‘A Brilliant Spokesperson’-Guild Of Editors, GOCOP Applaud Soneye’s Tenure At NNPCL

The Guild of Corporate Online Publishers and the Guild of Editors have described the tenure of Femi Soneye, who recently stepped aside as Chief Corporate Communications Officer (CCCO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), as impactful.

Among those who praised his stewardship is the President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Eze Anaba, who described Soneye as “open, capable, and accessible,” and the GOCOP President Maureen Chigbo.

Anaba said the commitment of Soneye at NNPC Ltd helped him to win multiple communications awards and build strong relations with the media while Chigbo commended Soneye for his exemplary leadership in managing the image of the NNPCL.

The outgoing CCCO, Soneye, announced his stepping aside from the state-owned company on Saturday after 20 months in the role.

“I wish to inform you that I have stepped aside from my role as Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd.

“This decision will allow me to devote more time to my family and attend to personal responsibilities that now require my closer presence,” Soneye said.

In October 2023, NNPCL appointed the media guru to lead the Corporate Communications team of the National Oil Company and drive the brand penetration, strategic communications initiatives, and stakeholder management.

In an interview with THE WHISTLER, Anaba, emphasized that Soneye excelled in two critical areas of public relations: maintaining a trusted relationship with his principal and ensuring open communication with the public and press.

Anaba said, “Soneye was open. This gave him the edge to win several communications awards of different newspapers. He was open. He was capable. I judge PR people based on two criteria.

“One, his relationship with his principal, Femi passed that test. Two, is he accessible or friendly with the public? I will say yes- a 100 per cent.

“On these two, he did well. Also, he didn’t make trouble and enemies for NNPC. He was a brilliant spokesperson, no doubt about it.”

Reflecting on Soneye’s legacy, the Editors’ Guild President said the former CCCO played a key role in enhancing NNPC’s public image, making the corporation “more acceptable to the public.”

The president narrated, “His tenure was good because my colleagues could call him and he picks. This proves he was ever ready to explain and assist.

“I will say that during his tenure, Femi was able to showcase NNPC in a good light. He made NNPC more acceptable to the public.”

On her part, Chigbo hailed Soneye for professionally managing the image of the NNPCL during his tenure.

She highlighted his effective communication skills and the strong public image he built for the company, which earned him two prestigious awards from the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).

Chigbo also noted Soneye’s solid relationship with the media, particularly with GOCOP, and expressed hope that his successor would build on the foundation he laid to further enhance NNPCL’s corporate reputation.

She said Soneye “Managed the image of the NNPCL professionally and his effective communication skills and good public image he built for the company earned him two prominent awards from the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).

“He had good and solid relations with the media industry, especially the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP). It is hoped that whoever succeeds him will continue from where he stopped to enhance the image of the NNPCL.”

Before his appointment in 2023, the outgoing NNPC spokesperson was the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Per Second News LLC, from 2012, where he was responsible for the commercial strategy of the Per Second News, Communications and Mount Olive group.

Soneye served in the United States Air Force, Joint Base Andrews, Washington-DC between 2009 to 2015. Specifically, he was at the Health Services Management Officer of the 459th Aerospace Medicine Squadron.

Also, he was the Editor of the squadron’s Air Force One Newsletter of the 459th Air Refueling Wing, Andrews Air Force Base between 2009 and 2013 where he was providing guidelines to authors for preparing and submitting manuscripts.

‘A Brilliant Spokesperson’-Guild Of Editors, GOCOP Applaud Soneye’s Tenure At NNPCL is first published on The Whistler Newspaper