By Emeka Anaeto, Business Editor
Consistency, diligence, value-investing, job creation, among others stood out in the entrepreneurial journey of Sir Dr. Emeka Offor, a well known international oil magnate, energy sector top player, founder of multiple businesses, who also plays big in philanthropy. For these and many more value he has created in Nigeria’s private sector and humanity, he was voted Vanguard Businessman of the Year 2024.
Sir Dr. Emeka Offor is the Chief Executive of Chrome Group, one of the leading West African oil and gas conglomerate, and the founder of the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation, SEOF.
As a dynamic and articulate entrepreneur with about four decades of business experience, he has built a vast business empire with interests in Oil and Gas, Insurance, the Power Sector, the Media, Telecommunications and Logistics, both in Nigeria and overseas.
He began his business career at a tender age of 21 and has since moved from one milestone to several others. In 1994, Sir Dr. Emeka Offor formed the Chrome Group, now a major player in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa energy industry. The Group offers vast experience in oil and gas services, power, logistics and telecommunications. The subsidiaries of the Chrome Group include Kaztec Engineering Limited, Nimek Investments Limited, Global Scansystems Nigeria Limited, Chrome Insurance Brokers Limited and Inland Containers Nigeria Limited. There are about 20 active companies in the Group. Until recently Sir Dr. Emeka Offor was the Chairman of the board of EHRC Energy Inc., a USA based independent Oil and Gas Company focused on exploration and production in the Gulf of Guinea.
The Chrome Group, from its origins as an engineering outfit handling projects such as refinery maintenance, has today become a conglomerate with diverse interests in Oil and Gas, Finance/Investments, Telecommunications, Insurance, Maritime, Destination Inspection, Real Estate and the Power Sector. Through the expertise and hardwork of the employees, directors and various business associates Chrome Oil Services have been able to contribute to turning around the downstream sector of Nigeria’s Oil & Gas, including the last successful Turn-around Maintenance (TAM) of Port Harcourt Refinery.
Strings of successful businesses
Chrome Group is leading multibillion dollar conglomerate, employing over 1000 Nigerians, controlling significant interests across multiple sectors.
Some of the major subsidiaries include: Kaztec Engineering Ltd, a leader in the fabrication of drilling and production platforms in the oil and gas industry; Enugu Electricity Distribution Company distributes electricity to five states in the South East geo political Zone of Nigeria.
Global Scansystems Technology Limited (GSTL) which is a wholly indigenous company that provides its global clientele with petroleum and allied products inspection services; Inland Containers Nigeria Ltd, a leading integrated shipping and logistics company in West Africa; Nimek Investment Ltd, a Nigeria-based investment holding company with interests in real estate, banking, insurance, energy and aviation; Blaze FM, an independent commercial radio station which transmits on 91.5MHZ in the FM Band; 99.9 KISS FM, an adult contemporary radio station that keeps its listeners up to date with news, current affairs and community events; Starcrest Nigeria, a rising star in the natural resources sector in West Africa; Kingsbury Trading Ltd, in the business of import, export and distribution of crude oil, gas and other petro-chemical products; Interstate Electrics Ltd, a consortium incorporated as a vehicle for the purpose of acquiring and operating Electricity Distribution Companies in Nigeria; I Surveillance Technologies Ltd, an environmentally friendly, professional and committed international company which is strategically structured and branded to amongst others carry on the general business of:- (a) Surveillances, Telecommunications and Information Technology (ICT). (b) Manufacturing, Producing, Installing and Maintaining Surveillance equipment, Security apparatus, machinery plant and all types of telecommunication equipment.
Philanthropy: To coordinate charitable efforts, he founded the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation (SEOF). With this foundation, the philanthropist Businessman has contributed to the development of healthcare, education, sport and economic empowerment in Nigeria.
The Sir Emeka Offor Foundation is a nonprofit, charitable organization, established in 1993 and incorporated in 2003, with a vision to reduce poverty and create life-improving economic opportunities for those residing in Nigeria’s most marginalized communities through education, healthcare services, widows’ cooperative, youth empowerment/ employment and infrastructural development. SEOF has spent over N750 million in this social investment over the resent years.
The post Why Emeka Offor is Businessman of the Year appeared first on Vanguard News.
