Ogochukwu Onyelucheya has been named acting chief executive officer of Ikeja Electric, effective July 1. The appointment follows the transition of Folake Soetan, who served as CEO since 2020 and will now take on broader strategic responsibilities in the energy sector. Kingsley Okotie, head of corporate communications, confirmed the change in a statement issued in Lagos on Saturday. The company said the leadership shift supports innovation, customer service improvement and sustainable growth.
Kola Adesina, chairman of Ikeja Electric, praised Soetan's tenure, describing it as transformative. He credited her with building a customer-focused, performance-driven organisation and noted gains in operational efficiency, stakeholder confidence and long-term sustainability. Soetan described her time as CEO as a privilege and said she remains committed to supporting energy sector goals in her new role.
Onyelucheya brings over 20 years of leadership experience in banking and energy, with a focus on strategy, financial control and operational transformation. Her background includes work in process digitisation, automation and revenue assurance. She holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, a master's in finance and financial law from the University of London, and is an alumnus of Harvard Business School. Adesina expressed confidence in her ability to consolidate gains and lead the company's next phase of growth.
Onyelucheya said leading Ikeja Electric at this stage is a privilege. She pledged to improve service delivery, strengthen customer trust and maintain focus on sustainable performance and value creation. The company affirmed its commitment to operational excellence, customer experience and stakeholder confidence across its franchise area.
Kola Adesina lauded Folake Soetan for transforming Ikeja Electric while announcing her departure from the CEO role, raising questions about why a leader described as instrumental is being moved. The company now places Ogochukwu Onyelucheya, a corporate executive with banking and energy experience, in acting charge despite her lack of prior CEO appointment. While Soetan's achievements are publicly celebrated, her reassignment to undefined strategic responsibilities suggests a quiet exit rather than a promotion. Nigerians in Ikeja Electric's service area may wonder how much continuity the new leadership brings if proven performance is being shifted aside.
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