Sahara Group has appointed Folake Soetan as Managing Director of Arahas Global Oilfield Services, effective 1 July 2026. This expands her role within Sahara Power Group.
The move advances the company's "Beyond XXX" strategy to strengthen leadership and sustainable energy delivery across Africa.
The appointment signals a strategic effort to bridge upstream oilfield services with electricity operations, reflecting a broader trend toward integrated leadership across Africa's energy value chain, where cross-sector expertise is becoming a competitive advantage for resilient energy systems.
Leadership Move Signals New Direction For African Energy
Sahara Group has appointed Folake Soetan as Managing Director of Arahas Global Oilfield Services, marking a significant leadership transition aimed at accelerating operational excellence, innovation and sustainable growth across Africa's oilfield services industry.
The appointment, which became effective on 1 July 2026, also expands Soetan's responsibilities across the Sahara Power Group, underscoring the company's ambition to strengthen integration between its upstream oilfield services and electricity businesses as part of its broader Beyond XXX transformation agenda.
The development represents more than a senior executive appointment. It reflects how leading African energy companies are increasingly relying on experienced leaders capable of navigating multiple segments of the energy value chain while balancing operational efficiency, sustainability and long-term value creation.
Building Stronger Connections Across Africa's Energy Value Chain
Sahara Group said the appointment reinforces its commitment to building "future-ready platforms" driven by strong leadership, disciplined execution and long-term strategic thinking.
According to Adedeji Odunsi, Executive Director at Sahara Group, the company is deliberately investing in leadership capable of translating strategic ambition into measurable business outcomes.
"Our focus is on building future-ready platforms anchored on strong leadership, clear strategy, and disciplined execution," Odunsi said, noting that the appointment aligns with Sahara Group's long-term growth priorities.
Arahas, Sahara Group's integrated oilfield services company, is expected to strengthen its focus on innovation, operational efficiency and sustainability while delivering solutions that optimise production, extend asset life and improve operational certainty across the energy lifecycle.
One of the most significant aspects of the appointment is Soetan's expanded mandate beyond Arahas.
Her additional responsibilities within Sahara Power Group are intended to leverage her extensive electricity sector experience, particularly her leadership at Ikeja Electric, to improve operational frameworks, strengthen collaboration across business units and support reliable electricity delivery.
The company said this integrated leadership model is designed to unlock synergies between upstream operations and power infrastructure, creating a more efficient and resilient energy ecosystem across the continent.
Why Integrated Leadership Matters For Africa's Energy Future
Africa's energy transition requires more than investment in infrastructure; it also depends on leadership capable of connecting traditionally separate parts of the energy industry.
Executives with experience across power, oil and gas, commercial operations and stakeholder management are increasingly valuable as companies seek to improve efficiency while navigating evolving regulatory environments and sustainability expectations.
Sahara Group believes Soetan's experience positions her well to lead this transformation.
Before joining Arahas, she acquired leadership experience across Nigeria and Ghana's energy sector, working in midstream, downstream, power and aviation businesses before serving as Chief Executive Officer of Ikeja Electric.
During her tenure, the company said she strengthened operational performance, improved customer-focused initiatives and managed one of Africa's largest electricity distribution companies through a period of organisational transformation.
Her leadership emphasised accountability, operational discipline and sustainable value creation.
Speaking about her appointment, Soetan described Arahas as an opportunity to redefine oilfield services across Africa through innovation, efficiency and sustainability while supporting Sahara Group's long-term energy vision.
Leadership Must Deliver Measurable Operational Outcomes
While executive appointments often generate headlines, their long-term value is measured through execution.
- For Sahara Group, success will depend on how effectively Arahas translates innovation into operational performance, strengthens engineering capabilities and delivers measurable value to customers across Africa's upstream industry.
- For the wider energy sector, the appointment reinforces the importance of integrated leadership that connects oilfield services, electricity infrastructure and sustainability objectives rather than treating them as isolated priorities.
As African economies pursue energy security alongside decarbonisation and industrial growth, organisations capable of breaking operational silos may be better positioned to compete in increasingly complex energy markets.
Path Forward – Delivering Integrated Energy Leadership Across Africa
Sahara Group's leadership strategy places integration, operational excellence and sustainability at the centre of its long-term growth agenda.
Success will depend on translating these priorities into measurable improvements across both oilfield services and electricity operations.
If effectively executed, the expanded leadership structure could strengthen African engineering capabilities, improve operational resilience and demonstrate how cross-sector collaboration can support a more reliable, competitive and sustainable energy future.
