Electricity distribution company, Ikeja Electric, has appointed Mrs Ogochukwu Onyelucheya as its acting Chief Executive Officer, effective July 1, as the company reshuffles its leadership to sustain operational growth and improve service delivery.
The appointment follows the transition of Mrs Folake Soetan, who has led the company since 2020 and will assume broader strategic responsibilities across the power and upstream businesses of the Sahara Group.
Announcing the appointment, Ikeja Electric said the leadership change is aimed at strengthening the company’s capacity to accelerate innovation, operational efficiency and customer service across its electricity distribution business.
Chairman of Ikeja Electric, Kola Adesina, credited Soetan with driving the company’s transformation over the past five years.
He said her tenure strengthened operational performance, deepened stakeholder confidence and positioned the utility for sustainable growth within Nigeria’s evolving electricity market.
“Folake has been instrumental in transforming Ikeja Electric into a more resilient, customer-focused and performance-driven organisation. Her leadership reflects the very essence of innovation, resilience and impact,” Adesina said.
Reflecting on her tenure, Soetan described it as a privilege to lead the company and said she would continue supporting Sahara Group’s vision of delivering sustainable and inclusive energy solutions across Africa in her new role.
The board said Onyelucheya’s appointment reflects its confidence in her leadership capabilities, institutional knowledge and ability to execute the company’s long-term strategy.
According to Adesina, the incoming acting CEO combines strategic leadership with strong execution discipline and is well-positioned to build on the gains recorded under her predecessor.
“Ogochukwu brings a compelling blend of leadership experience, strategic clarity and execution discipline. We are confident in her ability to drive innovation, efficiency and customer-centric growth,” he said.
Onyelucheya has more than two decades of experience in finance, corporate strategy and business transformation across the banking and energy sectors. Her career has focused on improving operational efficiency through digital transformation, process automation and revenue assurance initiatives.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, a master’s degree in Finance and Financial Law from the University of London, and has completed executive education at Harvard Business School.
Accepting the appointment, Onyelucheya pledged to build on the company’s existing achievements by improving service delivery, strengthening customer confidence and creating sustainable value for stakeholders.
The company said the leadership transition underscores its commitment to business continuity, operational excellence and supporting Nigeria’s electricity sector through improved customer experience, expanded energy access and sustainable growth.