The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mr. Bayo Ojulari, has emphasised the need for Africa to develop bankable energy projects to ensure a sustainable energy future.
Mr. Ojulari made this call on Monday at the ongoing Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Nigerian Council’s 2025 Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibition in Lagos.
Ojulari, who is also a board member of the SPE Nigerian Council, said that Africa must not only compete for available capital but also make a case for why its energy landscape is bankable.
“Government and stakeholders must co-create an industry that is attractive for investments,” he said.
He added that energy transition was not just about the resources but also about the people.
This year’s conference is themed ‘Building A Sustainable Energy Future: Leveraging Technology, Supply Chain, Human Resources and Policy’.
He emphasised the need for government and stakeholders to co-create an industry that is attractive for investments, highlighting that energy transition was not just about resources but also about people.
Ojulari called for bold leadership in reshaping Africa’s energy landscape, adding that the future of energy is neither linear nor predetermined.
He said, “It will be shaped by leadership and investment.
“The future of energy must be inclusive of the people. It must deepen strategic engagement across borders and across the globe.”
He stressed that the future of energy would be shaped by leadership and investment, and that it must be inclusive of the people.
Ojulari noted that energy transition must not be imposed but negotiated, with natural gas being recognized as the transitional fuel for Africa.
He called for a holistic approach to energy transition, including investment in STEM, green initiatives, deepened partnership, capital mobilization, and youth empowerment.
“Hydrocarbon and natural gas must co-exist. Energy transition is not the resources but about the people, and our youths,” he said.
“Let us lead the energy transition story with our people and youths in mind. Our goal is not just to meet the energy needs of today but the goals of future energy,” he added.
Earlier, SPE Nigeria Council Chair, Amina Danmadami, said a sustainable energy future required a holistic approach, to include technology, efficient supply chain, human resources and policies.
Danmadami, who is also the first female SPE Nigeria’s Council Chair, also called for collaboration among industry stakeholders.
The development of bankable energy projects is crucial for Africa’s sustainable energy future.
By creating an attractive industry and investing in the right areas, Africa can ensure a future that meets the energy needs of today and tomorrow.
