-
Hussaini and Hassan Malami joined NNPC’s 2026 intake together.
-
Hassan almost missed the recruitment after believing a family could have only one successful applicant.
-
Both brothers received their employment offers on the same day.
-
They now work in different parts of NNPC’s energy business.
August 10, (THEWILL) — Two Nigerian brothers have turned an unusual recruitment experience into a story about taking a chance on an opportunity.
Identical twins Hussaini and Hassan Malami have joined the NNPC Tigers Class of 2026, after both applied for the national oil company’s recruitment exercise and eventually received employment offers on the same day.
Hussaini had wanted to work with NNPC and applied when recruitment opened. He also encouraged his twin brother to submit an application but Hassan initially held back.
He believed NNPC recruited only one person from the same family and worried that applying could hurt his brother’s chances. At the time, he was also working in banking and had an interest in joining the Nigerian Air Force.
Pressure from his brother and the approaching application deadline eventually changed his mind.
Both twins went ahead with the recruitment process. They sat for the computer-based test on the same day, although Hussaini took his test in Sokoto while Hassan sat for his in Kaduna.
Interviews followed before both brothers received their employment letters on the same day.
Hussaini discovered his offer after midnight.
READ ALSO: SERAP Sues NNPCL, Demands Full Account Of ₦211tn Oil Transactions
“I opened the email after midnight and wanted to wake everybody up to tell them.”
Hassan found out differently. He saw the news in the family WhatsApp group after waking up, only to realise that his brother had already received an offer.
“That’s when the pressure hit me. I was now nervous about the possibility of not being successful once Hussaini shared his news.”
Both eventually made it through.
Hussaini joined NNPC Exploration & Production Limited, while Hassan joined NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company.
Hassan’s move into the energy sector has also given him a closer look at an industry he previously knew less about.
His experience at NNPC introduced him to the business of transporting gas and its role in powering industries and manufacturing.
“I didn’t know there was a whole business dedicated to transporting gas.”
His understanding of the sector has changed since joining the company.
“Hearing that gas is the future is one thing. Seeing how it is happening is another.”
Although the Nigerian Air Force remains an ambition for Hassan, he now sees his work in the energy sector as another way of contributing to the country.
Hussaini, meanwhile, said the job has strengthened his interest in Nigeria’s energy industry. He also hopes to eventually return to his university as a guest lecturer and share practical industry experience with students.
Both brothers have taken different approaches to their new roles.
READ ALSO: NNPC Records ₦535bn June Profit, Remits ₦6.29tn to Federation in H1
Hussaini identifies with NNPC’s Enterprise First pillar, describing commitment to the company as a contribution to the country.
Hassan, a civil engineer, chose Execution Excellence, reflecting his interest in seeing projects move from ideas to completion.
Their experience also left them with a message for other young Nigerians considering NNPC recruitment.
Rumours about who can apply or who can get selected, they said, should not discourage qualified candidates from trying.
“You don’t need to know anybody at NNPC. Apply. Take the test and earn your place.”
For the Malami twins, that advice became personal. One brother nearly stayed out because of a belief about NNPC’s recruitment process. Both eventually applied, went through the same selection exercise and ended up starting careers within different parts of Nigeria’s energy industry.
Joy Onuorah is a business journalist and brand communications specialist covering financial markets, artificial intelligence, digital economy, and the ideas reshaping business across Africa and the global market. Beyond her reporting for TheWill, Joy uses brand strategy, storytelling, copywriting, and high-value SEO to help brands build lasting market authority.
