Stakeholders in Nigeria’s energy sector have urged African countries to develop home-grown strategies that align with global energy transformations while protecting national interests, fostering regional cooperation, and ensuring inclusive growth.
The call was made in Abuja at the 18th Annual International Conference of the Nigerian Association for Energy Economics (NAEE) in Abuja, themed “Emerging Geopolitics of Energy: Navigating Global Shifts and Impacts on Developing Economies.”
The conference, which brought together policymakers, diplomats, scholars, and industry leaders, focused on how Africa could navigate the intersecting challenges of climate change, technological disruption, and geopolitical realignment without undermining its energy security and developmental aspirations.
The Chief Executive of Teno Energy, Dr Tim Okun, called for an African-driven industrial strategy anchored on import substitution and self-sufficiency.
Citing the Dangote Refinery as a “market disruptor,” he said Africa’s energy sustainability must be linked to industrialisation and local manufacturing of renewable components.
“We must master small things, like building reliable 100 MW plants before pursuing mega projects,” he advised.President of the Capital Market Academics of Nigeria, Prof Uche Uwaleke, noted that the global energy landscape was undergoing a profound transformation, shaped by climate commitments, digital innovation, and shifting alliances. He stressed that Nigeria must synchronise its energy, finance, and governance frameworks to remain competitive.
According to him, the capital market has a pivotal role in financing clean energy innovation, urging stronger collaboration between NAEE and financial scholars to design new instruments that can accelerate the low-carbon transition.
From a regulatory standpoint, the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, argued that Nigeria’s transition must be anchored in realism and local adaptation.
Represented by an Executive Director at the organisation, Prof. Zainab Gobir, Ahmed identified natural gas as the nation’s most strategic transition fuel, citing ongoing regulatory efforts to expand gas infrastructure, enhance competition, and foster public-private partnerships for pipelines, LPG, and CNG facilities. He called for evidence-based policymaking, institutional capacity building, and regional integration to ensure sustainable energy security.
Representing the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), Deputy General Manager of Strategic Planning and Documentation, Mohammed Haruna, described the conference as timely amid escalating global energy disruptions.
He said the PTDF continues to invest heavily in scholarships, research funding, and industry partnerships to build capacity for new technologies such as hydrogen, biofuels, and advanced energy systems. Haruna reaffirmed the Fund’s partnership with NAEE and the International Association for Energy Economics (IAEE) to bridge the gap between research and industry practice.
Similarly, the Council Chair of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Nigeria, Amina Janmadami, stated that the convergence of geopolitical tensions, climate action, and technological change presented both risks and opportunities.
