Rilwanu Lukman facts for kids

Rilwanu Lukman (born August 26, 1938 – died July 21, 2014) was an important Nigerian engineer. He held many high-level jobs in the Nigerian government. He also served as the Secretary General of OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries). This group helps manage the world's oil supply. He was in this role from 1995 to 2000. Later, he became Nigeria's Minister of Petroleum Resources again in 2008.

Early Life and Education

Rilwanu Lukman was born in Zaria, which is in Kaduna State, Nigeria. He studied to become a mining engineer. He attended the College of Arts, Science, and Technology in Zaria. This school is now known as Ahmadu Bello University.

He continued his studies at Imperial College in London, England. He also earned a higher degree in mining engineering. This was from the University of Mining and Metallurgy in Austria. Later, he got a degree in Mineral Economics from McGill University in Canada. He also received an honorary doctorate degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Bologna in Italy.

First Jobs in Mining

Lukman's first job in the mining industry was in Sweden. He worked as an Assistant Mining Engineer from 1962 to 1964. After returning to Nigeria, he became an Inspector of Mines. He worked for the Federal Ministry of Mines & Power in Jos, Plateau State. He was later promoted to Senior Inspector.

From 1970 to 1974, he was the general manager of the Cement Company of Northern Nigeria. By 1979, Lukman became the general manager and chief executive officer of the Nigerian Mining Corporation.

Important Government Roles

Lukman held several key positions in the Nigerian government. From 1984 to 1985, he was the Minister of Mines, Power and Steel. In 1986, he became the Federal Minister of Petroleum Resources. He held this important role until 1990. During this time, he also led the board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

He briefly served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1990. Later, from 1993 to 1994, he was the Chairman of the board of directors for the National Electric Power Authority.

Leading OPEC

Rilwanu Lukman was a very important figure in OPEC. He served as OPEC president for eight terms in a row, starting in 1986. In 1994, he was chosen as the OPEC Secretary General. This is a top leadership role in the organization. He was re-elected for a second term in 1997. He held this position until the end of 2000.

He played a big part in agreements between major oil-producing countries. These agreements helped to control oil prices. For example, in 1999, he helped reach deals to reduce oil production. This led to oil prices going up in the late 1990s.

Later Career in Nigeria

When Olusegun Obasanjo became president of Nigeria, Lukman continued to advise on oil matters. In 1999, he was appointed Special Adviser on Petroleum and Energy Matters. He also became Chairman of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

In this role, he announced that many oil exploration licenses were cancelled. These licenses had been given to local companies. He said these areas would be open for new bids from both Nigerian and foreign companies. Lukman believed the NNPC should become a more commercial business.

Lukman left his government roles in 2003. After this, he became the Chairman of Afren Nigeria in 2005. This is an oil and gas company. He was also a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE). In 2007, he joined the board of Dietsmann NV, a company in the energy sector.

In 2007, President Umaru Yar'Adua appointed Lukman as an unpaid advisor on energy. In December 2008, Lukman was again appointed Minister of Petroleum Resources. He left this position in March 2010. He had warned that Nigeria needed to make changes in its oil industry to avoid fuel shortages.

Awards and Recognition

Rilwanu Lukman received many honors for his work. He was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in 1989. This is a high award from the United Kingdom. He also received the Officer of the Légion d'honneur from France in 1990. Venezuela gave him the First Class rank of the Order of the Liberator. He was the first African to be honored with the Fellowship of the Imperial College, University of London.