Gasman of the Year: Chief Timipre Marlin Sylva
H.E. Chief Timipre Marlin Sylva is the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, August 21, 2019, as the Nigerian Cabinet Minister of State for Petroleum Resources. Prior to this current appointment, he had served as the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State of Nigeria for about 5 years. As Governor of one of the largest Oil Producing States in Nigeria, Sylva played a key role in the initiation and implementation of the Amnesty Programme that brought about peace and stability in the Niger Delta region.
He was born on the 7th of July, 1964, he had his secondary education at Government Secondary School, Brass and thereafter attended the University of Port Harcourt where he graduated as the best graduating student and valedictorian, with a distinction in English (Linguistics). He was subsequently awarded a Doctor in International Relations (Honoris Causa) by the University of Business and International Studies, Geneva, Switzerland in 2011.
In his current role as the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he has clearly mapped out nine priority areas that include curbing petroleum products cross border leakages, completion of the Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme, increasing crude oil production to 3million barrels per day, reducing the current cost of crude oil production by at least 5 per cent, aggressive promotion of the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill, promotion of inland basin exploration activities, promotion of deep offshore exploration activities, collaboration with the private sector to aggressively increase domestic refining capacity and working assiduously to support President Muhammadu Buhari in his poise to achieving his target of raising millions of Nigerians out of poverty via job creation.
In a further show of commitment to giving back, he served as a Chair of the Governing Board of the Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority, where he presided over policy matters and provided strategic leadership and direction.
