Lagos, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- SAHARA Group has appointed Folake Soetan as Managing Director of Arahas Global Oilfield Services, as the company accelerates efforts to expand its oilfield services business across Africa.
The appointment took effect on July 1, according to a statement issued by Sahara Group’s Corporate Communications Department.
The company said the move aligns with its Beyond XXX strategy, which is aimed at strengthening operational excellence, deepening business impact and advancing energy delivery across the continent.
Commenting on the appointment, Sahara Group Executive Director Adedeji Odunsi said the decision reflects the company’s commitment to building future-ready businesses through strong leadership and disciplined execution.
“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,” he said.
Odunsi said Soetan’s responsibilities would extend beyond Arahas to include expanded leadership duties within the Sahara Power Group, where she is expected to leverage her experience in the electricity sector to improve operational performance and strengthen collaboration across the group’s businesses.
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According to him, the dual role is intended to foster greater integration between Sahara Group’s upstream oil and gas and power businesses, enabling the company to deliver more efficient and sustainable energy solutions.
Speaking on her appointment, Soetan described Arahas as a platform with the potential to transform oilfield services delivery across Africa.
“Arahas represents a bold and timely opportunity to redefine how oilfield services are delivered across Africa, anchored on innovation, efficiency and sustainability. I look forward to working with the team to build a high-performance platform that supports our Beyond XXX agenda and contributes to a more resilient energy future for the continent,” she said.
Sahara Group said Soetan will lead efforts to expand Arahas’ service offerings, enhance operational reliability and strengthen support for partners across the energy value chain.
The company added that her mandate is aligned with its goal of building a globally competitive oilfield services business driven by African expertise, engineering excellence and operational performance.
Soetan brings decades of leadership experience spanning the power, midstream and downstream oil and gas, and aviation sectors.
She is best known for her tenure as Chief Executive Officer of Ikeja Electric, where she led operational transformation, improved customer service, strengthened stakeholder engagement and enhanced operational performance at one of Nigeria’s largest electricity distribution companies.
Her appointment comes as Sahara Group continues to expand its upstream operations. In 2025, the company announced plans to increase crude oil production to 350,000 barrels per day within five years through expanded exploration and production activities, enhanced execution capacity and the acquisition of seven drilling rigs.
The expansion is being driven through Asharami Energy, Sahara Group’s upstream subsidiary.
