Seplat Energy Plc has become the first Nigerian company and the second oil and gas company in Africa to receive the prestigious Procurement Excellence Standard Certificate from the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS).
The certificate was officially presented to Seplat Energy at its Ikoyi office in Lagos State on 5 June 2025. The award recognises organisations that demonstrate world-class standards in procurement and supply chain management.
A delegation from CIPS, led by Global CEO Malcolm Farrell, delivered the certificate to the Seplat Energy team headed by Chief Operating Officer (COO) Samson Ezugworie and General Manager, Supply Chain Management (SCM), Valentine Agwu.
Seplat Energy’s journey towards this recognition began in February 2023 when the company applied to be assessed against the CIPS Procurement Excellence Programme.
The evaluation involved an extensive review of Seplat’s policies, processes, and operational practices, measured against 98 criteria across five key categories: Leadership and Organisation, Processes and Systems, Strategy and Policy, Performance Management, and People.
The final stage of assessment took place on Monday, 21 January 2025, with an independent verifier from the CIPS Advantage Procurement Excellence Programme. The following day, on 22 January, CIPS confirmed that Seplat Energy had successfully met the standards required for the certification.
Speaking during the presentation, Farrell praised Seplat Energy for its outstanding commitment to excellence.
“We don’t hand out these certificates lightly. They represent serious, meaningful recognition of ambition and hard work. It is a rigorous process, and the goal is for recipients to come out of it knowing they are highly competent. This certificate reflects the commitment and determination shown by the entire Seplat team. Congratulations to you all,” he said.
COO Samson Ezugworie, speaking on behalf of Seplat Energy’s leadership, expressed deep gratitude to CIPS for what he described as a transformative experience. He commended the SCM team for their dedication and the integrity of the review process.
“As Seplat Energy management, we made a deliberate choice to pursue this path because we understand that supply chain is the backbone of our business. It controls how we spend and it is critical that this process is built on a solid, transparent foundation. This certification affirms that,” Ezugworie said.
He also acknowledged the leadership of General Manager Valentine Agwu and encouraged the team to continue their efforts towards achieving the Platinum Category, with sustainability as the next benchmark.
Reflecting on the journey, Agwu shared that Seplat’s supply chain transformation began in 2021, initially focused on improving processes, people, and systems. The company later adopted the CIPS Procurement Excellence Programme model as the framework for its transformation.
“It took us two years of intense evaluation across all five dimensions. I am proud to announce that we passed with distinction, which brings us here today,” Agwu said.
The award not only underscores Seplat Energy’s procurement capabilities but also reinforces its position as a leader in responsible and efficient supply chain management in Nigeria and the African oil and gas sector.