Gale of Recognitions Cascade on NNPCL’s Head Safety, Chief Akpabio Esien

As the curtains draw down on the year 2025, an avalanche of recognitions has continued to pour on the General Manager (Head) Safety of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Chief Akpabio Esien.

He was just recently conferred with the Award of Recognition as 2nd Nigeria’s Top 100 Environmental and Sustainability Professionals, which effectively recognizes him as Nigeria Top Eco-Hero 2025, by the Environment Africa Magazine.

The Magazine’s management congratulated Chief Esien for the impactful leadership and time-tested contributions to assure health, safety and environmental sustainability over the years in various roles he has held.

“Congratulations for your impact, contributions and all you continue to do on Resilience and Sustainability for Nigeria.”

Few days after the award, he was also conferred with the distinguished status of Fellow of the Nigeria Environmental Society (FNES), which is the highest level of recognition within the organization for his expertise and contributions to environmental protection, development, and professionalism in Nigeria.

The Fellowship was conferred on the Environmental Sustainability expert by the College of Fellows of the Nigerian Environmental Society based on the fact that he has demonstrated exceptional leadership and achievement in the field.

Chief Esien has also been conferred with Fellow of the Institute of Environmental Practitioners of Nigeria (FIEPN), which recognizes him as a highly qualified and licensed professional who has demonstrated a minimum level of proficiency in environmental practice.

Criteria for this conferment requires that recipients are licensed to ensure competence and ethical conduct, and their designation signifies accountability and credibility in the field, allowing them to hold senior roles, certify reports, and contribute to the advancement of environmental and sustainability efforts in Nigeria.

Chief Akpabio Esien, was, prior to his current role, the Manager, Process, Strategy, Policy and Reporting-HSE at NNPCL, a role he assumed after a five-year stint as Corporate HSE Manager at the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG).

The Environmental Sustainability expert, who is also the President of the Waste Management Society of Nigeria (WAMASON) ascribed the glory to God Almighty who has continuously imbued him with wisdom to discharge various responsibilities assigned to him creditably well.

He also expressed his gratitude to NES, IEPN and Environment Africa Magazine for the honour done him, noting that “one’s efforts may go down unrecognized but for the prying eyes of diligent record keepers like Environment Africa Magazine, who see the big value in the daily tasks we carry out”.

The NNPCL General Manager (Head) HSE also thanked “the leadership of the company for the confidence reposed in me over the years which has led to the conferment of these awards. I thank the GCEO and other leaders of NNPCL who have contributed to my growth in the Company”. 

In 2024, Chief Akpabio Esien was also recognized as the 2024 Safety Professional of the Year by the American Society of Safety Professionals, Nigeria Chapter.