All is now set for the 2024 edition of the annual conference of the Association of Energy Correspondents of Nigeria (NAEC) known as the “NAEC Annual Strategic International Conference”.
The NAEC Conference is a flagship event of the association that brings together stakeholders in the Nigerian energy sector including operators, policymakers, local and international investors, service providers and analysts to discuss critical developments in the oil and gas, power, and renewable energy sectors, with a view to identifying and celebrating key successes, highlighting the challenges and proffering viable solutions for future growth.
This year’s edition of the conference is slated to hold on Thursday, October 3, 2024, at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, starting by 9am.
The theme of the 2024 NAEC Conference is “Gas as Energy Transition Fuel: Navigating Nigeria’s Trilemma of Finance, Energy Security, and International Politics.”
The choice of the theme of this year’s NAEC Annual Strategic International Conference was underpinned by the growing need to secure a sustainable, cleaner and affordable energy for Nigeria’s current and future generation by leveraging the country’s abundant natural gas resources yet to be unlocked and harnessed.
Just like the previous editions, this year’s conference will feature keynote addresses by top government officials, special industry presentations and goodwill messages from chief executives of oil majors, independent producers, downstream operators and power industry players, amongst others.
Having succeeded in securing confirmation of their attendance and participation, NAEC disclosed that the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo; Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, and the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, will deliver ministerial addresses at the conference.
The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mallam Mele Kolo Kyari, will deliver the industry keynote address at the conference.
Also, the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Gbenga Komolafe; Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Felix Ogbe; Chief Executive, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed; and the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Dr Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, will present regulators’ addresses at the conference.
Chairman of this year’s NAEC Conference is the Group Managing Director of Rainoil Limited, Dr Gabriel Ogbechie, whose company has become a dominant player in the Nigerian oil & gas downstream space.
Some of the special presentations at the conference will be delivered by the Coordinator of the Decade of Gas Secretariat, Mr Ed Ubong; Vice President, Oil & Gas, Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin; Managing Director, Nigeria LNG Limited, Dr Philip Mshelbila; and Chief Executive Officer, Pinnacle Oil & Gas Limited, Mr. Robert Dickerman, amongst others.
Furthermore, there will be three panel sessions at the conference, with the first panel focusing on the theme of the conference, while the second and third panels will centre around the downstream oil & gas subsector and the power sector, respectively.
Commenting on the conference, the National Chairman of NAEC, Mr. Ugo Amadi, stated that the captivating lineup of activities for the association’s 2024 conference, promises to tackle Nigeria’s most pressing energy challenges head-on.
Amadi said the conference’s main theme, “Gas as Energy Transition Fuel: Navigating Nigeria’s Trilemma of Finance, Energy Security, and International Politics,” was carefully curated to address the critical national discourse and provide strategic solutions to guarantee Nigeria’s energy security and sustainable future.
He said, “The conference will feature a dedicated session on ‘Actualising the Decade of Gas: Powering Nigeria’s Energy Sufficiency, Industrialization, and Economic Prosperity’, and other sessions that will talk about the pivotal role of natural gas in driving Nigeria’s energy sufficiency, industrialisation, and overall economic prosperity.”
The NAEC Chairman further emphasised that the third session of the conference will address the topic: “Power Sector: Unlocking Investments for Sustainable Growth.”
Amadi stated that the 2024 Conference being held under his new leadership at NAEC would serve as a pivotal platform for stakeholders to exchange insights and knowledge concerning the opportunities and challenges confronting investments in Nigeria’s energy sector.
In his remarks, Chairman of the NAEC 2024 Conference Committee, Mr. Adeola Yusuf, revealed that the upcoming conference promises to be a game-changer for the Nigerian energy industry.
According to Yusuf, the conference would bring together a diverse array of players, including ministers, CEOs, industry captains, regulators, lawmakers, and other key stakeholders, adding that with the participation of industry leaders and experts, the event promises to deliver actionable insights and innovative strategies to propel the sector forward.
He further added the conference would be a catalyst for unlocking investments, enhancing energy security, and driving sustainable development in Nigeria’s energy landscape.
