Femi Soneye’s title infrequently makes headlines. But, for 20 months, he managed how Nigeria’s nationwide oil corporate defined itself to the general public, serving as Leader Company Communications Officer at NNPC Restricted all over one in every of its maximum scrutinised sessions.
Soneye took on that function wearing a journalism background constructed throughout 3 continents, having labored in Nigeria, Australia, and america sooner than settling into Nigerian public members of the family, a breadth few home communicators can declare.
Earlier than NNPC, he had already constructed his personal media platform, founding and publishing According to 2nd Information, a multimedia outlet that gave him firsthand revel in working a newsroom somewhat than just advising one. That document earned reputation.
In 2025, the Nigerian Institute of Public Members of the family named him Spokesperson of the Yr, beating communications heads from Shell, NIMASA and the Nigeria Police Power for the name. His status extends past Nigeria. Soneye holds club within the Nationwide Affiliation of Black Reporters and the Society of Skilled Reporters in america, along the Nigerian Union of Reporters at house.
Colleagues hint his running taste to ‘Omoluabi,’ the Yoruba usual of integrity and excellent personality, and to his Ijebu Igbo roots, a peaceful disposition that stood out inside of an business recognized for competitive public members of the family ways.
The clearest marker of that self-discipline got here in June 2025, when Soneye resigned from NNPC after 20 months in administrative center, opting for to go back to journalism and make more space for his circle of relatives somewhat than prolong a formidable state appointment.
Few communications executives stroll clear of that more or less submit voluntarily. For Soneye, the spirit that drove that call is the exact same intuition that constructed his popularity within the first position: measured timing over visibility.
Obviously, the person, not like many at the identical trail, is aware of that credibility in verbal exchange is constructed via consistency and discretion somewhat than consistent presence within the information. Little surprise he’s remarkable.