By Bassey Udo
Waltersmith Petroman Oil Limited (WSPOL) has announced the appointment of two seasoned energy professionals as members of its Board of Directors in a strategic move to underscore its succession plan as it continues to seek to capitalize on emerging opportunities in Nigeria’s evolving oil and gas landscape.
Waltersmith Petroman Oil Limited is a leading Nigerian independent oil and gas exploration and production company with operations in the Niger Delta.
The company, which is part of the Waltersmith Group, an indigenous integrated energy and infrastructure investment group with diversified
interests across Nigeria’s energy and infrastructure value chain, including refining, power generation, and industrial infrastructure, owns and operates Ibigwe Field (PML 5) and Assa Field (PPL 243), both in Imo State, and holds an indirect non-operating interest in Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited.
Oladapo Filani, who has served as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer since 2023, has been appointed Managing Director.
Similarly, Alex Osho has been appointed as Executive Director (Finance & Commercial) following his successful tenure as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Waltersmith Petroman between December 2019 and January 2023 and as the Group Chief Operating Officer since February 2023.
These key appointments recognise the immense contributions of Mr. Filani and Mr. Osho to the Company and their proven leadership capabilities.
The Board expansion comes as WSPOL continues to pursue an ambitious growth agenda focused on production optimization, portfolio expansion, and operational excellence.
The new Board appointments combine deep technical expertise with proven financial and commercial acumen,
against the backdrop of strong governance principles, which are essential elements for successfully
navigating Nigeria’s dynamic energy sector.
The Board Chairman, Abdulrazaq Isa said he firmly believes in the leadership potential of the Company’s new leader, Mr. Filani, who has led by example and placed the Company on a robust growth path over the last few years, hinged on strong technical capabilities and a can-do spirit.
He said Mr Filani would be supported by Mr. Osho, who has also been extremely influential in charting a new course for the Company over the past few years, relying on his financial/commercial acumen, critical thinking skills, and collaborative approach.
“They have both demonstrated strong leadership, professionalism, empathy, and vision. They have also demonstrated ideation and execution capabilities over the past few years. It is with this confidence that I hand over the reins of the Company to its new leaders. It is my hope that they will build upon our successes and take the Company to greater heights,” the Board Chairman said.
In July 2025, the Company also appointed Mr. Taiwo Adeniji to its Board as an Independent Non-Executive Director.
Mr. Adeniji is a distinguished development finance and infrastructure
finance expert who will bring over 30 years of experience to contribute valuable independent oversight and governance expertise to the Company.
Oladapo Filani – A profile
He is an accomplished petroleum engineer with over 26 years of distinguished experience in the Nigerian oil and gas industry. He has successfully led WSPOL’s operational excellence and strategic initiatives over the past two years.
As the Managing Director and CEO,
Oladapo will be responsible for the overall stewardship of Walter Smith Upstream, Midstream Gas, and
Downstream businesses.
Before joining WSPOL, Mr. Filani served as Deputy General Manager, Corporate Strategy & Business Delivery at First Exploration & Petroleum Development Company Limited (First E&P).
His career includes progressively senior roles at Eland Oil & Gas as Asset Development Manager and nearly two decades at Addax Petroleum Development Nigeria Limited, where he advanced from Reservoir Engineer to Senior Manager, Planning & Gas Development.
His extensive experience spans Strategy and Planning, Operations, Portfolio Management, Gas Commercialization, Asset Development Management, and multidisciplinary team leadership
across technical and commercial functions.
Mr. Filani holds a B.Sc. (Hons) in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Ibadan and an MBA in Oil & Gas Management from Aberdeen Business School, Robert Gordon University.
He is an alumnus of London Business School and a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), Nigerian Society of Engineers, and the Chartered Institute of Directors, Nigeria.
Alex Osho – A profile
Osho has served as Group COO at the Waltersmith Group since February 2023 and has 20 years’ experience in energy, investment banking (M&A advisory, corporate & project finance, restructuring), and consulting.
Prior to joining Waltersmith Petroman as CFO in 2019, Alex served as Associate Director & Head of Advisory & Equity Capital Markets at FBNQuest Merchant Bank where he led the $1billion restructuring of a large commercial bank and advised the FGN on the privatization of key power assets.
Alex also previously served as VP (Investment Banking) at Barclays Africa where he advised a Nigerian upstream oil company on a key asset acquisition.
He had also held key roles at KPMG, Oando, and FBN Capital. Alex has advised on transactions valued at over $12 billion across the energy, financial services, consumer, and infrastructure sectors.
At Waltersmith, he has been responsible for several landmark transactions, including debt and equity financings, restructurings and asset acquisitions.
He has worked very closely with the Group Chairman and Company CEO to provide strategic direction, ensure financial prudence, and oversee the Company’s activities.
Mr. Osho holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting (1st Class Honours) from the University of Benin, Nigeria, where he graduated as the best student in his department and faculty, and an MBA
(with Distinction) from INSEAD, where he graduated on the Dean’s List.
He is a CFA charter holder, a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), and a recipient of
several ICAN national merit awards.
Taiwo Adeniji – Non-Executive Director
Taiwo Adeniji brings over 30 years of distinguished experience in development finance, investment banking, and infrastructure development across Africa.
He retired from Africa Finance
Corporation (AFC) as a Senior Director in June 2024. At AFC, he spent 17 years in executive management roles, including as Divisional Head and a member of several senior management
committees.
At AFC, Mr. Adeniji’s portfolio spanned power, transport and logistics, heavy industries, telecommunications, oil and gas, and mining sectors.
He also had responsibility for originating, developing, financing, and managing infrastructure and industrial projects across Nigeria and more than 10 African countries.
Prior to AFC, Mr. Adeniji worked for 13 years (1994-2007) with the African Development Bank (AfDB), focusing on infrastructure, industrial projects, and financial sector development across more than 20 African countries.
He currently serves as a non-executive director on the boards of several companies.
Mr. Adeniji holds an M.Sc. (Hons) in Finance and Banking (with Distinction) from the University of Lagos and a B.Agric. (Hons) in Agricultural Economics (First Class) from Obafemi Awolowo University, where he graduated as the best student in his department and faculty. He is an Honorary Senior Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria and has undertaken
extensive professional training in infrastructure financing, corporate risk management, and leadership.
Strategic Outlook
The expanded Board will provide strategic oversight as WSPOL advances key priorities, including optimizing production from its operations assets, evaluating organic growth opportunities,
pursuing value-accretive acquisitions, and maintaining industry-leading operational and safety standards.
The combination of operational expertise, financial discipline, and independent governance positions the company to deliver sustainable value creation for stakeholders.
