Sahara Group Appoints Folake Soetan as Arahas MD
Sahara Group has appointed former Ikeja Electric Chief Executive Officer, Folake Soetan, as the Managing Director of Arahas Global Oilfield Services, in a strategic move aimed at accelerating the transformation of its oilfield services business and strengthening integration across its energy value chain.
The appointment, which takes effect from July 1, 2026, comes as the energy and infrastructure conglomerate advances its Beyond XXX agenda, a long-term strategy focused on operational excellence, innovation and sustainable energy solutions across Africa.
As Managing Director of Arahas, Sahara Group's integrated oilfield services company, Soetan will lead efforts to reposition the business as a globally competitive platform delivering innovative, efficient and value-driven solutions across the upstream energy sector.
Her mandate includes driving operational excellence, strengthening engineering capabilities and enhancing the company's ability to optimise production, extend asset life and improve operational reliability for clients across the continent.
Announcing the appointment, Executive Director of Sahara Group, Adedeji Odunsi, said the decision reflects the company's commitment to building future-ready businesses driven by visionary 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," Odunsi said.
He described the appointment as a key step in Sahara Group's long-term vision of delivering greater impact across Africa's energy industry through innovation, sustainable growth and operational excellence.
Beyond her responsibilities at Arahas, Soetan will also assume expanded leadership responsibilities within Sahara Power Group, where she is expected to leverage her extensive experience in the electricity sector to strengthen operational performance, improve collaboration across business units and support the delivery of reliable power solutions.
According to Odunsi, the dual appointment underscores Sahara Group's strategy of creating stronger integration between its upstream and power businesses, enabling greater efficiency and unlocking synergies across the energy value chain.
"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 said.
Responding to her appointment, Soetan described Arahas as a platform uniquely positioned to redefine oilfield services in Africa through innovation and operational excellence.
"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 said.
Soetan brings decades of leadership experience across Nigeria and Ghana's energy industry, with expertise spanning the upstream, midstream, downstream and power sectors, as well as the aviation industry.
She is widely recognised for her transformative leadership as Chief Executive Officer of Ikeja Electric, where she led one of Africa's largest electricity distribution companies through a period of operational turnaround and organisational transformation.
During her tenure, she championed customer-focused initiatives, strengthened operational efficiency and improved business performance while successfully navigating complex regulatory and stakeholder environments.
Industry observers say her appointment represents another significant milestone in her career and reflects the growing confidence in female leadership within Africa's energy sector.
With Soetan at the helm of Arahas, Sahara Group is expected to deepen its focus on innovation, engineering excellence and sustainable value creation as it seeks to strengthen its position as a leading integrated energy company driving Africa's energy transition and industrial development.
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