The Nigerian Senate, on Wednesday, screened Miss Usoro Akpabio, the nominee for Managing Director and other board nominees for the South South Development Commission.
Miss Akpabio, who hails from Uruan Local Government Area, was nominated in May 2025 for the prestigious role in the newly established Commission by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Usoro Akpabio is an accomplished professional in the energy and public sectors, with over 17 years of significant experience spanning oil and gas trading, government relations, business development, and public-private sector partnerships. Most recently, she served as Group General Manager, Trading, Government and Client Relations at Century Energy Group, where she also held strategic oversight in a gas subsidiary and made substantial contributions to stakeholder engagement, regulatory compliance, and cross-border energy negotiations.
She has acted as Senior Strategic Consultant to a major refinery project in Nigeria, where she led operational and legislative integration efforts, aligning production strategies with government policy frameworks and regional supply agreements. Her responsibilities have included coordinating high-level engagements with the National Assembly and promoting compliance with international product standards.
Usoro’s involvement in the petroleum industry covers oil field services, terminal and pipeline operations, as well as FPSO liaison duties, ensuring safety, environmental compliance, and effective coordination between offshore and onshore teams.
Her earlier career includes leadership roles in energy and infrastructure trading at Taleveras Group of Companies Ltd, where she was Vice President/Senior Manager for Business Development, Energy, and Government Relations. She also held financial and real estate roles at Intercontinental Group (Homes Savings and Loans), focusing on mortgage development, brand management, and project marketing. She began her professional journey in public relations and quality control within the manufacturing and trade sectors, as well as health and human services in the public sector.
Academically, she is an alumna of the University of Calabar and has completed several accredited executive courses at Imperial College London, Oxford University’s Saïd Business School, and training programmes in safety, project management, and the LNG sector. She has also participated in major security and global maritime conferences, as well as international energy conferences.
Usoro is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts UK (FRSA) and a Fellow Chartered Economist (FCE). She holds professional memberships with the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), Nigerian Gas Association (NGA), National Heritage Council and Endowment for the Arts, International Association of Safety Professionals (IASP), and African Women in Leadership Organisation (AWLO).
She has participated in policy and diplomatic events such as the United Nations General Assembly, AFREXIM AGM, Commonwealth Youth Council Forums, Global Maritime Security Conferences, and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.
Usoro’s civic and humanitarian work is channelled through the Usoro Akpabio Educational Foundation (UAEF), which focuses on education, women’s empowerment, vocational training, and health outreach. Initiatives have included support for internally displaced persons, borehole projects, school sponsorship programmes, surgeries for underserved children, and donations to hospitals and special needs schools.
Awards and Recognitions
• Commonwealth Youth Council Ambassador – Youth Campaign Against Electoral Violence
• African Achievers Award (UK House of Commons) – Excellence in Community Outreach & Advocacy
• Federal Ministry of Culture and Social Welfare (Nigeria) – Recognition for contribution to Nigerian Children’s Trust Fund
• Humanitarian Woman of the Year – Nigerian Festival Awards
• Ambassador of Youth Award – National Tourism Board / Ministry of Women Affairs
Usoro’s formative years were spent in Calabar, where she attended Auntie Margaret International Nursery School and Federal Government Girls College, both in Calabar. These early experiences fostered in her a strong sense of community, discipline, and public service—values that have shaped her distinguished career.
