Meet the Founder

Prof. Okey Billy Okoye, MFR, is a commercial professional, board-level executive, academic, and author with over three decades of hands-on experience across the Oil, Gas, and Energy value chain, spanning Upstream, Midstream, and Downstream operations.

He is widely recognised for his deep expertise in leadership, energy marketing, trading, commercialisation and retail operations.

Prof. Okoye is currently the Coordinator of the Oil, Gas & Energy Marketing Unit at the University of Abuja Business School and also lectures at the UNN Business School, where he delivers industry-driven instruction to executive audiences, bridging theory with real-world energy market practice.

He is the Executive Chairman of Raffles Energies Ltd, a commercial energy company actively engaged in the supply, trading, and delivery of crude oil, natural gas, and petroleum products.

Prof Billy also provides strategic advisory and consulting services across the energy sector, supporting governments, corporates, investors, and institutions on commercialisation, market access, and operational strategy.

Prof. Okoye previously served as Group Executive Director (GED) at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), where he supervised seven subsidiaries and their Chief Executive Officers. Before this, he was Group General Manager/CEO of the Crude Oil Marketing Division, with direct responsibility for the marketing and sale of Nigeria’s crude oil and natural gas liquids in global markets.

Earlier, he served as Managing Director/CEO of NNPC Retail Ltd, Nigeria's largest retail fuel station network, and as Executive Director, Commercial, Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC) Ltd, safeguarding Nigeria’s downstream energy security via effective supply, distribution, and market stabilisation. He also served as General Manager, Commercial, Brass LNG Ltd, among several other sensitive strategic roles within the industry.

Additionally, Prof. Okoye is the Founder of the International Energies Academy (IEA), an online professional certificate programme dedicated to industry-focused, self-paced executive education in Oil, Gas & Energy, as well as masterclass executive leadership training programmes.

Sir Okey Billy Okoye is the founder of the Sir Okey Billy Okoye Foundation.

He is a published author of multiple books on the Oil & Gas and Energy industry and a frequent conference speaker.

He holds a B.Sc. in Economics, an MBA in Marketing and Management, a Diploma in Law, a DBA in Oil, Gas & Energy Marketing and a Ph.D in Management. He is also an alumnus of Harvard Business School, Boston, USA.

A Fellow of leading professional bodies, including NIM and NIMN, Prof. Okoye is a recipient of the Nigerian National Honours Award and the Anambra State Honours Award.

Traditionally, he is a High Chief in Awkuzu and Umunya Kingdoms with the chieftaincy title of Amalunaemenwanne, nwanne ana atoka.

He enjoys playing golf and going to the Gym.