Lagos: Africa is no longer waiting for foreign expertise to drive its energy growth. Across the continent, local companies and skilled professionals are stepping up, turning homegrown talent into a force that keeps jobs, knowledge, and investment within Africa. At the heart of this shift is the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), which is strengthening indigenous competence, deepening collaboration, and positioning African expertise at the centre of the continent’s energy future.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, at the 10th Sub-Saharan Africa International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (SAIPEC) in Lagos, industry leaders said the association was helping Africa move from dependence to confidence in its own capabilities. Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Mr. Heineken Lokpobiri, said PETAN is a strategic partner in retaining value within the continent and strengthening energy security. He emphasized the need for Africa to move beyond being perpetual middlemen, highlighting the continent’s growing capacity which must be deployed efficiently.
Lokpobiri urged African countries to adopt a pragmatic and inclusive energy mix that reflected development realities, noting that Africa spends more than 120 billion dollars annually importing oil and gas goods and services. He expressed that retaining even a fraction of that value within the continent would be transformative. He commended PETAN for convening stakeholders across Africa and expanding indigenous capacity beyond the nation’s borders.
Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Mr. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, said PETAN aligned with regulatory reforms aimed at improving transparency, efficiency, and technical compliance in upstream operations. She praised PETAN members as ‘critical enablers of Nigeria’s upstream renaissance,’ noting that their technical depth and adherence to global standards were reinforcing investor confidence and operational sustainability.
Furthermore, Group Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd., Mr. Bayo Ojulari, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to partnerships that strengthen indigenous capacity and advance gas development as a driver of industrialisation. He highlighted that in just ten years, SAIPEC has grown beyond the confines of a conference to become a powerful statement of African capability, proving that the continent can convene, collaborate, and compete at the highest global standards.
PETAN Chairman, Mr. Wole Ogunsanya, said the conference reflected a decade of progress in policy dialogue and project delivery. He stressed that Africa’s energy future must be defined by Africans, for Africans, and emphasized the importance of access, affordability, and reliability in energy priorities, especially when more than 600 million Africans still lack electricity. Ogunsanya added that Africa’s approach to energy transition is not about abandoning hydrocarbons but leveraging resources responsibly while integrating cleaner solutions gradually.
Quadri Fatai, Chief Executive Officer of Alfa Designs Nigeria Ltd., highlighted PETAN’s investment in training, knowledge exchange, and global exposure, which has built a pipeline of skilled professionals and competitive firms. He noted that PETAN’s focus on human capital development has bridged critical skills gaps, encouraged technology transfer, and repositioned indigenous companies as reliable operators capable of delivering world-class services.
Industry observers pointed to PETAN’s growing sustainability focus, noting that member companies were aligning with global environmental, social, and governance standards, adopting responsible practices, and investing in host communities. They said this shift demonstrated that profitability and environmental stewardship could coexist while strengthening community trust.
An industry expert, Mr. Tijani Dawudu, stated that PETAN had evolved beyond an industry association into a movement redefining ownership, participation, and leadership in Africa’s energy story. He added that with sustained regulatory backing, institutional partnerships, and private sector confidence, the continent’s energy future will increasingly be built by African expertise competently, collaboratively, and sustainably.