Diezani K. Alison-Madueke is a prominent Nigerian politician and the first woman to serve as the President of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
Her tenure as OPEC President began on November 27, 2014, during the 166th OPEC Ordinary meeting in Vienna.
Alison-Madueke has held several high-profile positions within the Nigerian government, including Minister of Transportation, Minister of Mines and Steel Development, and the groundbreaking role of the first female Minister of Petroleum Resources in Nigeria.
Early Life and Education
Born Diezani K. Agama on December 6, 1960, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, to Chief Frederick Abiye Agama, she began her early education in Shell Camp and attended Hussey Model School after the Nigerian civil war.
In 1968, she enrolled in Township School, Port Harcourt, and later attended Holy Rosary Government Girls Secondary School, where she completed her West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASCE) in 1975.
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She then proceeded to the Federal School of Arts and Sciences in Mubi, Gongola State (now Adamawa State), for her A-Levels before moving to the United Kingdom in 1977 to study architecture.
Initially, she studied in England, but later transferred to Howard University in the United States, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in architecture on December 8, 1992.
In 2002, she attended the Cambridge Judge Business School for her MBA, funded by a Chevening Scholarship.
Career
Shell Nigeria
After graduating, Alison-Madueke returned to Nigeria in 1992 and joined Shell Petroleum Development Corporation.
She started in the estates area of operations in Shell’s Lagos office and acted as an architectural consultant.
She quickly climbed the corporate ladder, becoming Head of Civil Infrastructures and then Head of the Corporate Issues and Crisis Management Unit in 1997.
After completing her MBA, she was appointed Lead Joint Ventures Representation Adviser in 2004.
In 2006, she broke new ground by becoming the first woman to be appointed as an Executive Director at Shell Nigeria.
In Government
Alison-Madueke’s government career began with her appointment as Minister of Transportation in July 2007.
She was later appointed Minister of Mines and Steel Development on December 23, 2008.
In April 2010, following the elevation of Vice President Goodluck Jonathan to Acting President, she was appointed Minister of Petroleum Resources.
She held this position until June 1, 2015, when she left office as part of the transition to President Jonathan’s successor.
Subsequently, she served as a Trade and Investment Commissioner for the Commonwealth of Dominica.
Minister of Petroleum Resources
As the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Alison-Madueke aimed to reform Nigeria’s oil and gas industry to benefit all Nigerians.
In April 2010, she oversaw the signing of the Nigerian Content Act by President Goodluck Jonathan, which aimed to increase the share of petroleum industry contracts awarded to Nigerian businesses.
One of her most contentious policies was the proposal to remove state subsidies on fuel prices, which she supported to alleviate the financial burden on the government and combat inefficiency and corruption.
Achievements
Alison-Madueke achieved several firsts in her career:
– First female President of OPEC (2014)
– First woman to hold the position of Minister of Petroleum Resources in Nigeria
– First woman to head a country’s delegation at an OPEC conference (October 2010)
– First female Minister of Transportation in Nigeria
– First woman to be appointed to the board of Shell Petroleum Development Company Nigeria
Personal Life
Diezani Alison-Madueke married Admiral Allison Madueke (retired) in 1999. He is a former Chief of Naval Staff and a one-time governor of Imo and Anambra States.
They have one biological son together and five stepchildren. However, in recent years, their marriage has faced turmoil, leading to a legal separation finalized on April 13, 2022.
Despite the separation, Alison-Madueke has continued to use her ex-husband’s surname, which has led to further legal disputes.
Alison-Madueke has openly discussed her battle with breast cancer, undergoing treatment in the United Kingdom while in office.
She also survived a kidnapping attempt in Abuja in September 2008.
Awards
In September 2011, Alison-Madueke was awarded an honorary Doctorate degree in Management Sciences by the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna.
She was the first woman to receive this honour, which was conferred during the convocation ceremony for the 58th Regular Course Cadets.
Controversy
Diezani Alison-Madueke’s career has been marred by numerous allegations of corruption and financial misconduct.
She has been accused of embezzling billions of dollars from the Nigerian government and awarding contracts without due process.
In 2015, she was arrested in London by the UK’s National Crime Agency on suspicion of bribery and corruption.
Additionally, her properties and bank accounts, amounting to millions of dollars, have been seized in Nigeria and the United States.
Her ex-husband, Admiral Madueke, has recently requested the Lagos State High Court to stop her from using his last name, citing damage to his reputation due to the ongoing corruption charges against her.
Social Media Handle
– X (Twitter): @diezanimadueke (https://twitter.com/diezanimadueke)
Net Worth
Diezani Alison-Madueke’s net worth is estimated to be around $500 million. Her assets include luxurious homes, expensive cars, and other valuable possessions.
However, her wealth has been the subject of scrutiny and legal battles due to the various corruption scandals she has been implicated in.
