Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited has called for an urgent overhaul of Nigeria’s operational efficiency and rapid upskilling of its youthful energy workforce, warning that the country’s competitiveness in the global energy market depends on how quickly it modernizes its operations and talent base.
Speaking at the 43rd annual international conference of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists, NAPE, in Lagos, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Renaissance Energy, Mr. Tony Attah, said Nigeria stands at a defining moment amid shifting global energy dynamics, technological disruptions, and more selective capital flows.
“Despite these complexities, Nigeria retains enormous strategic advantages, world-class reserves, a young and dynamic population, entrepreneurial agility, and resilience to innovate our way forward,” Attah said in a keynote address delivered on his behalf by the company’s General Manager for Greenfields Capital Projects, Abimbola Tijani.
He stressed that operational excellence and human capital development must now move from aspiration to action.
“We must operate smarter, faster, and more efficiently while building and empowering the next generation of energy talent,” Attah said.
Defining operational efficiency as the new “price of relevance,” the Renaissance boss noted that energy firms must rethink how they work. “Operational efficiency is not about doing more; it is about doing better, consistently, sustainably, and smartly. It is no longer optional,” he declared.
Attah further highlighted that hydrocarbons will continue to play a key role in Nigeria’s economy for the foreseeable future, but competitiveness will hinge on modernising systems and workforce capabilities.
“We are not just competing with national oil companies; we are competing with agile, technology-enabled energy firms worldwide,” he stated.
Calling for urgent alignment between policy and industry, he urged government reforms that would encourage innovation and efficiency.
“Clear, consistent, and forward-looking regulatory frameworks, de-risked funding models, and partnerships between government, industry, and academia are essential,” he said.
He also emphasised the importance of human capital transformation, particularly through training and mentorship.
“Potential needs development and platforms to excel. We must nurture our people with targeted training, diversity and inclusion, retention strategies, and a safety-first culture,” Attah said.
The Renaissance CEO concluded that for Nigeria to retain investor confidence and relevance in the rapidly evolving energy landscape, efficiency and workforce transformation must be pursued with urgency and strategic intent.
“This is the time to move from rhetoric to measurable action, to turn our potential into performance,” he said.
