Expat CEOs Under Fire: Debate Erupts Over Foreign Domination of Nigeria’s Corporate Boardrooms

Follow

( 0 Followers )

X

Follow

E-mail : *

Follow Unfollow

A bold LinkedIn post by Emik Energy Nigeria Limited has ignited a nationwide conversation on the dominance of expatriate executives in Nigeria’s top companies, sparking questions about whether local talent is being sidelined despite a growing pool of qualified Nigerian professionals.

Titled “Foreign Faces in Nigeria’s Boardrooms: What’s the Real Story?”, the post spotlights a long list of foreign CEOs leading some of the nation’s most influential corporations. British CEO Roger Brown of Seplat Energy, for instance, oversaw a $1.28 billion ExxonMobil acquisition and ramped production to 120,000 barrels per day. At Dangote Cement, Indian Group MD Arvind Pathak earns about ₦609 million annually, while German CEO Lars Richter of Julius Berger Nigeria commands roughly ₦217 million in salary while steering major infrastructure projects.

Other expatriates named include Spanish CEO Jordi Borrut Bel of Nigerian Breweries Plc, Ghanaian MD Yaw Nsarkoh of Unilever Nigeria, Greek CEO Christos Giannopoulos of PZ Cussons Nigeria—who has held the role for over 17 years—and British CEO David Bird at the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals complex.

While acknowledging that these leaders bring global expertise and investor confidence, Emik Energy questions why more Nigerians aren’t occupying these top roles. As examples of homegrown success, the post highlights Dr. Owen Omogiafo, CEO of Transcorp Group, and Peter Ikenga, MD of Transcorp Power, as proof that Nigerian executives can excel at the highest levels.

“Nigeria has world-class talent, both local and in the diaspora,” the post reads. “What we need isn’t the exclusion of foreign expertise, but a leadership model that empowers Nigerian excellence first—allowing global talent to complement, not overshadow, it.”

The discussion explores whether this trend stems from a skills gap, perceived neutrality of foreigners, or systemic bias. Even companies with high local workforce representation—like the Dangote Refinery’s 85% Nigerian engineering team—still retain expatriates in top corporate roles, prompting calls for a leadership shift to match localization policies.

Social media reactions have been swift. Some commenters cite globalization as a natural factor, while others, like Dr. Kenny Odugbemi, blame a “culture of impunity” for limiting local advancement. Many have urged tagging firms that champion Nigerian leadership as examples to follow.

Emik Energy’s post ends with a challenge: “Do you think expatriate CEOs are still necessary? Are we overlooking Nigerian professionals ready for these roles? Let’s change the narrative together.”

With hashtags like #CorporateNigeria, #ExpatLeadership, and #NigerianTalent trending, the debate captures a broader struggle—how to balance foreign investment benefits with the urgent need to cultivate and trust Nigerian leadership in the boardroom.