Identical twins, Hussaini and Hassan Malami, have shared how they secured jobs at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) without knowing anyone within the company.
The twins, who are members of the NNPC Tigers Class of 2026, said their recruitment experience disproved the belief that securing employment at NNPC requires personal connections.
In a statement posted on NNPC’s official Facebook account on Monday by Adaobi Oniwinde, Senior Communications Advisor at NNPC Limited, the twins recounted their journey into the company and explained how they both secured employment through the recruitment process.
Joining NNPC had always been Hussaini’s ambition, prompting him to apply as soon as recruitment opened.
He also encouraged his twin brother, Hassan, to submit an application, but Hassan was initially reluctant because he believed NNPC recruited only one person from a family.
Hassan had initially planned to join the Nigerian Air Force and serve the country through the military. At the time, he was already working in the banking sector and had little interest in pursuing a corporate career.
His reservations were also influenced by the experience of three older siblings, including a lawyer, an engineer and a business administrator, who had previously applied to NNPC without success.
Their father is a retiree, and the unsuccessful applications of his older siblings further convinced Hassan that there was no special connection that could guarantee him a place at the company.
He eventually submitted his application close to the deadline following repeated encouragement from Hussaini.
The brothers took the computer-based recruitment test on the same day but in different locations, with Hussaini sitting for his in Sokoto and Hassan taking his in Kaduna.
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Following interviews and other stages of the recruitment process, both brothers received their employment letters on the same day.
“I opened the email after midnight and wanted to wake everybody up to tell them,” Hussaini laughed.
Hassan, however, discovered the development through the family’s WhatsApp group when he woke up.
“I was now nervous about the possibility of not being successful once Hussaini shared his news.”
Both brothers were eventually successful and joined NNPC.
Hussaini is now working with NNPC Exploration & Production Limited (NNPC E&P Limited), while Hassan is with NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company (NGIC).
For Hassan, his new role has exposed him to areas of Nigeria’s energy sector he had previously known little about, particularly the business of transporting gas.
“I didn’t know there was a whole business dedicated to transporting gas,” Hassan said. “Now I’ve seen how gas powers plants and manufacturing companies…Hearing that gas is the future is one thing. Seeing how it is happening is another.”
Although Hassan initially had no interest in a corporate career, he now considers his role at NNPC another way of serving the country.
He still hopes to pursue a military career before reaching the age limit in 2030, but said his current position has given him a new perspective on national service.
For Hussaini, joining NNPC has further strengthened his long-standing ambition, while also inspiring him to give back to his university by eventually becoming a guest lecturer.
“When I was in university, I only had one lecturer with field experience,” he said. “I want to share practical experience with students someday.”
When asked which of NNPC’s culture transformation pillars best represents his outlook, Hussaini chose Enterprise First, explaining that “giving your best to the company is giving your best to the country.”
Hassan identified with Execution Excellence, citing his background as a civil engineer.
“I’m a civil engineer…I like seeing things come to life from concept to completion.”
The twins also offered advice to young Nigerians seeking employment opportunities at NNPC, urging applicants to disregard claims that personal connections are necessary to secure jobs with the company.
“Ignore the rumours. You don’t need to know anybody at NNPC. Apply. Take the test and earn your place.”
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