The Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Gbenga Komolafe, has been honoured with the Corporate Partner in Energy Policy Reform Award by the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE).

The award was presented at NAPE’s 50th anniversary award dinner held in Lagos, in recognition of Komolafe’s contribution to energy policy reforms and his role in driving regulatory clarity in Nigeria’s upstream oil and gas sector.

In its citation, NAPE described Komolafe’s leadership at the NUPRC as pivotal in advancing reforms that have enhanced investor confidence, promoted transparency, and strengthened the regulatory framework in line with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

Komolafe, who has led the NUPRC since 2021, has overseen several initiatives aimed at improving industry governance, increasing crude oil production, and promoting gas development to support Nigeria’s energy transition objectives.

Receiving the award, Komolafe dedicated the honour to the NUPRC team, stating that the recognition would further inspire the Commission to sustain its commitment to transparency, accountability, and the creation of an enabling environment for upstream investments.

He highlighted the transformative reforms being implemented by the Commission under the Petroleum Industry Act, noting that the NUPRC has issued 19 enabling regulations benchmarked against global standards, developed a 10-year strategic plan, and rolled out a regulatory action plan to tackle long-standing industry bottlenecks and attract new investments.