By Ndubuisi Micheal Obineme
The Chairman of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), Mr. Nicolas Odinuwe, has said that the Sub-Saharan Africa International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (SAIPEC) creates huge opportunities for regional collaboration and partnerships.
This is because Sub-Sahara Africa is said to be the last energy frontier and global hub. Odinuwe, therefore, pointed out that the key enabler is to create a collaborative ecosystem between the local industry stakeholders within the Sub-region alongside the Africa continental free trade Area (AfCFTA).
The PETAN Chairman in his opening address welcomed delegates from across over 25 countries of Sub-Saharan Africa who converged for the 6th edition of SAIPEC holding at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos, Nigeria.
The 3-day flagship international energy conference, Odinuwe said is being hosted by PETAN, an association of leading Nigerian Indigenous Technical Oilfield service companies in the upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors of the Nigerian Oil and gas industry, with the active support from the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), headed by Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote, it’s Executive Secretary.
Odinuwe said PETAN is the largest and leading advocacy group representing Nigerian Oil and Gas service companies with membership cutting across the entire value chain of the oil sector which have been delivering quality services to the industry for over 30 years.
The PETAN Chairman thanked the delegates made up of continental prominent speakers, exhibitors, national regulators, International Oil Companies (IOCs), Nigerian Oil Companies (NOCs), sponsors, representatives of Nigeria’s Petroleum Ministry and its relevant agencies, the media, and other guests from all over Africa who have come to share their knowledge in the quest of development. The PETAN Chairman equally expressed his association’s delight at the participation of the delegates in the event.
Highlighting the gains of this year’s SAIPEC conference, however, Odinuwe stated that the gains underscore PETAN’s emphasis on the future of the oil/gas/energy industry through collaboration, entrepreneurship, and innovation.
He also pointed out that through topical discussions, debates, and interactions, stakeholders and key players at the conference will have ample opportunities to share ideas and critical insights into the region’s hydrocarbon and transition-energies businesses.
Odinuwe declared that PETAN will continue to appeal to all Governments, representatives, policymakers, legislators, captains of industries, and all industry stakeholders to incorporate the outcome of the SAIPEC conference into their plans, programs, and policies for a better operating environment that will have the desired positive effect on the respective economies of African nations.
SAIPEC, Odinuwe told the delegates, is the only oil/gas/energy event that is held in partnership with the entire sub-Saharan African petroleum industry stakeholders.
He noted that though the world is yet to emerge from the throes of the Covid-19 pandemic which he said had spanned over two years, it has changed the global economy in unexpected ways. He, however, admitted that the wave of the pandemic has come with innovations driven by the digitization of the global economy. He however assured that protocols are now in place for measured and adopted life and economic continuity.
The PETAN Chairman disclosed that “stabilized and stabilizing markets have all encouraged innovation in several industries despite supply chains disruptions”, he stated that “Private-market investors are uniquely positioned to benefit from the innovation supercycle that is being driven by the digitization of the global economy, a decade-long transformation accelerated by the pandemic.
“The value chain in the oil, gas, and energy industry is such that if properly harnessed, will transform the economy of the entire continent. The challenge has been an enabling environment to create a private sector-led industry. Government across Africa, especially the Oil and gas producing sub-Saharan countries, should provide necessary incentives to attract private-sector investments across the entire value chain. This will trigger a massive economic revolution, human capital development and deepen local content across Africa”, Odinuwe stated.
Stressing on the theme for this year’s SAIPEC event titled: “Fostering Collaboration to Create Cross-Boarder Partnerships Across the Oil, Gas, and Energy Spectrum”, Odinuwe opined that it is very apt in the sense that “exhibitors, sponsors, and delegates, especially those who are joining us for the first time – we believe after now – will make this a permanent feature of your annual calendars. We desire to build this conference to be enviable & innovative with as much regional spread across Sub-Sahara Africa”.
He further explained that the sixth edition of SAIPEC is also “designed to provide opportunities – as with previous ones – to renew business relations, make new ones and strengthen the professional network that binds us together as one family dedicated to the advancement of the oil/ gas and energy industry and the sociopolitical and economic development of Sub Saharan Africa”.
He however welcomed the delegates, once again, while thanking the steering committee of the conference, which is the PETAN Executive Board and partners, the “GEP for making this rich gathering worth the time year in, year out. “I thank you for listening and once again a very warm welcome to every one of you and on behalf of PETAN, wish you all a successful conference. and exhibition”, Odinuwe said.
Dignitaries, some of who were speakers at the SAIPEC Confab include the Hon. Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva; the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote; the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Mele Kolo Kyari; the former Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu.
Others are the Secretary-General of the African Petroleum Producer’s Organization (APPO), Dr. Omar Farouk Ibrahim; the former Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), Mr. Tony Attah; federal lawmakers oversight the Nigeria oil industry and top members of the Board of Trustees and Executive Board of PETAN; Icons and Captains of Industry from across Africa and many others.