Propetrol CEO Harry Ebohon appointed São Tomé and Principe’s Special Advisor to boost bilateral trade and private investment opportunities.

The Prime Minister and Head of Government of São Tomé and Principe, Américo Ramos, has appointed Nigerian entrepreneur and Chief Executive Officer of Propetrol Limited, Mr Harry E. Ebohon, as Special Advisor on trade and investment.

The appointment, announced in an official statement dated October 2, 2025, aims to strengthen São Tomé and Principe’s economic relations with regional and international partners while attracting sustainable private investments.

“In my capacity as Prime Minister and Head of Government of São Tomé and Principe, I am pleased to formally appoint Mr. Harry E. Ebohon as Special Advisor,” Ramos stated.

He added that in this capacity, Mr Ebohon “will be responsible for promoting and nurturing economic and trade relations, as well as attracting sustainable and solid private investment.”

The Prime Minister described the appointment as one that “reinforces our commitment to strengthening bilateral ties with partners and expanding opportunities for investment and economic collaboration.”

Mr Ramos further called for cooperation with the newly appointed advisor, saying, “We trust that all relevant parties will offer their full support and cooperation to Mr. Harry E. Ebohon in the performance of his duties.”

Mr Ebohon, a University of Benin graduate with executive education from Harvard Business School, has built Propetrol Limited into a major player in the West African energy sector. Under his leadership, the company expanded from a local petroleum haulage firm into a regional force in bunkering, trading, and maritime services.

Propetrol, a trusted name in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, has more recently pivoted into renewables, and is now a prominent player in the country’s clean energy transition through advanced solar technologies, intelligent energy management, and robust storage systems.

So far, the company’s renewable initiatives have electrified over 18,000 homes and offset more than 10,000 tonnes of CO? annually, while helping businesses cut energy costs by up to 40%.

Widely recognised for his ethical leadership and innovation in the oil and gas industry, Ebohon has received several honours, including the Forbes Outstanding CEO Award and an honorary doctorate from the Commonwealth University in the UK.

São Tomé and Principe, a small island nation off the western coast of Central Africa, has been increasingly diversifying its economy beyond cocoa production, exploring opportunities in tourism, fisheries, and offshore oil exploration.

The appointment is also seen as a move to deepen the country’s longstanding partnership with Nigeria, with both nations maintaining strong diplomatic and economic ties, particularly through the Joint Development Zone (JDZ) agreement signed in 2001 for shared exploration and management of offshore oil resources.

Mr Ebohon’s experience in the energy and investment sectors is expected to strengthen São Tomé and Principe’s efforts to attract credible investors and enhance regional cooperation in the Gulf of Guinea.

(ARISE NEWS)