Sahara Group taps Folake Soetan to lead Arahas, deepen upstream power synergy

Folake Soetan, Managing Director, Arahas Global Oilfield Services

By Felicia Nwosu

Sahara Group has reshaped its leadership architecture by naming seasoned energy executive Folake Soetan as Managing Director of Arahas Global Oilfield Services

Notably, this a strategic appointment expected to deepen operational excellence, accelerate innovation and strengthen integration across the conglomerate’s expanding energy portfolio.

Meanwhile, revealing this on its website, the Sahara Group said the appointment, which took effect on July 1, 2026, signals a decisive step in Sahara Group’s Beyond XXX agenda, an ambitious growth strategy designed to position the organisation for the next phase of Africa’s evolving energy landscape.

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So, rather than merely filling a leadership position, the company is placing one of Nigeria’s most accomplished transformation executives at the centre of its efforts to build a more agile, technology driven and performance focused oilfield services business.

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According to him, Sahara is deliberately investing in leaders who possess the capacity to convert strategic ambitions into measurable business outcomes.

“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,” Odunsi said.

Furthermore, he explained that the appointment reinforces Sahara Group’s determination to expand its influence across Africa’s energy sector through long term investments in people, infrastructure and operational capability.

Moreover, industry observers believe the appointment comes at a pivotal period for Arahas Global Oilfield Services as the company intensifies efforts to reposition itself as an integrated oilfield services platform capable of delivering innovative, efficient and sustainable solutions across the energy value chain.

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Accordingly, Soetan has been tasked with strengthening Arahas’ operational capabilities while advancing its ambition of becoming a globally competitive African oilfield services company recognised for engineering excellence, technical expertise and dependable execution.

Beyond improving operational performance, her mandate also includes accelerating initiatives that help energy producers optimise production, prolong asset life, improve operational certainty and deliver greater efficiency throughout the lifecycle of oil and gas assets.

Equally important, Sahara expects the new Managing Director to reinforce Arahas’ commitment to providing value driven solutions that respond to the changing needs of operators, partners and investors across Africa’s energy industry.

However, the company’s confidence in Soetan extends well beyond her responsibilities at Arahas. Odunsi disclosed that Sahara has simultaneously expanded her portfolio within the Sahara Power Group.

Intentionally, she will deploy her extensive knowledge of Nigeria’s electricity industry to strengthen operational frameworks, improve collaboration between business units and enhance the delivery of reliable power solutions.

Again, he equally noted that the dual assignment reflects Sahara Group’s broader strategy of creating stronger alignment across its diverse energy investments.

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“This dual responsibility signals Sahara’s deliberate effort to create stronger integration across its upstream and power value chains, unlocking synergies that will enable a more cohesive, efficient and sustainable approach to energy delivery across the continent,” he added.

For Soetan, the new assignment represents more than another executive appointment. Instead, she described it as an opportunity to help redefine how oilfield services are conceived and delivered across Africa while supporting Sahara Group’s long term ambition of creating a stronger, more resilient energy ecosystem.

Expressing confidence in the company’s vision, she said Arahas possesses the potential to reshape industry standards by combining operational excellence with innovation and sustainability.

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“Arahas represents a bold and timely opportunity to redefine how oilfield services are delivered across Africa, anchored on innovation, efficiency and sustainability. I am excited to work with the team to build a high performance platform that strengthens the integration of our Beyond XXX agenda and shapes a more resilient energy landscape for the continent,” she stated.

Her appointment also marks another milestone in a career that has consistently centred on business transformation, operational excellence and organisational renewal across multiple sectors of the African economy.

Over more than two decades, Soetan has built an impressive professional portfolio spanning the power, oil and gas, aviation, downstream, midstream and upstream industries.

Throughout that journey, she has earned a reputation for driving complex organisational change, strengthening governance systems and delivering measurable business improvements even under demanding operating conditions.

Those credentials, analysts believe, explain why Sahara Group considers her leadership style well suited for an organisation pursuing accelerated growth while navigating a rapidly changing energy environment.

Before joining Arahas, Soetan served as Chief Executive Officer of Ikeja Electric, where she led one of Sub Saharan Africa’s largest electricity distribution companies through an extensive operational turnaround that significantly improved commercial performance, customer engagement and digital capability.