By Yusuf Yunus, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
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.
Meanwhile, 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.
“We cannot afford to remain perpetual middlemen. Africa has grown capacity, and we must deploy it efficiently,” he said.
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 said 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 described 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.
She added that structured capacity building supports Nigeria’s local content framework by ensuring measurable indigenous participation across the energy value chain.
Also, 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.
“In just ten years, SAIPEC has grown beyond the confines of a conference.
“It has become a powerful statement of African capability, proof that our continent can convene, collaborate and compete at the highest global standards,” he said.
Ojulari described the partnership between NNPC Ltd. and PETAN as a reflection of a shared conviction.
He explained that Africa’s energy future must be shaped by Africans and anchored on credible policies, strong institutions and capable indigenous companies.
PETAN Chairman, Mr Wole Ogunsanya, said the conference reflected a decade of progress in policy dialogue and project delivery.
“This decade of progress reflects the resilience, innovation and determination of African industry players.
“Africa’s energy future must be defined by Africans, for Africans,” Ogunsanya said.
He stressed that although global energy transition continues to evolve, Africa’s priorities remained access, affordability and reliability, noting that more than 600 million Africans still lack electricity.
“For Africa, energy transition is not about abandoning hydrocarbons. It is about leveraging our resources responsibly while gradually integrating cleaner solutions,” he added.
Ogunsanya said indigenous firms now deliver complex drilling, engineering, fabrication and technology projects to international standards but noted that sustained progress required regulatory clarity, contract sanctity, access to financing and disciplined project execution.
“The next decade must be defined by investment and execution,” he said.
Quadri Fatai, Chief Executive Officer of Alfa Designs Nigeria Ltd., said PETAN’s investment in training, knowledge exchange and global exposure had built a pipeline of skilled professionals and competitive firms.
According to him, the association’s focus on human capital development.
This, he stressed had bridged critical skills gaps, encouraged technology transfer and repositioned indigenous companies as reliable operators capable of delivering world class services.
He noted that PETAN’s partnerships across Ghana, Angola and Senegal were strengthening Africa to Africa service delivery and expanding indigenous participation across emerging energy markets.
Industry observers also 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, said 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. (NAN Feature)
***If used, please credit the writer and the News Agency of Nigeria.
