Ihuoma Onyearugha

Ihuoma Onyearugha is a 1981 graduate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka where she obtained a BSc. (Botany). She also holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in Education and a Master’s degree in Public Administration (MPA) from the University of Lagos, Nigeria.

She is currently the Executive Director of Human Resources and Medical at Chevron Nigeria Limited, a global leader in the oil and gas industry. She has occupied this position since April 2012 and has demonstrated admirable leadership and consistent success in talent management in her company. She is the only woman on the boards of Chevron Nigeria Limited, Chevron Closed Pension Fund Company and Chevron Savings Plan.

As part of her role, she drives talent management and development initiatives. She oversees a workforce of over 4,000 people (2200+ employees and 2000+ contract workers) in seven locations including Houston, Texas, USA and with expatriates from more than 12 countries.

She envisions a world-class HR function that will be recognized as a strategic partner whose place at the table is earned and respected.

Ihuoma began her career with Chevron Nigeria Limited in February 1992, as a Human Resources Representative. Over her 26-year career in Chevron Nigeria Limited, she has held many increasingly important leadership positions in different functional areas of the company (locally and internationally) leading her to an executive leadership position.

Prior to joining Chevron, she worked briefly in the University of Maiduguri library and had a short teaching career in Lagos State.

In 2003, she became the People Development Manager, responsible for talent development in the Nigeria Business Unit during which she started the HR Business Partner model of service delivery in Chevron Nigeria Limited. In 2005 she assumed the role of Senior HR Advisor in Chevron Corporation Headquarters, San Ramon, California and supported executive leadership and U.S. expatriates in various countries.

Ihuoma is a thought leader, with good influencing skills and a good network in the oil and gas industry. Early in her HR career, she initiated a new interview process that supports talent acquisition which is still being used in the company today. She also led the Leadership Development Project which resulted in a Leadership Development Program that was adopted as a best practice globally.

She is a member of professional associations like Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM – U.S.A) and Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPMN). She holds a Global Professional Human Resources (GPHR) and Senior Competency Professional (SCP) certifications from SHRM, USA. She has shared HR knowledge and practices in different fora including Lagos Business School, CIPM Annual Conference, HR Leaders Africa and Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association. She currently chairs the HR Sub-committee of the Oil Producers’ Trade Section (OPTS) of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce.

She has been distinguished with multiple awards including the Best HR Director Award from CareerNation, an international organization and a Vice President’s Award for leading an international team that customized a leadership development programme that was deployed in more than 15 countries and in four languages. She has also been honoured severally by different groups in her community and the University of Nigeria Alumni Association, Lagos. She is also listed in the 2015 Who’s Who In The Nigerian Oil & Gas Industry.

Under her leadership, her company has won several people related awards which include the 2014 Chartered Institute of Personal Management of Nigeria Overall Best Practice Award for Nigeria and the Oil Industry and the 2015 Employer of Choice Award by People Magazine and the 2015 People Magazine ‘Best Company to Work For Award’. She had over the last six year increased the technology enablement of HR processes making them more efficient and customer friendly.

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