Prof. Joseph Ajeinka, Emmanuel Egbogah Chair for Petroleum Engineering.
…What becomes of Nigeria oil and gas wealth in a world that is steadily losing the doors to fossil fuel?
-Felix Douglas
The 14th edition of Emmanuel Egbogah Legacy Lecture Series (EELLS) was held at the Emerald Energy Institute, University of Port Harcourt (Uniport), Rivers State.
The annual gathering is powered by the Emmanuel Egbogah Foundation (EEF), which was established in 2019 to honour remarkable life and vision of Dr. Emmanuel Egbogah.
For the past 14 years, the emphasis has been on prosperity for posterity, inspiring dialogue with research and policy thinking that shapes future of the energy industry.
EELLS is in collaboration with the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Nigeria Council. It is a platform where the government advocates sustainability for the energy industry. Relevant stakeholders converge to explore wealth of petroleum and how it can be a true driver for sustainable development.
The theme of this year’s EELLS is ‘From Resource Wealth to Energy Equity: Nigeria’s Gas Opportunity in the Decarbonization Era’.
In his welcome address, the Emmanuel Egbogah Chair for Petroleum Engineering and 7th Vice Chancellor of Uniport, Prof. Joseph Ajeinka, disclosed that Dr. Egbogah endowed the Lecture Series and gave the first set of lectures which attracted international audience to the university. “We are gathered here to celebrate a great scholar, philanthropist and somebody who is interested in development of the national economy.”
Dr. E as he was fondly called had done a lot for Nigeria and was involved in the development of Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) including national content development for oil and gas industry.
Prof. Ajeinka said EELLS is a gathering to celebrate Dr. E. He appreciated Prof. Wumi Iledare who has been the driving force of EELLS for quite some time.
The former VC of Uniport expressed his gratitude to SPE for co-sponsoring the Lecture Series, the executives and students who graced the occasion.
Chairman of EEF, Dr. Emeka Egbogah appreciated the organizers for their continued support of EELLS for the past 14 years. “The EELLS was well attended and there are many people in the audience that attended physically and virtually from around the world.”
Speaking at the event during his remarks, the 9th and incumbent VC of Uniport, Prof. Georgewill Owunari, who was represented by Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration, Prof. Onyeasor, said Dr. E was a respected icon in the oil and gas industry because of his contribution of knowledge to the university.
As the chief host, Prof. Owunari called the 14th EELLS a memorable event. Thus the lecture is significant because “we are gathering not just to celebrate the primary legacy of a patriot, scholar, but to confront urgent problem before us today which is economic and environmental related issues that are affecting the world.”
Prof. Owunari stated that the theme of EELLS is apt and timely because global transition shows that fossil fuel is no longer a future prospect, but it is present with humanity.
“It is indeed something that all of us should look into seriously because of difficulties that’s affecting us today. What become of Nigerian oil and gas wealth in a world that is steadily losing the doors to fossil oil or carbon? How do we harness our abundant gas resources without reproducing the inequalities and environmental degradation that have been with us before now?”
The paradox of the time is that Nigeria is rich in resources, yet poor in equitable access to energy. It is an obvious reality that millions of households remain in darkness including small businesses, colleges under darkness and weight of undeniable conditions, even with expensive power when it is available.
The communities continue to pay the price of environmental degradation. This is the serious contradiction that is in Nigeria, wealth without equity, abundance without sustainability.
Prof. Owunari opined that the lecture must not only dwell on the problems, it must provide or provoke discussions or dialogue into reimagining new ways of thinking. Energy equity demands that gas should not simply be seen as commodity, but the need for instrument of justice related to it.
The Uniport VC was of the view that there has to be “justice for communities whose land yield these resources, justice for the poor who remain excluded from energy, and justice for future generations who must inherit a livable planet.”
Therefore the conversation will not only be about energy in isolation, but governance and social responsibility. It is also about ethics of development and shift to quality extraction and legitimate concern of people’s welfare from various sources of wealth to shared responsibility.
EELLS creates avenue on how academia, industry and government come together to bring solution to Nigeria’s problem, not Nigeria being a casualty, but indeed a place where data validation can be beneficial to the university.
“As a university, we commit ourselves to be part of this life dialogue, the Emmanuel Egbogah Energy Institute of Petroleum Engineering, stands as a whole knowledge of innovation, policy and engagement. The knowledge must translate into action and reforms that ensure that our nation’s gas opportunity is not squandered but invested in equity, sustainability and transformation.”
Prof. Owunari urged scholars, leaders, policy makers and young people to rise to the challenge. “Let us have a time of renewed commitment to dialogue, collaborate and move on to innovation that will help Nigeria.”
EEF 3
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