Nigeria's leading indigenous marketer of choice, OVH Energy Marketing has been announced as the winner of the Forbes Best of Africa Downstream Company of the Year. The award presentation was held on the 21st of November at the Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai, in conjunction with the Foreign Investment Network (FIN).

Through its awards, Forbes Best of Africa continues to acknowledge and celebrate exemplary leaders, institutions, top businessmen, political leaders, and dynamic personalities with records of making far-reaching impacts and positive contributions to the development of their respective countries, sectors, and industries.

Commenting on the award, the Chief Executive Officer, OVH Energy Marketing, Huub Stokman said, “we’re humbled to receive the Forbes Best of Africa Award and a big thank you to the Forbes team for this recognition and award. We owe profound gratitude to our customers for their unwavering patronage over the years”.

Stokman further explained that the award is an incentive to do more in the Nigerian downstream sector. “OVH Energy Marketing will continue to provide exceptional services to our customers, as our strong unrivaled heritage drives to impact our customers’ lives positively while distributing over 1 billion liters of refined petroleum products annually and providing trusted petroleum services including supply reliability and technical expertise nationwide,” he said.

The event was graced by dozens of the business communities, policymakers, entrepreneurs, politicians, opinion leaders, the media, Forbes’ partners and international investors, Forbes’ representatives in Nigeria, Foreign Investment Network (FIN) amongst others.

Lagos, Nigeria. Pacegate Limited, a subsidiary of Hana Group and manufacturer of steel drums has partnered with Nigeria’s leading indigenous marketer of choice, OVH Energy Marketing (Oando Licensee) to empower female students in Rivers and Lagos state with the provision of essential school items. 

The partnership which is executed through the Project Evolve initiative seeks to address the global challenge of climate change through the education of underprivileged girls. According to Project Drawdown, the world’s leading research for Climate solutions, educating girls is the sixth most impactful solution out of 100 mentioned to combat the effects of global warming. Education shores up resilience and equips girls and women to face the impacts of climate change. There are economic, cultural, and safety-related barriers that impede the girl child from realizing her right to education. A key strategy to changing this is to make schools affordable. 

Through this partnership, over 400 schoolgirls in Omole Senior Grammar School, Lagos state, and Community Junior Secondary School Amadi-Ama Rivers state have received school supplies such as schoolbooks, pens, school bags, sandals, and uniforms supporting their education. 

Commenting on the initiative, Mr. Umesh Amarnani, The Managing Director Pacegate Limited, expressed his appreciation to partners such as OVH Energy Marketing for supporting the vision to help young schoolgirls across the country. Mr. Amarnani said “Gender inequality means women and girls will experience climate change in unique and different ways. As climate change brings about forced migration, loss of housing and income, girls become even more vulnerable to gender-based violence. At Pacegate, we strongly believe that the education, empowerment and leadership of girls and young women is the key to climate resilience. Project Evolve is a CSR initiative with the vision to educate underprivileged girls, empowering them to make better life choices which will positively affect climate change. We acknowledge our partners on this project such as OVH Energy Marketing for their immense support. We also hope to increase the reach of our impact in the coming years to reach more school-girls.”

Speaking at the event, Mr. Huub Stokman, Chief Executive Officer, OVH Energy Marketing said that education gives girls the skills and knowledge to respond to climate-related challenges and the changing resource landscapes. Educated girls grow up to be women who participate fully in society and take on leadership roles.

“Educating young girls is a pathway to fighting climate change, and if we are to successfully address the climate crisis, we need to empower women so they can actively participate in strengthening Nigeria’s response to climate change. OVH Energy Marketing is proud to partner with Pacegate on the Evolve Initiative. To the young girls, I want you to know that the world is your oyster; you can make a difference and indeed change the world.” Huub said.

The Evolve initiative aims to support the education of 50,000 girls across 100 schools in Nigeria over the next 4 years. This will enable educated girls go ahead to contribute to their communities increasing Nigeria’s overall resilience to climate shocks.

Nigeria’s leading indigenous marketer of choice, OVH Energy Marketing (Oando Licensee), has been awarded the Liquified Petroleum Gas Distribution Company of the Year during the Business Day Oil and Gas Awards which took place on September 16^th 2021 at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja. The award recognizes OVH Energy Marketing as an industry leader with exceptional investment in solving the LPG distribution network challenges as well as its improved storage facilities capacity. 

In a category of worthy competitors, the award acknowledged the number of OVH Energy’s LPG skids in retail stations pan Nigeria as well as the near flawless execution of the LPG distribution to the consumers, showing a company that has delivered. Ogho Okiti, Managing Director, Business Day while presenting the award said “This award is in honour of your outstanding performance in the gas sector especially in this Decade of Gas. It is given in recognition of your superior dedication and positive zeal to ensuring delivery of LPG”

Commenting on the award, the Chief Executive Officer, OVH Energy Marketing, Huub Stokman, said “We are overwhelmed with gratitude to receive such a prestigious award.  This recognition as the LPG Distribution Company of the Year is evidence that OVH Energy Marketing is a driving force in the gas industry. It is indeed the Decade of Gas and this award is a clear validation of the growing relevance and importance of natural gas as a game-changer in Nigeria. At OVH Energy Marketing, we are glad to be part of the transformative effect of this increased use of Nigeria’s abundant gas reserves to develop its economy and positively impact the citizens.”

We would also like to acknowledge our staff for their invigorating drive and thank our partners for their unwavering support which has aided our journey to excellence.”

Huub Stokman went on further to reveal how the company has been focusing on reaching more customers and making gas distribution easier for customers. “Our 39 LPG skids nationwide have helped us to reach many of our customers. Our 8 LPG cylinder filling plants and our LPG cylinder consignment scheme have also helped us in reaching more customers. We give LPG cylinders to customers and get regular refills from them,” he said.

The Business Day Oil and Gas Awards was organized with the aim of rewarding technocrats and companies who have contributed exceedingly to the development of Nigeria’s Energy Industry. The Oil and Gas awards serve as an indication of the advocated optimism that the fortunes of the energy sector are assured for a turnaround going by the restart of marginal field bidding by the Department of Petroleum Resources after nearly 20 years, and the expected implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act.

Degree was conferred on him last weekend by the Swiss School of Business and Management in recognition of his accomplishment through exemplary management and leadership in the oil and gas industry.