Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — NNPC Limited has identified talent strategy as a critical driver of commercial performance, production growth and investor confidence, as Nigeria positions itself to meet its long-term energy ambitions.
Speaking at the Nigeria International Energy Summit, NIES 2026 in Abuja, the company’s Executive Vice President, Business Services, Sophia Mbakwe, said human capital planning is as important as infrastructure and capital in delivering Nigeria and Africa’s energy goals.
Mbakwe, who headlined a panel session titled “Talent, Leadership & Narrative for Nigeria and Africa’s 2050 Energy Goals,” said organisations seeking to grow production and attract investment must deliberately align their talent strategies with their commercial mandates.
“Talent strategy is a key enabler of commercial success. You cannot talk about increasing production or attracting investment without having the right people and the right skills in place,” she said.
While acknowledging the importance of technical expertise, Mbakwe stressed that soft skills such as leadership, collaboration and adaptability are increasingly critical as the energy industry evolves.
“Every skill matters, but soft skills play a major role in how we deliver on long-term energy targets for Nigeria and Africa,” she added.
The NNPC EVP described the company’s workforce as one of its strongest assets, noting that the national oil company is deliberately blending experience with youth to sustain performance and institutional knowledge.
“Our workforce is a core strength. We are combining the depth of experience within NNPC with younger talent through mentoring, inclusion and diversity, to ensure continuity and excellence,” Mbakwe said.
She noted that this approach supports NNPC Limited’s broader transformation agenda, aimed at improving efficiency, execution and value delivery across the energy value chain.
The session formed part of wider conversations at NIES 2026 on positioning Nigeria as a competitive energy destination while preparing its workforce for the demands of a changing global energy landscape.
