The Harvard Business School Association of Nigeria (HBSAN) is set to convene some of Nigeria’s leading energy, business, financial and policy experts at its flagship HBSAN Energy Conference, scheduled for Friday, October 9, 2026, at Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
With the theme, “One Energy System: Integrating Oil, Gas, and Power for National Transformation,” the conference will provide a high-level platform for examining one of Nigeria’s longstanding economic challenges—the fragmentation of the country’s energy value chain.
Senior government officials, regulators, chief executives, investors, financiers and industry experts are expected to deliberate on how Nigeria can transition from largely disconnected approaches to oil, gas and electricity development towards a more coordinated, interconnected and investment-driven energy system capable of supporting sustainable economic growth.
At the core of the conference is the proposition that Nigeria’s vast energy resources can generate greater economic value when oil, gas and power are developed and operated as complementary components of a unified energy ecosystem.
HBSAN said the conference will move beyond conventional industry discussions to address critical issues including governance, policy alignment, regulatory convergence, infrastructure development, access to capital and operational efficiency—all of which are central to attracting investment, strengthening energy security and improving economic productivity.
A major outcome of the conference is expected to be an actionable white paper containing recommendations aimed at helping government and industry stakeholders translate the deliberations into practical policy, investment and institutional initiatives.
The event will be formally opened by the President of HBSAN, Mr. Collins Onuegbu, while Engr. Adeleye Falade, FNSE, Managing Director of NLNG, is scheduled to deliver the keynote address titled: “From Resource to Prosperity: Unlocking National Growth through Integrated Energy Systems – Oil, Gas and Power: The African Perspective.”
The keynote is expected to set the tone for discussions on how Africa can convert its abundant energy resources into broader economic prosperity through integrated planning, infrastructure development and strategic investment.
One of the conference’s major sessions, “Governance, Policy, and Regulatory Convergence,” will examine the institutional and regulatory architecture required to build a more coordinated and efficient Nigerian energy market.
The session will be moderated by Mr. Adedotun Sulaiman, Chairman, Board of Trustees, HBSAN, with contributions expected from Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, Chief Executive Officer, NUPRC; Hon. Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, Minister of Power; Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas); Mr. Bayo Ojulari, Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPC Limited; Engr. Rabiu Abdullahi Umar, ACE, NMDPRA; and Mr. Osa Igiehon, Managing Director, Heirs Energies.
The session will examine the need for stronger coordination across the oil, gas and power sectors, particularly in addressing regulatory uncertainty, institutional overlaps, infrastructure constraints and other factors that influence investment decisions and market efficiency.
Another critical session, “Infrastructure and Finance,” will focus on the financing challenges confronting Nigeria’s energy infrastructure and the mechanisms required to unlock large-scale investment.
The session will be led by Prof. Hakeem Belo-Osagie, Harvard Professor and HBSAN Board of Trustees member, and will examine strategies for developing bankable projects, mobilising domestic and international capital, strengthening investor confidence and creating the financial conditions necessary to bridge Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit.
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Additionally, expected panelists include Mr. Jim Swartz, Managing Director, Chevron Nigeria; Mr. Olusegun Alebiosu, Managing Director/CEO, First Bank; Mr. Gbite Falade, Chairman, IPPG and Managing Director/CEO, Aradel Holdings Plc; Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil); Mr. Dele Kuti, Global Head, Energy & Infrastructure, Standard Bank Group; Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, Managing Director/CEO, Fidelity Bank; and Mr. Oscar Onyema, OON, Chairman, JEX Markets.
The discussion will explore the relationship between infrastructure development, capital availability, project bankability and the long-term expansion of Nigeria’s energy sector.
The conference will also feature an Industry Fireside Chat, moderated by Prof. Prisca Ndu, with Dr. Layi Fatona, Chairman, ND Western and Renaissance Energy, expected to provide practical perspectives on improving operational efficiency across Nigeria’s power and hydrocarbon value chains.
The conversation will provide an industry-level assessment of the measures required to raise productivity, reduce inefficiencies, strengthen business resilience and improve the performance of critical energy assets.
A major highlight of the conference will be the case study session, “From Explorer to Owner,” featuring Dr. Austin Avuru, Chairman, AA Holdings.
Drawing from his entrepreneurial journey from Seplat to AA Holdings, Dr. Avuru is expected to examine the evolution of indigenous energy companies and the strategies required to build competitive, resilient and globally relevant African energy businesses.
The session will offer insights into entrepreneurship, capital formation, leadership, asset development and the long-term growth of indigenous participation in Nigeria’s energy industry.
As Nigeria intensifies efforts to strengthen energy security, expand electricity access, develop its gas resources and maximise the economic value of its hydrocarbon assets, the HBSAN Energy Conference is positioned as a platform for connecting policy thinking with investment and operational realities.
The conference theme reflects the recognition that oil, gas and power are deeply interconnected components of Nigeria’s energy economy, with developments in one segment often having significant implications for the others.
By bringing policymakers, regulators, industry operators, investors and financial institutions together, HBSAN seeks to promote a shared understanding of the reforms, investments and institutional coordination required to unlock greater value from Nigeria’s energy resources.
The conference will conclude with closing remarks by Dr. Mayowa Afe, Chairman of the HBSAN Energy Conference, who is expected to consolidate the key findings and recommendations emerging from the day’s deliberations.
With its emphasis on integration, investment and implementation, the HBSAN Energy Conference is poised to place the challenge of converting Nigeria’s vast energy resources into sustainable national prosperity firmly at the centre of the industry conversation.
