Julius Rone: Celebrating ‘The Gas King’ at 49

Today is a red letter-day in the annals of Nigeria’s history in particular and the world of Oil & Gas operations in general as one of Africa’s finest marks his birthday. It is a day that provides the needed opportunities for reflections on the past and the way forward, and also to thank God for his mercies and blessings upon a man who has carved a niche for himself as a leading player in the complex world of oil and gas.

Mr Julius Rone OFR is a Nigerian icon of investments with global presence, an epitome of perseverance and an exemplary idol to youths in a country and continent where a great number of her young ones had been in constant search for credible and worthy mentors.

Rone has proved that with focus, tenacity, and single mindedness, one can achieve the heights of his dreams even if the bed he sleeps on is laden with nails. While several have described the business environment in Nigeria as harsh, Rone has proved that the storm is merely a playground for the eagle. He took advantage of the Federal Government’s “Decade of Gas Initiative” to have his company be the first, among both indigenous and foreign firms, to have built Nigeria’s first Floating Liquefied Natural Gas, FLNG, with the multiple advantages of creating massive employment for the people, reduce gas flaring considerably, allow for seamless transfer of energy, increase gas production for both local consumption and export, and create new windows of revenue for all stakeholders including the federal government.

It takes a man with unwavering vision and the resilience needed to overcome enormous business challenges at the highest levels and across the Globe to have pulled the succesful signing of the Front-End Engineering Design, FEED, for the develooment of the FLNG facility with such international firms as JGC Corporation, Japan, Technip Energies, France, and Kellogg Brown & Root (KBR), UK, all of which are global leaders in their respective fields of endeavour.

At an age when many of his contemporaries are still struggling to figure out what life holds for them, Julius Rone already traverses the world of the lucrative oil & gas industry like a colossus not ready to let go of his laurels at anytime. Yet, the most striking quality about him is his unmistakable humility and humanness that have endeared him to all and sundry irrespective of class or social status. His elegant gait is without air, and for a man of his status, those who come across him can only be left awestruck by his simplicity.

Not a man to shy away from public good, The Gas King has built a canopy of selflessness under which the less privileged and needy of society are both covered and catered for. He has consistently expanded his scope of philanthropy to ensure that beyond being lifted out of poverty, many more are  empowered through mentorship and philanthrooy to become successful in life.

It is not surprising then that he has earned for himself the enviable and fitting sobriquet of ‘The Gas King’ and, in recognition of his quintessential qualities, officially bestowed with one of Nigeria’s rare Honours, Order of the Federal Reoublic, OFR, by the federal government.

So, as The Gas King, Mr Julius Rone OFR, marks his 49th birthday today, June 25, the drums have rolled out in shimmering colours, and felicitations pouring in across continents to salute one of Niger Delta’s great sons, Nigeria’s pride of success, and one of Africa’s finest businessmen. As the years roll by, things can only get better for him because those who put their trust in the Lord can never be ashamed!