The Changes I Made As NNPC Spokesperson

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• Former Spokesman, FEMI SONEYE

+Talks About His New PODCAST

Femi Soneye, respected journalist, media entrepreneur, and former Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd,  months back,  launched his  biweekly  podcast, ‘The Exchange’ with Femi Soneye. To say the suave journalist has hit the ground running from the get -go is an understatement.This is because the platform,in just a few months of its launch has become a must – watch for many. Femi’s guests are A-list personalities from all sphere.So far, ‘The Exchange’ has played host to some of Nigeria’s and Africa’s most influential voices, spanning  politics, business, entertainment, and civil society. With Soneye’s decades of media experience and insider access, the show had witnessed bold conversations, rare insights, and candid perspectives on issues shaping the nation and the world,moving forward.”The Exchange” is more than just another interview program, it’s a space for open, meaningful dialogue,” said Femi … “Listeners will hear the human side of leaders and changemakers, beyond the headlines.”

The podcast  features 30–40-minute episodes released twice a month and is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Audiomack, and other major platforms. In this interview with  City People’s Wole Alakija, SONEYE spoke on this new journey after leaving his role as the NNPC spokesperson.

Let’s talk about the transition,what made you decide to pick up a microphone instead of taking another corporate comms role right after NNPC?

I’ve always considered myself an all-round communications professional. My career has allowed me to wear different hats as a journalist, broadcaster, editor, reputation manager, and public relations specialist. Rather than limiting myself to one aspect of the profession, I’ve always embraced every opportunity to learn, evolve, and contribute across the entire communications spectrum.

Moving behind the microphone wasn’t so much a transition as it was a return to one of my earliest passions. Throughout my career, I’ve enjoyed telling stories, asking questions, shaping narratives, and helping audiences better understand complex issues. Broadcasting simply provides another powerful platform to do that.

The goal is straightforward: to give Nigerians direct access to the thoughts, experiences, and insights of leaders in government, business, and other sectors. In many cases, these are conversations the public would never hear through conventional news reports or press statements. Long-form interviews allow us to go beyond the headlines, explore the thinking behind major decisions, and provide context that informs, educates, and enriches public discourse.

For me, it’s not about choosing one career over another. It’s about continuing to communicate, educate, and serve the public using every platform available. Whether in journalism, corporate communications, public relations, or broadcasting, the mission remains the same: to tell meaningful stories, foster understanding, and contribute positively to society.

Was there a specific moment during your time as NNPC spokesperson when you thought “I wish I could tell this story my own way”?

When I joined NNPC Ltd., I found an organisation that, for many years, had developed a reputation for saying very little. Many Nigerians would agree that the company was often perceived as opaque, and that perception was largely shaped by an era in which communication was reactive rather than proactive. There was almost an unwritten culture of “don’t ask, don’t tell,” and that created a significant reputation challenge over time.

One of the first conversations I had with the management team was about changing that culture. My position was simple: Nigerians are the ultimate shareholders of NNPC Ltd., and they deserve to understand what their company is doing. We needed to be more transparent, more accessible, and more intentional about telling our story.

With the full support of the Group Chief Executive Officer and the management, we transformed our communications approach. We moved from simply issuing statements to actively engaging the public. We strengthened our digital presence, embraced social media, introduced infographics and multimedia storytelling, responded more quickly to issues, and built stronger relationships with our stakeholders and the media. We wanted Nigerians to hear directly from the company rather than rely on speculation or misinformation.

I was fortunate to have leadership that gave me the confidence and latitude to innovate. They trusted the communications function to do its job professionally. In fact, the GCEO never asked to preview or approve every media story. He often saw our reports and public engagements at the same time Nigerians did. That level of trust empowered us to communicate with speed, credibility, and authenticity.

So, to answer your question, I never felt, “I wish I could tell this story my own way,” because I was given the opportunity to tell the story the right way. We built a communications culture that was open, factual, timely, and transparent. That freedom, backed by supportive leadership, enabled us to reshape public engagement and demonstrate that NNPC Ltd. was committed to greater openness and accountability.

At NNPC you were speaking for an institution. How does podcasting give you freedom that role didn’t?

As I said earlier, for me it’s about continuing to communicate, educate, and serve the public using every platform available. Whether in journalism, corporate communications, public relations, or broadcasting, the mission remains the same: to tell meaningful stories, foster understanding, and contribute positively to society.

The difference is that at NNPC Ltd., I was speaking on behalf of an institution. My responsibility was to communicate the company’s position accurately, protect its reputation, and ensure that every message aligned with its corporate objectives. It was a role I thoroughly enjoyed because it gave me the opportunity to make the company more transparent and accessible to Nigerians.

Podcasting, however, offers a different kind of freedom. It allows for deeper, longer, and more candid conversations. Instead of communicating through press releases or responding to the news cycle, I can sit down with leaders in government, business, sports, and other sectors and explore the ideas, experiences, and decisions behind the headlines.

What excites me most is giving Nigerians access to conversations they ordinarily wouldn’t hear. In a 30- or 40-minute discussion, guests can explain not just what happened, but why it happened, the challenges they faced, and the lessons they’ve learned. That depth is often impossible in traditional news formats.

So, I don’t see podcasting as a departure from what I’ve always done. I see it as an extension of my lifelong commitment to informing, educating, and connecting Nigerians with the people shaping our country and the world.

Who were you trying to reach with the podcast that you couldn’t reach through press briefings and official statements?

One of the privileges of my career has been having access to some of the biggest names in business, industry, government, and public service. During my time at NNPC Ltd., I interacted regularly with decision-makers at the highest levels. However, those engagements were always within the context of official communication and the business of the organisation.

The podcast serves a different purpose. It’s not about reaching people I couldn’t reach before; it’s about giving Nigerians access to conversations they ordinarily wouldn’t hear.

Newspapers and broadcast news are excellent at reporting events and breaking news, but they are often constrained by time, space, and the demands of the news cycle. A podcast allows leaders to go beyond the headlines and to explain their thinking, share personal experiences, discuss the challenges behind major decisions, and offer insights that rarely make it into a press statement or a news report.

My goal is to bridge that gap. I want Nigerians to hear directly from the people shaping policy, driving the economy, leading major institutions, and influencing society. Those authentic, in-depth conversations help the public better understand not just what happened, but why it happened. I believe that kind of engagement enriches public discourse and creates a more informed society.

Why podcasting, and why the topics you chose? Did you want to stay in energy/policy, or did you deliberately want to go beyond NNPC and oil/gas?

Podcasting is something I’m genuinely passionate about. It’s another platform that allows me to do what I’ve always loved—communicate, educate, and tell meaningful stories.

The idea was never to remain within the energy or oil and gas space simply because of my time at NNPC Ltd. While energy is an important sector and will always feature on the show, I deliberately wanted the podcast to have a much broader appeal.

The objective is to give Nigerians the opportunity to know and hear directly from the people leading our nation and shaping society. Every leader has a story, a journey, and lessons that can inspire, educate, and inform. Those conversations often reveal perspectives that don’t come across in news reports or official statements.

That’s why the podcast covers virtually every sector. We host leaders in government, business, sports, entertainment, technology, energy, entrepreneurship, academia, and public service. The common thread is simple: every guest must have a story worth telling and insights worth sharing.

Ultimately, the podcast is about creating meaningful conversations that go beyond the headlines, helping Nigerians better understand the people behind the positions and the decisions that shape our country.