ABUJA (CONVERSEER) – The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday screened Miss Usoro Akpabio, the Managing Director-nominee and other nominees for the board of the South South Development Commission.
Miss Akpabio who hails from Uruan Local Government Area was nominated in May 2025 for the plum job in the newly created Commission by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
TheMail Newspaper reports that Usoro Akpabio is a seasoned energy and public sector professional with over 17 years of impactful experience spanning oil and gas trading, government relations, business development, and public-private sector collaborations.
She most recently served as Group General Manager, Trading, Government and Client Relations at Century Energy Group, where she also held strategic oversight roles in a gas subsidiary and contributed significantly to stakeholder engagement, regulatory compliance, and cross-border energy negotiations.
She has acted as a Senior Strategic Consultant to a major refinery project in Nigeria, leading operational and legislative integration efforts that helped align production strategies with government policy frameworks and regional supply agreements. Her work has included coordinating high-level engagements with the National Assembly and advancing compliance with international product standards.
Usoro’s petroleum industry involvement includes oil field services, terminal and pipeline operations, as well as FPSO liaison roles, where she ensured safety, environmental compliance, and effective coordination between offshore and onshore teams.
Her earlier experience includes leadership roles in energy and infrastructure trading at Taleveras Group of Companies Ltd as Vice President/Senior Manager Vice President/Senior Manager Business Development, Energy, and Government Relations.
She also held financial and real estate roles at Intercontinental Group (Homes Savings and Loans), where she focused on mortgage development, brand management, and project marketing. She began her professional journey in public relations and quality control in the manufacturing and trade sectors and not leaving out health and human services in public sector
Academically, She’s an Alumna of the University of Calabar. Usoro has also completed several accredited professional executive courses at Imperial College London, Oxford University’s Saïd Business School, and training programs in safety, project management, and the LNG sector. She has also participated in major security and global maritime conferences and 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).
Usoro 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.
Her civic and humanitarian contributions are channeled through the Usoro Akpabio Educational Foundation (UAEF), focused on education, women’s empowerment, vocational training, and health outreach. Initiatives have included support to internally displaced persons, borehole projects, school sponsorship programs, 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 rooted in Calabar, where she attended Auntie Margaret International Nursery School and Federal Government Girls College, both in Calabar. These early experiences instilled in her a strong sense of community, discipline, and public service—values that have shaped her distinguished career.