Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPC Ltd., Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, has declared that Africa’s energy transition must be defined on its own terms, not dictated by external interests.
Speaking at the Society of Petroleum Engineers, SPE, Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibition, NAICE 2025, Ojulari challenged global energy players to engage Africa with fairness and context.
“The energy transition must not be imposed; it must be negotiated, it must be contextualised, and it must be judged,” Ojulari said.
Themed “Building A Sustainable Energy Future: Leveraging Technology, Supply Chain, Human Resources, and Policy,” NAICE 2025 is gathering stakeholders to discuss the continent’s energy future.
Ojulari emphasised that Africa must assert its relevance in the global energy discourse through stronger governance, contract sanctity, and transparent leadership.
He called for the recognition of natural gas as a transitional fuel and stressed the use of hydrocarbon revenues to fund renewable energy, education, and infrastructure.
“We must ensure that energy justice and equity are central to our agenda. Let us empower our youth to see the energy sector not just as a place of infrastructure but as a space of innovation, inclusion, and global relevance.”
In a strong push for energy equity, Ojulari also advocated for clean cooking technologies and scaling local innovations, urging collaborative action to attract investment and drive technological progress. He placed particular focus on youth empowerment through STEM education and green skills development.
Meanwhile, the Executive Director of Technical Services at NNPC EnServ, Olalekan Abiola, led the Topical Issues Workshop on “Reforms and Sustainability of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry.”
Abiola stressed the critical role of a predictable regulatory environment in reviving investor confidence. “We need to have a very stable fiscal environment, and then more importantly, signal to the industry that we are ready,” he said.
He also identified capacity building and a strengthened competence framework as pillars for long-term sustainability. “It’s not just about reforms on paper; we must ensure our people are ready, capable, and confident to lead the next era,” Abiola added.
On the issue of security and domestic obligations, he called for industry-wide collaboration to overcome operational challenges, reinforcing NNPC Ltd.’s commitment to sustainable growth through strategic reforms.
NAICE 2025 continues this week with panel sessions, workshops, and exhibitions showcasing innovations shaping Nigeria and Africa’s evolving energy landscape.
