIR UDUIMO JUSTUS ITSUELI KSG OON

Not very many of the distinguished technocrats that Nigeria has produced ventured into the world of business after a stellar outing working for multinational companies. These men have done well for themselves in wealth creation through hard work, uprightness, resilience and exceptional vision. The ingenuity of this class of Nigerians through the grace of God made it possible for them to make the best of opportunities that came their way. The height attained in their business ventures through which they have contributed to the wheel of national productive ship coupled with constituting part of the employers of labour in the country become very significant. To the glory of God, Sir Justus Uduimo Itsueli PhD stands out in this group of men of integrity and dignity having turned out to be one of the leading oil magnates in Nigeria. He is the Chairman of Dubri Oil Company Limited, an indigenous oil prospecting company, a front-line player over the years in the industry.

   

His private sector experience with distinction must have contributed to his excellent outing at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) as the Group Chairman for years. His diligence, good academic background and the remarkable exposure he had working for Phillips Petroleum Company, a reputable multinational company earned him the respect of his foreign business partners. This prepared him adequately for running a successful personal oil business as a leading edge private sector player coupled with the grace of God which he serves conscientiously that abounds in his ventures.

   The success story of Sir U. J. Itsueli is not by accident; it is a manifestation of a distinct family background, solid foundation in education, academic brilliance, professionalism, persistence, purpose driven vision and self discipline over the years. One aspect of his early education that he holds dearly which remains evergreen in his life is the cherished years he spent at Christ's School Ado-Ekiti which was founded by Archdeacon Henry Dallimore in 1933. He gained admission in 1961 with the School Number 61/023 and left "The School" after passing out in flying colours for University of Ibadan where he graduated in 1970 with B. Sc. Physics. He proceeded to Leeds to bag additional academic laurel M. Sc. Applied Geophysics in 1971 and Cambridge, U.K. where he obtained PhD Theoretical Geophysics in 1974.

The sojourn of Sir Itsueli in the corporate world began at the age of 24 years while working for Phillips Petroleum Company in various capacities and locations in the Europe in 1974. The job later took him to the Company’s Headquarters in the United States and thereafter to Nigeria as the Managing Director of the Nigeria operations, a position he held for over six years. In August 1987, he retired from Phillips Oil Company to set up and run Dubri Oil Company Limited which became the first Africa’s independently owned Exploration and Producing Company in Nigeria. He is the Chairman/Managing Director of Dubri Oil Company Limited while he continues to avail himself to God's work as a devout Catholic and serves on the board of multifaceted integrated high flying private and public sector business concerns.

When you have done well for yourself and the society without blemish, you are bound to attract more laurels, positive endeavours and honour which explain his various appointments over the years till date. These include:

·         Honorary Life-Vice President Executive Council of Lagos Chamber of Commerce

·         Managing Partner of Uduimo Associates Limited

·         President of Nigerian Indian Chamber of Commerce

·         Chairman of Nigerian-Canadian Business Association

·         Member of Nigerian Vision 2020 National Steering Committee

·         Member Board of Directors of the American Business Council

·         Chairman of the University of Ibadan Research Foundation

·         Former Vice-Chairman Board of Directors of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group

·         Former Chairman Board of Directors of Cadbury Nigeria PLC

·         Former President of the Lagos Business School Alumni Association

·         Chairman, the Board of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)

·         President of Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce

·         Chairman of Edo State Public Utilities Board

·         Chairman of Edo State Agricultural Development Board

·         Member Board of Directors of Edo Cement Company

·         Member Board of Directors of the Nigerian Vision Foundation

·         Member of Vision 2010 Group

·         Member of Presidential National Stakeholders Working Group of the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative and

·         Member of the National Refineries Special Task Force.

He was honoured with the Distinguished Citizens Award of Edo State in 1992 and similarly an Honorary Fellow of the Faculty of Petroleum Law, of the University of Dundee, in the United Kingdom since 1992. In 2006, he was knighted by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, with the Knighthood of The Order of St. Gregory the Great, KSG. Sir Justus Itsueli holds the traditional title, Ezomo of Fugar. He was also honoured by President Olusegun Obasanjo with the National honours of The Officer of The Order of The Niger, OON, in December 2006.

Behind the successful man of honour is Mrs Bridget Itsueli and the marriage is blessed with four outstanding children. His other interests are not limited to travels, music, wines, international affairs and religious matters. This is why he served as the Chairman of the Lagos Branch of Christ's School Alumni Association in the 1990s. It is on record that Sir Itsueli is among the businessmen and entrepreneurs that are in the forefront of the anticorruption fight. The homily he preaches and teaches is to practice integrity in all his dealings.

Apart from his exemplary profile, gentlemanly nature and exceptional humility his magnificent success notwithstanding, one matter of particular interest is his passion for the privilege of passing through the heritage of Christ’s School, Ado-Ekiti and that whatever can be done to bring back the distinction and substance that produced many great Nigerians, every effort put into the rebirth is worth it. When a reputable school has got a good and productive heritage, you flaunt it! This is why fellow alumni are proud to celebrate Sir Dr Chief Justus Itsueli, with whom they share in the Christ's School heritage. In fact, he sees Christ's School as part of his DNA. It is overwhelmingly inspiring for his contemporaries in the alumni association for not forgetting the oke Agidimo part of him.

    Of course for a Christ’s School alumni body that is worth its name and constitution, the members have been very pleased to have an exemplar like him play active roles in its affairs. Consequently he was unanimously elected President Christ’s School Alumni Association on October 24, 2105 at Ado-Ekiti. He will be joined by other well meaning alumni of substance to deploy their vast integrated goodwill for the rejuvenation of the collective dream of Christ's School, Ado-Ekiti for the good of the present students and the future generations to come. Congratulations to Sir Chief Uduimo Justus Itsueli on the honour of leading his Alumni body. It is a unique opportunity for the old students to all work together for the good of their alma mater, not in name only but in deed and in truth.
EMERGENCE AS THE PRESIDENT OF CHRIST'S SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION





Memorable Visit to Ado-Ekiti after 50 years of Leaving Christ's School





Reception


Hosted His Set in Ikoyi, Lagos on 31/1/16

INAUGURATION AS ALUMNI PRESIDENT

Interface with Students at Quadrangle

Thanksgiving Service

Investiture

Restoration Intervention on Christ's School Under His Leadership
Several meetings were held and integrated consultations that involved coming to Ado-Ekiti to see the Bishop of Ekiti Diocese and the Governor to advance the handing-over of the school back to the Anglican Mission with active involvement and strategic support of the alumni association towards actualizing the dream for the Chris's School project.