Sahara Group has appointed Folake Soetan as the new Managing Director of Arahas Global Oilfield Services, entrusting the respected energy executive with the responsibility of driving the company’s ambitious transformation agenda across Africa’s oil and gas industry.
The appointment, which took effect on July 1, 2026, marks another significant milestone in Sahara Group’s broader “Beyond XXX” strategy aimed at strengthening its leadership across the energy value chain while accelerating operational excellence, technological innovation and sustainable development throughout the continent.
The announcement was made by Sahara Group, which described Soetan’s appointment as a strategic move designed to position Arahas as one of Africa’s leading integrated oilfield services companies capable of delivering world-class engineering solutions to clients across upstream operations.
According to the company’s Executive Director, Adedeji Odunsi, the appointment reflects Sahara Group’s long-term commitment to building resilient businesses led by visionary professionals capable of delivering measurable impact.
“Our focus is on building future-ready platforms anchored on strong leadership, clear strategy, and disciplined execution. Folake’s appointment reflects our commitment to empowering leaders who can translate ambition into measurable outcomes across our energy ecosystem,” Odunsi said.
Driving a New Era for Arahas
Arahas Global Oilfield Services, one of Sahara Group’s energy subsidiaries, provides integrated oilfield solutions spanning engineering services, drilling support, project management and operational services across the petroleum industry.
Sahara Group said Soetan assumes leadership at a defining moment as Arahas seeks to redefine oilfield service delivery through greater innovation, improved operational efficiency and sustainability.
Her mandate includes expanding the company’s footprint across Africa while strengthening partnerships, deploying cutting-edge technologies and delivering value-driven solutions to clients operating throughout the oil and gas value chain.
The company believes her wealth of executive experience in business transformation and operational leadership makes her well suited to lead the organization through its next phase of growth.
Industry analysts note that Africa’s energy landscape is undergoing rapid change, with increasing investments in indigenous oilfield service providers as governments seek greater local participation, technological advancement and energy security.
Against this backdrop, Sahara Group hopes Arahas will become one of the continent’s foremost indigenous service companies capable of competing globally while maintaining deep African expertise.
A Proven Transformation Leader
Soetan arrives at Arahas after an impressive tenure as the Chief Executive Officer of Ikeja Electric, Nigeria’s largest electricity distribution company.
During her leadership, Ikeja Electric pursued several operational reforms aimed at improving customer service, increasing revenue collection, strengthening network reliability and modernizing business processes.
Her tenure was widely regarded as one of transformation within Nigeria’s electricity distribution sector, where she championed digital innovation, operational discipline and customer-centric reforms despite the industry’s structural challenges.
Her departure from Ikeja Electric paved the way for a new leadership structure while allowing her to assume broader responsibilities within Sahara Group’s expanding energy portfolio.
Brief History of Folake Soetan
Folake Soetan is one of Nigeria’s most accomplished female executives in the energy industry.
Before entering the power sector, she began her professional career in aviation, working with British Airways and Virgin Nigeria, where she held senior commercial and sales leadership positions.
She later joined Ikeja Electric as Deputy Chief Commercial Officer, quickly distinguishing herself through her commercial expertise and strategic leadership.
Her outstanding performance earned her promotion to Chief Commercial Officer, followed by Chief Operating Officer, before she was eventually appointed Chief Executive Officer of the electricity distribution company.
Throughout her career, she has become known for driving business transformation, improving operational efficiency, strengthening customer engagement and promoting innovation within highly regulated industries.
Her leadership style has also earned recognition as a strong advocate for diversity, inclusion and women’s participation in executive leadership across Africa’s energy sector.
Strengthening Sahara Group’s Energy Ambitions
Industry observers view Soetan’s appointment as consistent with Sahara Group’s strategy of strengthening leadership across its various business units as the company expands investments in upstream oil production, downstream energy services and infrastructure development.
Arahas is expected to play a central role in delivering integrated oilfield services that support increasing exploration and production activities across Nigeria and other African markets.
The company’s emphasis on engineering excellence, operational reliability and sustainable practices aligns with Sahara Group’s long-term ambition of becoming one of Africa’s leading energy conglomerates.
Under Soetan’s leadership, Arahas is expected to deepen collaborations with operators, introduce innovative service models and improve project execution standards while maintaining international best practices.
A Significant Appointment for Women in Energy
The appointment also represents another milestone for female leadership within Africa’s traditionally male-dominated oil and gas industry.
Over the past decade, Soetan has emerged as one of Nigeria’s most visible female executives, demonstrating that transformational leadership transcends sector boundaries from aviation to electricity distribution and now oilfield services.
Her elevation to Managing Director of Arahas reinforces growing efforts across Africa’s corporate landscape to place experienced women in strategic leadership positions capable of influencing industrial growth and economic development.
For Sahara Group, the appointment is more than a change in leadership; it is a strategic investment in a proven executive with an established record of delivering business transformation.
As Africa’s energy industry continues evolving amid changing global market dynamics, the success of Arahas under Folake Soetan’s leadership will likely be closely watched by investors, policymakers and industry stakeholders seeking indigenous companies capable of delivering globally competitive oilfield services while supporting sustainable development across the continent.
