Ikeja Electric has announced the appointment of Mrs Ogochukwu Onyelucheya as its Acting Chief Executive Officer, effective July 1, 2026, as part of efforts to strengthen leadership and drive the company’s next phase of growth.
The appointment follows the transition of Mrs Folake Soetan, who has led the electricity distribution company since 2020 and will assume broader strategic responsibilities across the energy sector.
In a statement issued by the company’s Head of Corporate Communications, Kingsley Okotie, Ikeja Electric described the leadership change as a strategic move aimed at accelerating growth, innovation, and service excellence across its operations.
Chairman of Ikeja Electric, Kola Adesina, commended Soetan for her transformational leadership and contributions to the company’s growth over the past six years.
“Folake has been instrumental in transforming Ikeja Electric into a more resilient, customer-focused, and performance-driven organisation. Her leadership reflects the very essence of innovation, resilience, and impact,” Adesina said.
During her tenure, Soetan oversaw significant improvements in operational performance, strengthened stakeholder confidence, and positioned the company for sustainable growth within Nigeria’s evolving electricity sector.
Reflecting on her time as Chief Executive Officer, Soetan expressed appreciation for the opportunity to lead the organisation.
“It has been an honour to lead Ikeja Electric and work alongside a team committed to delivering value to customers and communities. As I take on this new role across Sahara’s Power and Upstream businesses, I look forward to supporting the Group’s vision of delivering sustainable, inclusive, and impactful energy solutions across Africa,” she said.
The Board said Onyelucheya’s appointment reflects its confidence in her leadership capabilities, strategic vision, and proven track record of driving organisational transformation and sustainable business performance.
Adesina noted that she possesses the experience required to build on the company’s achievements while advancing innovation, operational efficiency, and customer-focused growth.
“Ogochukwu brings a compelling blend of leadership experience, strategic clarity, and execution discipline. We are confident in her ability to build on the strong foundation established at Ikeja Electric while driving innovation, efficiency, and customer-centric growth. She has our full support as she leads the business into its next chapter,” he said.
Onyelucheya is a seasoned corporate executive and finance professional with more than two decades of experience in business strategy, financial management, and operational transformation across the banking and energy sectors.
Throughout her career, she has led major business turnaround initiatives through process digitisation, automation, and the implementation of revenue assurance systems designed to improve operational efficiency and profitability.
She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, a Master of Science degree in Finance and Financial Law from the University of London, and is an alumnus of Harvard Business School.
Speaking on her appointment, Onyelucheya thanked the Board for its confidence and pledged to continue building on the company’s achievements.
“Taking on the responsibility of building on the strong foundation at Ikeja Electric is a privilege for the incredible IE team and me. Our focus remains on delivering improved service, deepening customer trust, and driving sustainable performance as we continue to create value for all stakeholders,” she said.
Adesina added that the leadership transition underscores Ikeja Electric’s commitment to continuity, operational excellence, and delivering reliable electricity services that improve customer experience, expand energy access, and support sustainable development.
He expressed confidence that the new leadership would strengthen stakeholder confidence and continue creating value for customers, employees, regulators, investors, and host communities.
