Seplat Energy Plc has announced the appointment of renowned African investor and philanthropist, Mr. Tony O. Elumelu, CFR, as a Non-Executive Director, following the resignation of Mr. Olivier Cleret de Langavant from the company’s Board.
The changes, which take effect from 22 January 2026, follow Seplat Energy’s earlier disclosure on the sale of Etablissements Maurel et Prom SA’s (M&P) 20.07 per cent equity stake in the company to Heirs Holdings Limited and Heirs Energies Limited.
In a statement signed by Mrs. Edith Onwuchekwa, Director, Legal/Company Secretary, Seplat Energy confirmed that Mr. Cleret de Langavant’s resignation marks the end of a six-year tenure during which he served as M&P’s nominee on the Board.
“Mr. Langavant has rendered exceptional service throughout his tenure, providing strategic technical counsel and invaluable insights that have materially supported the Company’s progress,” the statement said.
Mr. Cleret de Langavant joined Seplat Energy’s Board on 28 January 2020, contributing significantly to the company’s strategic direction and technical governance during a period of major industry transition.
The Board also announced the appointment of Mr. Tony Elumelu, describing him as one of Africa’s most influential business leaders and a globally recognised advocate for the continent’s economic transformation.
Mr. Elumelu is the Founder and Chairman of Heirs Holdings, a pan-African investment company with interests spanning energy, power, banking, insurance, technology, real estate, hospitality, and healthcare. He also chairs United Bank for Africa (UBA) Group, Heirs Energies, and Transcorp Group, whose subsidiaries include Transcorp Power and Transcorp Hotels Plc.
Beyond corporate leadership, Mr. Elumelu is widely known for his philanthropy through the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), established in 2010 to empower African entrepreneurs across all 54 African countries.
His global profile has earned him numerous accolades, including being named among TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World (2020) and receiving Nigeria’s national honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) in 2022.
Mr. Elumelu also serves on several international advisory bodies, including UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited Global Leadership Council and the International Monetary Fund’s Advisory Council on Entrepreneurship and Growth.
Commenting on the developments, Mr. Udoma Udo Udoma, Chairman of Seplat Energy, expressed appreciation for the outgoing director and optimism about the new appointment.
“On behalf of the Board and Management, I wish to express our profound appreciation to Mr. Langavant for his outstanding contribution to Seplat Energy over the past six years. His expertise and commitment have been instrumental in driving our strategic initiatives,” Udoma said.
“We warmly welcome Mr. Elumelu to the Board and look forward to leveraging his wealth of experience and leadership as we continue to pursue sustainable growth and value creation for all stakeholders.”
Seplat Energy said the appointment reinforces its commitment to long-term value creation, strong governance, and sustainable growth, as the company continues to position itself as a leading indigenous energy player in Nigeria and beyond.
