Rilwanu Lukman

Former Minister of Petroleum Resources

Date of Birth: 26/08/1938
Place of Birth: Zaria, Kaduna State

Married with three children

Education: Nigerian College of Arts, Science and Technology, Zaria 1956-58; BSc Mining Engineering, Imperial College, London, 1959-62; PhD Chemical Engineering, University of Bologna, Italy, 1964.

Career: Inspector of Mines, Mines Division, Federal Ministry of Mines and Power, Jos, 1964-67; Acting Chief Inspector of Mines, Northern Region, 1970-74; General Manager, Cement Company of Northern Nigeria, 1970-74; General Manager and Chief Executive, Nigeria Mining Corporation; Federal Minister of Mines, Power and Steel, 1984-85; Federal Minister of Petroleum Resources,1986-1989; Minister of Foreign Affairs, 1989-90; Chairman of the Board of the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA, now the Power Holding Company of Nigeria); Secretary General, Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), 1995-2000; Founder, Afren, 2004; Minister of Petroleum Resources, 2008-10.

Commentary: Lukman founded oil firm Afren in 2004. It quickly became Nigeria's premier indigenous oil and gas exploration and production company. Lukman’s recent term as Minister of Petroleum Resources was controversial. Angry at proposed reforms to the oil and gas sector, militants threatened Afren operations in the Niger Delta.

Lukman has been OPEC Secretary General twice and enjoys immense clout and respect in international oil circles. In October 1987, he became the first African to receive a fellowship award at Imperial College, London.

Lukman left office in March 2010, after Acting President Goodluck Jonathan dissolved cabinet.