The Chairman of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Nigeria Council, Engr. Francis Nwaochei, has called for stronger collaboration among government, regulators, operators, investors and technology providers to position Nigeria as a globally competitive energy destination capable of thriving amid the rapidly evolving global energy landscape.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 49th Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibition (NAICE 2026) in Lagos on Monday, Nwaochei said Nigeria’s future energy success would depend not only on its abundant natural resources but also on the quality of its leadership, policy consistency, innovation, institutional strength and commitment to partnerships.
The conference, themed “Thriving in the Evolving Global Energy Landscape: Collaborative Growth and Resilience,” brought together government officials, international and indigenous oil and gas companies, regulators, investors, academics, technology providers, development partners and thousands of industry professionals from across Nigeria and beyond.
Welcoming delegates, Nwaochei described NAICE as Africa’s foremost technical and investment platform for the petroleum industry, noting that the conference has, for nearly five decades, provided a forum for executive dialogue, policy engagement, technology exchange and professional development.
“Our gathering today reflects our shared commitment to technical excellence, innovation, collaboration and sustainable energy growth,” he said.
He noted that the SPE remains the world’s largest individual-member professional association serving the upstream and broader energy industry, while the SPE Nigeria Council, with over 17,000 members spread across six sections and supported by more than 50 student chapters, remains one of the organisation’s most vibrant councils globally.
According to Nwaochei, the global energy industry is undergoing unprecedented transformation driven by energy security concerns, affordability, decarbonisation, digitalisation, artificial intelligence, automation and operational efficiency.
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He said these developments present Nigeria with significant opportunities to leverage its vast hydrocarbon reserves, expanding gas economy, resilient indigenous operators and growing technology ecosystem to attract investment and accelerate economic growth.
“The industry is not standing still,” he said, citing recent reforms and policy initiatives aimed at restoring investor confidence.Among these, he highlighted the successful conclusion of the 2025 Licensing Round, where 31 companies emerged winners of 37 oil and gas blocks, describing it as evidence of renewed investor confidence in Nigeria’s upstream sector.
He also praised the Federal Government’s Decade of Gas initiative, describing natural gas as the catalyst for industrialisation, cleaner energy access, power reliability and economic diversification.Nwaochei further commended plans by the Federal Government to settle verified debts owed to electricity generation companies and gas suppliers through a proposed N4 trillion government-backed bond, saying the initiative would improve liquidity and strengthen confidence across the power and gas value chain.
He observed that recent policy pronouncements by the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the NNPC Limited, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority all point to a common objective of boosting production, attracting investment, expanding gas utilisation and creating a more transparent regulatory environment.
The SPE Chairman described the conference theme as more than a slogan, saying it reflects the resilience required to navigate today’s changing energy realities.According to him, resilience means adapting to disruption through innovation, strengthening collaboration, commercialising Nigeria’s vast gas resources, deepening local content, improving ease of doing business and attracting long-term investments.
He urged participants to move beyond identifying challenges and instead focus on developing practical solutions capable of transforming Nigeria into a globally competitive energy hub.
Nwaochei said NAICE 2026 had been carefully designed to deliver one of the strongest technical programmes in its history.Activities scheduled for the three-day conference include technical paper presentations, executive panel sessions, topical workshops, technology exhibitions, innovation pitch sessions, career fairs, women leadership programmes, young professionals’ workshops and extensive business networking opportunities.
He said the conference attracted delegates from government institutions, regulatory agencies, international and indigenous operating companies, service providers, research institutions, academia, technology firms and investment organisations.The SPE Chairman expressed appreciation to sponsors, exhibitors, government agencies, regulators, development partners and corporate organisations for supporting the conference.
He described their contributions as investments in innovation, technology advancement, professional development and the long-term growth of Nigeria’s energy industry.He also commended SPE International, the SPE Africa Region, members of the Nigeria Council Board of Trustees, past chairmen, conference planning committees, technical reviewers, volunteers and the Secretariat for their commitment to delivering a successful event.
Addressing young professionals and students, Nwaochei encouraged them to maximise the opportunities provided by the conference through networking, mentorship, technical learning and exposure to emerging technologies.
In a major announcement, Nwaochei disclosed that NAICE 2027 will mark the Golden Jubilee (50th anniversary) of the conference.
He said the landmark edition would hold from August 2–4, 2027, with professional training courses scheduled for July 31–August 1, 2027, and invited the global SPE community to participate in the historic celebration.
