Chijioke Akwukwuma is a founder and the pioneering managing director of ODENL, a Nigerian joint venture between Valaris and OES.

He has over 21 years of diverse leadership experience in offshore operations, engineering, projects, qhse, strategic planning and business development in ten countries across Europe, Africa and Asia for companies like Transocean, Seadrill, Schlumberger and Oando, prior to ODENL.

Chijioke was the first Nigerian to manage an ultra deepwater 5 th generation drillship, and was a driving force in getting the International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC) established in Nigeria. Under Chijioke’s leadership, ODENL has gone from being a concept to the largest Nigerian deepwater driller, with a reputation for excellent service delivery.

He is non-executive director on the Board of OES Energy Services.

Chijioke holds an MBA in General Management from Heriot Watt University, United Kingdom and is currently working on his PhD in International Business.

Company Description

Ocean Deep Drilling ESV Nigeria Limited (ODENL) is a JV between OES Deepsea and Valaris (formerly EnscoRowan), the largest multinational drilling contractor. ODENL was formed in 2015 with the aim of deploying and operating offshore drilling assets in Nigeria.

ODENL has grown its business to achieve a 50% share of the deepwater drilling market in Nigeria and has recorded superb performance with its drillships, the Ensco DS-4 and Ensco DS-10, working for Chevron and Shell in Nigeria.

This best-in-class combination of OES’ in-country experience and Valaris’ global operations creates an exceptional Nigerian drilling company with a reputation for word class service delivery.