Gbenga Komolafe and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) are set to receive international recognition at the upcoming 2025 Africa Energies Summit Awards in London, in what observers say marks a major milestone in the country’s repositioning within the global energy landscape.

Komolafe, and engineer and chief executive officer of the NUPRC, has been shortlisted for the Elephant Award, which honours individuals who have significantly advanced Africa’s energy sector, while the NUPRC is nominated for the Rhino Award, awarded to the continent’s top-performing regulatory agencies or national oil companies.

The nominations, announced ahead of the awards scheduled for 15 May, have drawn praise from energy-focused civil society group, the Alliance for Sustainable Energy Governance in Africa (ASEGA), which described the recognition as a reflection of “strategic, consistent reform” within Nigeria’s upstream oil and gas sector.
“The nomination of Engr. Komolafe and the Commission points to one thing: strategic, consistent reform works,” said Ibrahim Bello Kura, ASEGA’s national president, in a statement issued on Tuesday.

The group praised the NUPRC’s progress since its establishment in 2021, citing increased transparency, policy predictability, and a more efficient regulatory environment. It said Komolafe’s early pledge to build a 21st-century regulator had begun to yield measurable results, attracting interest from stakeholders across the continent.

“At the time of his Senate clearance, many may have viewed his ambition as aspirational. But today, there is measurable progress,” ASEGA said. “From data-driven regulation to investor confidence and better governance mechanisms, the NUPRC has set a new standard.”

ASEGA noted that the nominations were significant not only because of their continental scope but also due to the global attention the summit attracts. “These are peers and observers from across Africa and the global energy space. When they choose to nominate a Nigerian regulator and its chief executive, that sends a signal,” the group said.

Recent statistics from the Commission show Nigeria’s oil reserves at 37.24 billion barrels and gas reserves at 210.5 trillion cubic feet, with projected lifespans of 64 and 93 years respectively. The NUPRC has also launched initiatives aimed at boosting production by an additional one million barrels per day.

While noting that figures alone do not tell the full story, ASEGA emphasised the link between improved sector data and deliberate regulatory reform. “Statistical improvements alone don’t tell the full story. But when you connect those figures to regulatory actions, you see a pattern of deliberate policy execution. That’s what’s being recognised in London,” the statement said.

The group cautioned, however, that the awards should not be seen as an endpoint but as validation of a direction that must be maintained. “There’s still more work ahead. But this shows that the direction is right,” it added.

Other contenders for the Rhino Award include Côte d’Ivoire’s PETROCI, Angola’s ANPG, São Tomé and Príncipe’s ANP-STP, Mauritania’s SMH, and Senegal’s PETROSEN. Komolafe will compete for the Elephant Award alongside officials from ExxonMobil, the Petroleum Authority of Uganda, Angola’s ANPG, and Madagascar’s OMNIS.

The Africa Energies Summit, now in its 29th year, brings together policymakers, regulators, and industry leaders. This year’s keynote speakers include Gayle Meikle, CEO of Frontier, and Maggy Shino, Petroleum Commissioner of Namibia.