The Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) has called for stronger collaboration, innovation and resilience to position Nigeria for success in the evolving global energy landscape. 

Francis Nwaochei, chairman of the SPE Nigeria Council, made the call on Monday at the 49th Nigeria annual international conference and exhibition (NAICE 2026) in Lagos. 

The conference is themed: ‘Thriving in the Evolving Global Energy Landscape: Collaborative Growth and Resilience.’ 

Mr Nwaochei said Nigeria’s energy future would depend on strong leadership, sound policies, technological innovation and sustained collaboration among government, regulators and industry stakeholders. 

He described the conference theme as a timely call to action, urging participants to focus on practical solutions to strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness globally. 

Mr Nwaochei said, “We gather at a defining moment for the global energy industry. 

“The conversations over the next three days must move beyond identifying challenges to developing practical, implementable solutions for Nigeria’s energy sector.” 

Mr Nwaochei welcomed government officials, regulators, industry executives, investors, exhibitors, academics, students and international delegates attending the conference. 

He described their participation as a strong vote of confidence in Nigeria’s energy industry and its long-term growth prospects. 

According to him, SPE remains the world’s largest individual-member professional association serving the upstream and broader energy industry. 

The SPE Nigeria Council ranks among the association’s most vibrant branches, with more than 17,000 members nationwide. 

Members are spread across Lagos, Port Harcourt, Warri, Benin, Abuja and Uyo, with support from over 50 student chapters. 

Mr Nwaochei noted that NAICE has remained the flagship conference of the SPE Nigeria Council for nearly five decades. 

He said the conference had evolved into one of Africa’s foremost platforms for technical exchange, policy dialogue and investment promotion. 

According to him, the event also supports technology showcases, professional development and industry-wide collaboration across the continent. 

Highlighting industry progress, Mr Nwaochei cited the successful conclusion of the 2025 licensing round as evidence of renewed investor confidence. 

He said 31 companies emerged winners of 37 oil and gas blocks during the exercise, boosting optimism in Nigeria’s upstream sector. 

The chairman also referenced the federal government’s decade of gas initiative as a major step towards energy sector transformation. 

He further highlighted plans to settle verified debts owed to power generation companies and gas suppliers through a ₦4 trillion bond. 

According to him, the initiative will improve liquidity, encourage investment and strengthen the country’s power and gas value chain. 

Mr Nwaochei said the measures aligned with the government’s ambitions to increase crude oil production and expand domestic gas utilisation. 

He added that improving regulatory efficiency and attracting long-term investments remained critical priorities for sustainable industry growth. 

The chairman stressed that resilience required responsible production growth and effective commercialisation of Nigeria’s abundant gas resources. 

He said resilience also involved improving the ease of doing business and strengthening local content participation. 

According to him, deploying emerging technologies and creating long-term economic value must remain central to industry strategies. 

“Over the next three days, delegates will participate in technical paper presentations, executive panel sessions and specialised workshops,” he said. 

He said participants would also engage in innovation pitch sessions, technology exhibitions and career development programmes. 

Mr Nwaochei added that the conference would feature women leadership programmes, young professionals workshops and business networking sessions. 

He expressed appreciation to sponsors, exhibitors, corporate partners, regulators, government agencies and development partners supporting the conference.

According to him, their contributions represent investments in knowledge, innovation, technology and human capital development. 

The chairman encouraged students and young professionals to maximise opportunities for learning, networking and leadership development. 

He urged them to engage industry experts and prepare themselves for future leadership responsibilities within the energy sector. 

Announcing the next edition, Mr Nwaochei disclosed that NAICE 2027 would commemorate the conference’s golden jubilee. 

He said the event would mark 50 years of sustained contributions to Nigeria’s petroleum and energy industry development. 

The chairman urged delegates to participate actively in technical sessions, exhibitions and networking engagements throughout the conference. 

He called on stakeholders to strengthen partnerships and contribute ideas supporting sustainable growth in Nigeria’s energy industry. 

Mr Nwaochei also acknowledged the support of Chevron Nigeria Limited, his employer, toward the success of the conference. 

He said NAICE remained one of Africa’s largest annual gatherings of petroleum engineers, policymakers, investors and researchers. 

According to him, the conference provides a platform for discussing emerging technologies, investment opportunities and industry-shaping policies. 

About 800 delegates and more than 50 exhibitors attended the conference.

 (NAN)