.Milestones, Makers and Memos chronicles 136 years of industry landmarks, influential personalities and defining events
Chief Adedayo Ojo, Founder and Chairman of Caritas Communications, is set to unveil his latest book, Milestones, Makers and Memos, a comprehensive historical account of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, documenting its evolution, landmark achievements, influential personalities and defining moments from 1889 to 2025.
The book will be formally presented to the public during the 44th Annual International Conference of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE), scheduled to hold from November 8 to 12, 2026, at Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The publication is a significant addition to the body of literature on Nigeria’s petroleum industry, offering valuable historical insights for oil and gas professionals, policymakers, business leaders, researchers, students and other stakeholders interested in understanding the foundations and evolution of the nation’s energy sector.
Titled Milestones, Makers and Memos, the book serves as an encyclopaedic documentation of the landmarks, lessons and legends that have shaped Nigeria’s oil and gas industry over more than a century.
Beyond documenting historical events, the publication provides an account of the institutions, policies, decisions and personalities whose contributions have influenced the direction of the industry, from its early beginnings to its present-day realities.
One of the book’s key highlights is its detailed timeline of developments between 1977 and 1996, a defining period in Nigeria’s petroleum history.
From the establishment of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in 1977 to the opening of the country’s deepwater exploration frontier in 1995, the period witnessed far-reaching institutional, commercial and policy developments that laid important foundations for the industry’s subsequent growth.
Among the significant milestones documented are the nationalisation of British Petroleum’s remaining stake in Nigeria, the commercialisation of NNPC, the incorporation of Nigeria LNG Limited, the emergence of the first indigenous private oil discovery and policy reforms that influenced the structure and future direction of the petroleum industry.
ALSO READ:
- Nigeria’s Solar Capacity Set to Hit Record 200MW
- Adedayo Ojo Set to Unveil Book on Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Industry
- Seplat Energy Repays Final $100m Debt for MPNU Acquisition
- NUPRC, SDN Deploy Methane Tracker
- NNPC, Zulum Meet on Resumption of Oil Exploration in Borno
These developments reflect the interplay of government policies, institutional evolution, indigenous participation, investment decisions and technological advancement in shaping Nigeria’s petroleum landscape.Importantly, Milestones, Makers and Memos goes beyond a chronological presentation of events.
It seeks to preserve the stories behind the headlines, highlighting the individuals and institutions whose vision, leadership and decisions contributed to the development of the industry.
For an industry that has undergone several transformations, including changes in ownership structures, regulatory frameworks, exploration strategies and investment patterns, the book offers an opportunity to revisit its historical foundations and appreciate the lessons that can inform its future.
It also provides an important reference point for younger professionals and emerging industry leaders seeking to understand the people, policies and defining moments behind Nigeria’s position as a major oil and gas-producing nation.With its extensive historical coverage spanning 1889 to 2025, the publication promises to serve as a useful reference for preserving institutional memory and promoting a deeper understanding of Nigeria’s petroleum heritage.
Ojo’s forthcoming book is therefore not just a documentation of the industry’s past but also an invitation to reflect on its achievements, challenges and future possibilities.As Nigeria continues to reposition its oil and gas industry to attract investment, strengthen indigenous capacity, expand gas utilisation and unlock new exploration opportunities, understanding the milestones that brought the sector to its present position remains particularly important.
