10/09/2025
ATOBAASE OF YORUBALAND- LIKE A KING IN ANOTHER LAND
Dr. Engr. Babajide Agunbiade, Ph.D., FNSE, COREN, FIISE, FSUT, MBA is a global Oil & Gas icon, Engineer, astute businessman, investor, and philanthropist who is one of only 13 subject matter experts globally in subsea production systems.
He is currently CEO of Alpha Energy Resources as well as a Director at National Oilwell Varco based in Houston, Texas, an American conglomerate that is the largest worldwide provider of equipment and components used in Oil and Gas drilling and production operations.In that role, he has been involved at a significant level in virtually all the shallow anddeepwater projects in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Gulf of Mexico and has completed over 2billion USD offshore production projects over the last decade alone.
Dr.Engr. Babajide Agunbiade started his career in Nigeria at Industrial Measurements & Control Limited, Lagos.After a brief stint consulting for other Oil & Gas companies in Nigeria, he joined General Electric (G.E), Houston, Texas, where he rose to become Principal Engineer of the GE Gasification business group. As Principal Engineer, he led the design of the 618-megawatt Integrated gasification Incombined cycle (IGCC) plant at Duke Energy’s Edwardsport Station in Knox County, Indiana.
The 618-megawatt IGCC facility is the largest IGCC plant, the cleanest and most efficient coal-fired power plant in the world. It emits less sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulates than the plant it replaces – while providing more than 10 times the amount of megawatt-hours. The Edwardsport IGCC project includes:
An activated carbon bed for the absorption of mercury
Two heat recovery steam generators, each of which is equipped with selective catalytic reduction for nitrogen oxide control
A multiple-cell cooling tower
The project created more than 2,500 construction jobs and began commercial operation in June 2013. The plant uses 1.7 to 1.9 million tons of Indiana and Midwestern coal per year, boosting local and state economies. The coal used each year supports an estimated 170 mining jobs, and the plant employs an estimated 110 to 120 people.
Dr. Engr. Babajide Agunbiade graduated with a combined honors degree in Industrial and Production Engineering from the University of Ibadan in 1996. An accomplished Engineer, he attended the GE Edison Advanced Engineering Development Program (EEDP)in Crotonville, N.Y., and gained a master’s degree in Systems Engineering. He is G.E green and black belt certified.
He holds a master’s degree in organizational management and an MBA from the prestigious American Intercontinental University (AIU) in Houston, Texas, as well as a Ph.D. in leadership and Business from Higher Place Christian University (HPCU) Atlanta, Georgia, USA. He is also a Ph.D. scholar in Environmental policy at Texas Southern University.He hasattended several trainingcourses in Nigeria and overseas in Subsea Production Systems, Business Development, Oil & Gas Contract Negotiation, etc.
A COREN Registered Engineer, He is a member of the following professional bodies:
Fellow, The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE)
Fellow, Institute of Industrial & Systems Engineers (IISE)
Fellow, Society of Underwater Technology (SUT)
Member, National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE)
Member, Council of Registered Engineers of Nigeria (COREN)
An ardent scholar, He has written and presented several technical papers at local and international fora. Some of his papers are:
*Product-Mix Problem: A case of a Paper Manufacturing Industry; Research paper, 1997.
*System dynamics applied to engineering management: a survey, assessment, and directions for future research.
Leadership in Multi-Leadership Business Organizations: Where are we Faltering? Ph.D. Dissertation, HPCU.
*Fully integrated Subsea Sulfate Removal and low salinity plant for IOR and EOR OTC 2020
*Restricted -S Riser configuration for ultra-Shallow water.
Projects – Babajide Agunbiade, Claus Christensen OTC 2014
Subsea Membrane Water Treatment Progress Towards application OTC 2015
*Subsea water treatment and injection for IOR and EOR OTC , Asia 2014
*Direct Electrical Heating of a Flexible Pipe – Babajide Agunbiade, T Holts et al OTC 2016
*Subsea water treatment Pilot testing at the Ekofisk field in the North Sea, Babajide Agunbiade, Eirik Dirdal, OTC 2019
*Impact of gas flaring on air quality: A Review. Ph.D. Research work, Texas Southern University Department of Urban Planning & Environmental Policy.
Dr. Babajide Agunbiadeisan exemplary leader and pioneer in the Oil and Gas Industry, a strong advocate for developing in-country capacity and transforming value creation across various sectors in the oil and gas industry
As a businessman, He is the Founder Midas Global services LCC – A diversified conglomerate involved in Real Estate, Trading and Energy Infrastructure based in Houston, Texas. Co-Owner -MGS Shipping Company Houston; Co-Founder and none Executive director Alpha Petroleum; Managing Partner & None Executive Director Ariosh Limited, Managing Partner & None Executive Director Future Concerns group, Founder MGS Luxury Design; Founder, Jiverty Limited.
Apart from his impressive philanthropic activities in Nigeria and the USA, where his donations include three water systems, a library in the US and Nigeria, amongst many other philanthropic enterprises. Dr. Agunbiade has also been a veritable source of hope and succor to the needy in his Alma mater, the University of Ibadan; he donated £6,000 to the Institution U.I. Alumni Trust Fund, he’s among the first diaspora alumnus to make such a large donation at the 70th anniversary of the Premier University and has raised over 100m Naira to support secondary education across Nigeria among others support.
A cultural icon, Dr. Babajide Agunbiade is the Atobaase of Yoruba Land, one of the highest Chieftancy titles in Yorubaland as well as being one of only 17 Yoruba-wide titles. The title was conferred on him by none other than His Imperial Majesty, Oba (Dr) Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, Iku Baba Yeye, Alaafin of Oyo, J.P, CFR, L.L. D at his palace in Oyo in 2021.
Dr. Babajide Agunbiade, FNSE isa recipient of the Certificate of US Congressional Recognition, conferred on him on behalf of the United States Congress in recognition of his scholarly, business, and philanthropic contribution globally by none other than Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. The latter also proclaimed November 12th, 2021, as His Majesty, Dr. Babajide Agunbiade, FNSE Day in the 18th congressional District of Texas (Houston).
In her presentation, US congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and the City of Houston describe Atobasse Dr. Babajide Aguinbiade and his wife, YeyeAtobasse Funke Aguinbiade, as “strong pillars in Houston and Nigerians who have dedicated efforts to giving back to marginalized communities and have played integral roles in several social movements internationally.” She thanks them for their worthwhile efforts to enrich the city of Houston through mentorship, community development, educational scholarships, and international recognition.
Dr Babajide Agunbiade, FNSE is married to Mrs Olufunke Agunbiade, who is the Yeye Atobaase of Yorubaland and the marriage is blessed with Children.
Ref: Oyo Empire
