Mazi Sam Azoka Onyechi, a graduate of Leadership from the University of Liverpool, UK is a distinguished leader in Nigeria’s oil, gas, and industrial training sectors, with a career spanning decade of impactful contributions to capacity building, safety, and technical excellence. He currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Inspection and Tests Limited, a leading inspection, testing, and certification company that provides critical quality assurance services to industries across Nigeria and beyond. Under his leadership, the company has cemented its reputation for operational integrity, high technical standards, commitment to precision engineering inspection and advancing local content development. With offices in Port Harcourt and Lagos, the company holds ISO 9001 & 45001 certifications, is the first indigenous ISO 17020 accredited inspection body with a testing laboratory also accredited to ISO 17025 and serves leading energy and industrial clients, including Shell, Nigeria LNG, Chevron, Addax, NAOC, ExxonMobil, Halliburton, Onesubsea, Nigerdock, TechnipFMC, Seplat, among others.
In addition to his corporate role, Mazi Onyechi was the President of the Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Nigeria (OGTAN) from 2022 to 2025, the umbrella body recognized by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) for training service providers in the oil and gas industry. Through OGTAN, he has championed initiatives that bridge skills gaps, improve training delivery, and ensure Nigerian professionals are globally competitive in technical disciplines. His advocacy has been instrumental in aligning training standards with international best practices, fostering collaboration between industry, government, and academia to build a robust human capital base for Nigeria’s energy sector. He is currently the Chairman, Board of Trustees of OGTAN.
His expertise and leadership have been recognized at the highest levels of government. In March 2025, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed him to the Governing Council of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), a strategic body charged with implementing policies that promote Nigerian participation in the oil and gas value chain. This appointment reflects his deep understanding of local content policy, industry dynamics, and the role of human capacity in economic transformation.
Mazi Onyechi’s career is also defined by a strong presence in professional networks and public engagement. His thought leadership and industry advocacy have been showcased at high-level conferences, workshops, and training programs, where he has consistently emphasized the importance of safety, technical proficiency, and knowledge transfer. He is known for his ability to inspire both emerging professionals and seasoned industry experts to strive for excellence in service delivery.
His vision extends beyond corporate growth—he is passionate about nurturing Nigeria’s future workforce. By integrating modern technologies, fostering industry partnerships, and promoting indigenous expertise, Mazi Sam Azoka Onyechi continues to shape the trajectory of Nigeria’s oil, gas, and industrial sectors, ensuring they remain globally competitive while delivering value to the nation’s economy.