Reshaping Africa’s economic landscape the entrepreneurially-minded, economically-secure, and socially-responsible way

Ernest Azudialu Obiejesi is the Executive Chairman of the Obijackson Group, comprising of Nestoil, its flagship pipeline construction company; EWT, a fledging steel fabricator; Impac, an engineering design company; Nesthak, a specialist in Horizontal Directional Drilling; Scorpio, an oilfield drilling rig operator; as well as Hammakopp Construction, B&Q Dredging, Shipside Dry-dock, White Dove Shipping, Nesto Aviation, and Century Power.

He is the Chairman of Neconde Energy, the joint operator of Oil Mining Lease 42 in the Niger Delta. He is also the Chairman of Smile Telecoms, Nigeria, the provider of the first 4G LTE mobile broadband network in West Africa. He is also a member of the Board and a major shareholder of Julius Berger, Nigeria’s foremost Civil Engineering & Construction Company.

Ernest Obiejesi aspires to build one of Africa’s most important and influential indigenous conglomerates and is well on his way to doing so. Three companies from the Obijackson Group – Nestoil Limited, Energy Works Technology (EWT) and B&Q Dredging were listed in the 2017 edition of the London Stock Exchange ‘Companies to inspire Africa’ Report “in recognition of their centrality to the successful future of the African economy, enormous potential for growth and creation of high quality jobs”.

With this feat, Dr. Ernest Obiejesi has given an impressive testimony of what can come out of Africa. This year, Nestoil, through its subsidiary, Nesthak, is poised to set a new record; to build West Africa’s largest ever 48-inch wide underground pipeline across the River Niger using the latest horizontal directional drilling technology.

Azudialu Obiejesi believes that Africa cannot truly transform into an economic powerhouse without sustainable power generation. It is for this reason that he has partnered with international investors to set up Century Power with the aim of adding 1,500 megawatts to Nigeria’s national grid to aid the country’s quest for economic growth.

Through the Obijackson Foundation, Ernest Obiejesi has touched the lives of so many economically-disadvantaged people, mostly children, women and the elderly. The Obijackson Foundation Children and Women’s Hospital, an ultra-modern healthcare facility equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment in Okija, Nigeria, provides free medical services to indigenous Nigerians. The hospital employs a well-trained, international medical staff, and delivers world-class healthcare services.

Ernest believes in the transformational power of education and has, through his foundation, awarded scholarships to numerous students and provided several schools with infrastructure, including school buildings, laboratory equipment, computers, and books.  He is passionate about African culture and has instituted an annual cultural festival known as the Face of Okija, with the primary aim of showcasing the richness of Igbo culture to the world.

For his achievements and numerous contributions to the social and economic development of Nigeria and Africa, Ernest Obiejesi has been the recipient of several local and international awards including the prestigious Forbes’ West African Entrepreneur of the Year Award, the Sun Newspaper Businessman of the Year Award, the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) Industry Achievement Award, and the Zik Outstanding Business Leadership Award.

Ernest Azudialu Obiejesi received a Bachelor’s degree in Accountancy and an MBA both from University of Benin. For his contributions in business and engineering, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration from the University of Nigeria, and was inducted into the Nigerian Society of Engineers as an Honorary Member. He is an alumnus of the Harvard Business School.

Ernest Obiejesi is an embodiment of the indefatigable and selfless African spirit. Results, not excuses is his driving mantra. From the impressive landmark Nestoil Towers in Lagos, he leads an internationally diverse management team that shares in his vision of an African Renaissance; a new Africa that is entrepreneurially-minded, economically-secure, and socially-responsible. One that looks to the future with courage, confidence, and, above all, a strong sense of community and culture.