Light-Up Nigeria Conference: Stakeholders harp on robust Nigerian energy policy

The Brand Innovation Conference organized by Brandzone Consulting LLC hosted its 2018 edition focusing on the theme “Repositioning the Energy Sector for Growth” with the hashtag #LightUpNigeriaConference in Lagos.

The event in its 5th year, brought together corporations, policy makers, professionals, investors, academics and students across the entire energy industry value chain.

In her opening remarks, Chizor Malize, Managing Partner, Brandzone Consulting LLC and convener, said the theme was selected to reflect the fact that there have been fundamental changes to the dynamics of the world’s energy industry, which the Nigerian local industry needs to align to.

According to her, “the energy sector has a pivotal role to play in illuminating the nation. The sector is indispensable and crucial to Nigeria’s economic growth outcome”. Speaking further she asserted that the #LightUpNigeriaConference recognized the need to reposition the energy sector for continuous growth and advancement.

She also noted that the energy sector requires more than ever before an effective integration of opportunities across the sector value chain, development of strong strategic frameworks around every tenet of business, consolidation of knowledge, skills, experiences and expertise to maximize the industry potential.

Malize informed stakeholders that “the conference is designed to dissect emerging sector opportunities, issues and challenges inhibiting growth, and global innovation and opportunities that can catalyse growth for both the energy sector operations and the nation”.

Odein Ajumogobia (SAN), former minister of petroleum resources and special guest of honour at the #LightUpNigeriaConference, in his brief keynote said there is a strong correlation between electric consumption and the growth of GDP in an economy.

Considering the level of electricity provisions across the globe, Ajumogobia stated that the industry has a long way to go but believed a robust policy approach to repositioning the energy sector, had the potential of spurring economic growth.

Giving the example of the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), he was of the opinion that access to power for enterprises, was the catalyst to industrialization and increased economic activities in the country.

Gbite Adeniji, Senior Technical Adviser to the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, who represented the Minister, Ibe Kachikwu, lauded the organizers of the #LightUpNigeriaConference stating that the objective of the forum aligned with the resolve of the Federal Government to alleviate Nigerians from energy dearth.

Adeniji shared the key steps the government was taking to reposition the energy industry, which include; providing a robust policy framework, ensuring a conducive business environment, pushing a gas revolution, rehabilitating the existing refineries, addressing the Niger-Delta issues, entrenching transparency and efficiency and adopting stakeholder engagement in the policy and investment drive.

He said the roadmap of the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources which is the “7 Big Wins”, was an aggressive framework of the government in leading an efficient energy industry. Adeniji assured stakeholders that the Federal Government was committed to energy security in the country.

The conference also featured three plenary sessions, which focused on “Catalyzing Development: Scaling the Energy Hurdle for Accelerated Growth”; “Driving Energy Availability: Optimizing Gas as a Bridge to the Nation’s Energy Need” and “Unlocking Opportunities in the Downstream Sector: Achieving Supply & Distribution Excellence”.

The energy plenary explored the overall energy value chain, from oil and gas exploration, power generation and distribution, natural gas, renewable energy and sustainability. Speaking on this plenary were Ademola Adeyemi-Bero, Managing Director, First E&P; Ndidi Nnoli Edozien, Group Chief, Sustainability & Governance, Dangote Industries, Limited;  Dada Thomas, President, Nigeria Gas Association & CEO Frontier Oil & Gas; Odein Ajumogobia (SAN), Former Minister of State, Petroleum Resources and Gbite Adeniji, Senior Technical Assistant to the Minister of Petroleum Resources and representing the Honourable Minister.

Speaking on the gas plenary were  Gbite Adeniji, Senior Technical Adviser to the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources,  Joe Ezigbo CEO, Falcon Corporation, Nkechi Obi, Executive Vice Chairman, Techno Oil Limited, Effiong Okon, Executive Director, Operations, SEPLAT Plc, Abimbola Banjo, Associate Director, PwC Nigeria and Mohammed Mijindadi, Director, Gas Power Systems (Nigeria) at GE Power.

The Downstream Oil and Gas distribution and logistics plenary was led by Yomi Awobokun, chief executive officer, Enyo Retail Oil & Gas. Other speakers on the plenary include Gabriel Ogbechie, Managing Director/CEO, Rainoil Limited and Johnson Chukwu, Founder/CEO, Cowry Asset Management Limited, asserting that Nigeria’s petroleum downstream sector needs to be deregulated and the industry needs to become more technology driven. The need to embrace innovation and modern systems such as Modular refineries was also emphasized.

FRANK UZUEGBUNAM