The appointment was announced during the 169th meeting of the Conference of the OPEC in Vienna, Austria.
The consensus of all members, which in the past had sometimes been indefinable, is required for the appointment of a new secretary-general.
Barkido replaces Libya’s Abdalla El-Badri, who had concluded full terms.
OPEC has been looking for a substitution for El-Badri, who was elected as acting secretary-general in December until the end of July after serving full term.
New OPEC boss was the NNPC GMD from 2009 to 2010. He has also been an acting Secretary-General of OPEC in 2006.
The Federal government nominated Barkindo for the position quoting his qualification and experience.
Immediate past petroleum resources minister, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke was the first female president of OPEC. She was elected at the 166th OPEC ordinary meeting in Vienna in November 2014.
Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, minister of state for petroleum, was OPEC president only for two days.