There are always things to say and memoirs to document, whenever a veteran military General is pulled out of service! Aside from the usual twenty-one gun salute and general funfair, there is the official handover notes to guide the new commanders as well as the polishing of medals and decorations won in the course of the retiring veteran’s meritorious service.
Omiyi spent five decades of his illustrious career traversing the length and breadth of the oil and gas world. His chequered career is littered with success milestones in technical and leadership responsibilities. At the Royal Dutch Shell Group, he held various technical and leadership positions in Nigeria, the UK and the Netherlands.
His tenure as chairman saw him achieve the key objectives of streamlining the Corporate Governance function, accentuating productivity by more than 80% within a two year span , expertly riding the tidal waves of boardroom subterfuge and successfully weaning the company from the apron-strings of devourers. He also succeeded in fashioning out a smooth succession protocol in line with corporate best practices. Thus, he fully demonstrated his Crisis Management Skills with equanimity.
Engineer Basil Efoise Omiyi, born on January 17, 1946 a devout worshipper, just as his dear wife, May, together with him raised a vibrant family. Everywhere he went , his humility, gentility, advocacy, diplomacy, deep knowledge, dexterity, empathy, oozed effortlessly to pervade his entire milieu and wafted like a skilfully crafted kite that finds sail in a clement beachside wind.