Tom Otuaga, the Chief Executive Officer of KTS Oil and Gas, has been conferred with the Fellowship of the CIPM in recognition of his contributions to professional leadership, human capital development and organisational excellence.
Otuaga received the prestigious fellowship at the institute’s 58th International Conference and Exhibition (ICE) held at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja on Thursday, September 24, 2026.
He received the Fellowship award alongside notable and high-profile human capital administrators, including the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, Ajibola Basiru, and the Director of Administration and Human Resources at the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), Mrs. Olufunke Alaba Longe, amongst others.
The CIPM concluded its 58th annual conference themed: ‘Repositioning for Value and Impact,’ with a gala night, where it recognised distinguished professionals for their contributions to the development of the human resources and management profession.
The Fellowship places Otuaga among professionals who have demonstrated consistency in practice, leadership, and commitment to human capital development.
Speaking on the recognition, Otuaga expressed appreciation to the CIPM for the honour, describing it as both a recognition of past efforts and a call to greater responsibility.
He said the award would further strengthen his commitment to promoting effective leadership, professionalism and people-centred management within the workplace.
‘The CIPM is the only accredited body charged with the responsibility of regulating HR practice in Nigeria; it is the dream of every HR practitioner to become a Fellow of the Institute someday,’ Otuaga said.
‘It takes years of hardwork, dedication and unflinching commitment to the profession,’ he added.
He noted that becoming a Fellow of the CIPM is a well-deserved recognition for ‘breathing, eating and living people management.’
‘It is mark of credibility for me as an HR practitioner that I have done the very right things for the practice over the years,’ he said.
With KTS’ core service being the deployment and management of technical manpower for the operation and maintenance of oil and gas installations, Dr. Otuaga said receiving this recognition was a certification for the leadership of the company.
‘It tells the world that KTS is led by someone who understands and upholds the principles of good people mananagement,’ he noted.
The CIPM Fellowship is the Institute’s highest professional recognition and is conferred on individuals who meet its prescribed professional and leadership requirements.
Otuaga’s recognition is expected to further underscore his standing in the Nigerian business landscape, especially in the oil and gas sector and professional community.
Tom Otuaga is the Chief Executive Officer of KTS Oil and Gas Services Limited, an indigenous Nigerian oilfield servicing firm that provides customised operations support services specifically tailored for upstream onshore and offshore oil and gas operators.
A people leader with experience across FMCG and the oil and gas sectors, he is a former Chief Human Resources Officer at Century Group and former Managing Director, CCM Vessels Management.
He has led manpower operations for multiple FPSOs/oil and gas assets owing to his strong leadership, people engagement and consultancy skils. A Harvard University and London Business School trained, he has PhD in Organizational Behaviour from the University of Lagos and a member of the American Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM).
Otuaga’s company, KTS, specializes in the provision and management of competent manpower that guarantee the productive operation and maintenance of oil and gas installations such as FPSO, MOPU, FSO, Rig, Flow Stations, or FDPSO. The company caters to these operations by providing a wide range of services such as manpower supply and management, industrial relations intervention, crew logistics support, provision of technical mooring support, and community relation management.
With over half a decade’s track record of excellent service delivery in the upstream sector, KTS remains committed to its mission of prioritizing excellent customer service, quality standards and sustainable compliance.