Chris Ijeli
Nigerian civil engineer and business executive
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Chris Iwegbu Ifechukwude Ijeli is a Nigerian civil engineer and business executive. He is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Dorman Long Engineering Limited, one of West Africa’s oldest engineering and fabrication companies involved in oilfield equipment, structural steel, and EPC projects.[1][2]
Chris Iwegbu Ifechukwude Ijeli | |
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| Alma mater | University of Benin |
| Occupations | Civil engineer, business executive |
| Years active | 1984–present |
| Employer | Dorman Long Engineering Limited |
| Title | Managing Director and CEO |
Early life and education
Ijeli studied civil engineering at the University of Benin, earning a Bachelor of Engineering in 1984 and a Master of Engineering in Water, Wastewater, and Environmental Health Engineering in 1989.[3]
Career
Dorman Long Engineering
In October 2023, Ijeli was appointed Managing Director and CEO of Dorman Long Engineering Limited, succeeding previous leadership and overseeing operations across Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa.[1][2][4][5] He has over 38 years of experience in civil and structural engineering, having managed EPC projects valued above US$1.5 billion. His leadership has emphasized **local content development**, **skills transfer**, and **infrastructure modernization** within Nigeria’s oil, gas, and construction sectors.[6]
Previous roles
Before returning to Dorman Long, Ijeli held senior executive roles at Makon Engineering, Nivafer Steel Construction, and Energy Works Technology, where he directed large-scale fabrication and EPC contracts for multinational clients.[3]
Achievements
Under his leadership, Dorman Long celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2024, unveiling a refreshed corporate identity and highlighting contributions to landmark projects such as the Niger Bridge, refinery components for NLNG, and modular platforms for Shell and ExxonMobil.[7] In 2025, Ijeli championed Dorman Long’s partnership with the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) to enhance professional training and youth capacity building through technical internships and scholarships.[8] He later signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the NSE to institutionalize collaboration on industrial standards and professional certification programs.[9]
Recognition and impact
A 2024 feature by BusinessDay Nigeria described Ijeli as “one of the engineers redefining industrial resilience and indigenous capacity in Nigeria’s oil and gas fabrication sector.”[6] Energy Focus Report also profiled his leadership as “a shift towards sustainability, inclusion, and energy transition awareness within West Africa’s engineering supply chain.”[7]