What are the most significant cases and transactions that your legal team has recently been involved in?

The legal team at MPNU provides key input into enterprise-wide strategy and commercial operations. We provide strategic, commercial, and legal counsel, along with advocacy and risk mitigation, for all the company’s activities. This includes, but is not limited to, regulatory, environmental, labour and employment, data privacy, public procurement, and competition matters. We oversee a broad portfolio of claims across various litigation dockets, successfully leveraging the expertise of external counsel.

As a general counsel, how do you anticipate and prepare for potential legal and regulatory challenges that may arise, particularly in light of emerging technologies and evolving business landscapes?

I adopt a proactive approach in anticipating and addressing legal and regulatory challenges. While predicting every potential threat is an impossible task, continuous monitoring of emerging technologies and staying abreast of regulatory shifts enables the provision of timely and strategic counsel. The ever-evolving business landscape makes it imperative to closely monitor regulatory trends globally and across the continent. Leveraging social media and other channels ensures that we stay abreast of signals and signposts, while also building in flexibility and acknowledging the ever-present possibility of disruption to the best-laid plans.

We also adopt a collaborative and collegial approach with all our stakeholders and ensure diversity of thought as we consider the range of potential outcomes. This is critical to fortifying our readiness to face challenges and transforming potential obstacles into opportunities for global best practice, innovation, and compliance excellence. One example is the Phase Four Consultation Forum with The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission. This comprehensive and collaborative approach strengthens our capacity to fulfil our responsibilities to manage and mitigate legal and regulatory risks, ensuring the adoption of global best practices and the sustainability of the industry.

In summary, proactivity, foresight, continuous research, collaboration, and technology enhance our ability to foresee and address challenges, align globally, and shape policy locally for the benefit of the industry.

How much influence do you, as a general counsel, have on the diversity and inclusion policies of your organisation? 

We are deeply committed to fostering an inclusive workplace that embraces diversity and inclusion (D&I) with robust policies celebrating diversity in race, gender, origin, and thought. My appointment as the first female vice chairman underscores our unwavering dedication to D&I and grants me significant influence over our D&I policies. As vice chairman and general counsel, championing diversity and inclusion is integral to my leadership philosophy. My influence extends beyond rhetoric; I recognise that success is contingent upon the amalgamation of different perspectives, experiences, and the value that a diverse workforce brings to decision-making.

I drive tangible actions, advocating for diversity at every level within our companies in Nigeria. I also collaborate with the board to oversee policy implementation, working closely with HR to ensure adherence to D&I policies. Finally, I have a personal open-door policy that allows me to be accessible and creates an environment where open dialogue thrives. It was an honour and remains my privilege to be appointed as the first female vice chair. I aim to ensure that I am not the last and that my appointment serves not only as an example but also creates pathways and opportunities for others.

How do you see the general counsel role evolving in Nigeria over the next five to ten years?

In the next five to ten years, the general counsel role is set to undergo a significant evolution driven by several key factors. A primary driver of this change is the growing influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Technologies like ChatGPT and others are already ‘democratising’ the practice of law, necessitating general counsel to upskill and adapt. Our value will continue to lie in delivering decisions fit for risk, analysing nuance and context. We will also continue to grapple with the formulation of policies governing AI’s use within our organisations, balancing innovation and productivity, and building in flexibility to ensure policies keep abreast of technological developments.

Beyond AI and traditional legal advisory functions, the evolving landscape demands a strategic, proactive, and holistic approach. General counsel will continue to serve as key business partners who are integral in decision-making processes. With a deep understanding of both legal intricacies and business dynamics, we will continue to be architects of risk mitigation, innovation enablers, and champions of ethical governance. The future general counsel will be a catalyst for positive change, navigating complexities with agility, and will continue to demonstrate value by contributing significantly to the success and sustainability of their organisations.