Management Team
Olajumoke Cecilia Ajayi FNAPE
MD/CEO
Olajumoke Cecilia Ajayi is the Managing Director/CEO of West African Exploration and Production (WAEP) Company, a role she assumed in March 2026. With almost 30 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, she is a leading figure in Africa’s upstream sector. She holds B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in Applied Geophysics from Federal University of Technology, Akure and University of Lagos, respectively.
She began her career at Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited and has held key roles across several oil and gas companies, including Ingentia Energies Limited, Asharami Energy Ltd., Centrica Resources Nigeria Ltd., Peak Petroleum Limited, and Degeconek Consulting.
As the Pioneer Managing Director of Ingentia Energies Limited, Olajumoke steered the company through critical growth milestones. Under her leadership, she successfully delivered a producing well averaging over 2,300 barrels of oil per day, a 10,000 bopd capacity Production Processing Facility was constructed and installed, the Field Development Plan received Commission approval, resulting in the conversion of the Petroleum Prospecting License (PPL) to a Petroleum Mining Lease (PML), the asset ranked among the top-performing fields awarded post-2020 Marginal Field Bid Round, the company achieved over one million barrels of cumulative production since inception, with more than one million barrels successfully evacuated and over one million man-hours were recorded with zero Lost Time Injury (LTI). Projects were consistently delivered safely, within budget, and in record time—reflecting her unwavering commitment to operational excellence. Beyond operations, she built strong, sustainable relationships with host communities, ensuring Ingentia operated as a responsible corporate citizen with a long-term community engagement focus.
During her tenure at Asharami Energy, Olajumoke recorded numerous achievements. As Exploration Manager and later General Manager – Exploration & Development, she led the team that drilled and successfully delivered Asharami’s first five wells. Upon her promotion to Managing Director during a critical downturn—when oil prices fell below USD 30—she skilfully transitioned the company from an exploration-focused entity into a producing business delivering 20,000 barrels of oil per day. She secured funding for new drilling initiatives, generating significant incremental value and driving sustained business growth.
Olajumoke currently serves as the third female President of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists and was the first woman to become its Vice President. She is also a member of global professional bodies such as American Association of Petroleum Geologists, European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers, and Society of Exploration Geophysicists.
Her achievements have earned her multiple recognitions, including listings among Africa’s top female energy executives and most impactful women in leadership. Beyond her career, she is committed to philanthropy and mentorship, supporting youth, women, and entrepreneurs, while serving on the Governing Council of Elizade University and the board of SheCan Nigeria Ltd.
Mr. Ebiaho Emafo
Chief Corporate Services, Contracts and Procurement
Ebiaho Emafo is a seasoned executive with expertise in leadership, business development, supply chain management, and project management. He has held senior roles including Deputy Group Managing Director at Notore Chemical Industries, Managing Director/CEO at Eroton Exploration & Production Co. Ltd, and senior leadership positions at Airtel Ghana, Zain telecoms Group, United Nations, Lafarge Cement, Oando Plc, and Total Upstream.
He holds an MSc in Logistics & Supply Chain Management (Cranfield University, UK), MBA (Cardiff Business School, University of Wales, UK), and BSc in Politics (University of Benin, Nigeria). He is a chartered member of the Institute of Procurement & Supply (MCIPS) and has attended executive programs at Insead, London Business School, Stanford, Colorado School of Mines, and Oxford University.
Toluwalope Solana
Chief Financial Officer
Frank Toluwalope Solana FCA is a chartered accountant with about 35 years post-graduation experience. He has held management and finance-related roles in several FMCG companies. A graduate of the prestigious University of Ife, Ile-Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) and a thoroughbred professional, Tolu has proved himself in the corporate environment as a senior management staff and a finance controller both in Nigeria and Overseas. His key areas of expertise include, budgeting and forecasting, financial controls and risks, profit improvement and reduction of operating cost, motivating and mentoring & IFRS conversion and Implementation. His key achievements include executing several trainings for oil and gas staff, debt recoveries, cost optimisation, government relations, securing and executing key contracts in the oil and gas industry and beyond, among others. He is currently the Chief Financial Officer, West African Exploration and Production Company (WAEP).
Babasegun Adewunmi
Manager, Legal
Babasegun Ibrahim Adewunmi is a legal practitioner of 26 years standing. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Secretary and Administrators of Nigeria, an Associate member of the Institute of Chartered Mediators of Nigeria and an Associate member, Institute of Arbitrators, United Kingdom. Babasegun obtained his first degree in Law (LL. B) from Ogun state University, now Olabisi Onabanjo University and then proceeded to the University of Lagos for his master’s degree in law where he bagged his (LL.M) qualification. He began his legal career with the law firm of AHONARUOGHO, AHONARUOGHO & CO as an Associate counsel. He subsequently joined the services of Conoil, now Conoil Producing Limited, one of the foremost indigenous oil and Gas Company as a Legal Officer and rose to become the Head of legal. He is currently the Legal Manager with West Africa Exploration and Production Limited.
Patrick Obilo Orji
Head, Internal Audit and Control
Patrick Obilo Orji is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and a Certified Information System Auditor. He has over 30 years hands-on experience in accounting, internal audit, taxation, management training, business process re-engineering, and investigation. Patrick coordinated the running of many open and in-house seminars/workshops on accounting, internal auditing, forensic auditing, general management, international financial reporting standards for small and medium enterprises (IFRS for SMEs) and international public sector accounting standards (IPSAS) in collaboration with ICAN Port Harcourt & District Society. He has also coordinated forensic reviews of corporate accounts of some government and private sector organizations with deposit money banks in Nigeria. He is currently the Head of Internal Audit & Control, West African Exploration and Production Company Limited, Lagos.
OPERATIONAL HEAD OFFICE
Waterfront Plaza, 270A Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue,
2nd Floor, Ecobank Building,
Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria.