L-R: Olubukola Verheijien, Special Adviser to the President on Energy and Mrs. Olajumoke Ajayi, NAPE President at the opening of Exhibition of 44th NAPE Conference in Lagos.
-Felix Douglas
The President of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE), Mrs. Olajumoke Cecilia Ajayi, FNAPE, has called for increased investment in exploration, stronger indigenous technical capabilities and the adoption of adaptive technologies to unlock Nigeria’s untapped oil reserves.
Ajayi made the call while delivering her opening remarks at the 44th NAPE Annual International Conference and Exhibition, where she challenged industry stakeholders to prioritise exploration as a strategic response to declining production from mature oil fields and the depletion of existing reserves.
Speaking on the conference theme, “Unlocking More Barrels: Driving Reserves Growth Through Exploration, Local Capabilities and Adaptive Technology,” she said Nigeria’s future oil production would depend largely on the industry’s ability to discover, appraise and develop resources that remain undiscovered or underdeveloped.
She posed a critical question to participants: “Where will Nigeria’s next barrels come from?” stressing that unlocking the country’s hydrocarbon potential requires the right combination of geological understanding, investment, technology and determination.
According to her, while mature basins still offer significant opportunities, frontier and underexplored basins require deeper geological understanding and the willingness to take calculated investment risks.
The NAPE President noted that exploration practices must evolve to reflect technological advancements, highlighting the growing importance of advanced seismic imaging, basin modelling, artificial intelligence, machine learning and digital workflows in improving subsurface understanding.
However, she cautioned that technology alone cannot replace professional expertise and geological judgement, maintaining that successful exploration depends on combining innovative tools with sound technical knowledge.
She called for increased investment in Nigerian professionals, indigenous companies, research institutions and knowledge development to enable local players to undertake more complex technical, operational and commercial assignments.
Ajayi further emphasised the need for stronger collaboration among industry operators, government, academia and professional associations.
Reaffirming NAPE’s commitment to developing the next generation of exploration professionals, she highlighted the association’s NAPE Academy as one of its initiatives to equip young professionals with the knowledge, skills and confidence required to lead the industry.
She also urged international partners to see Nigeria as an investment destination where lasting industrial and technical capacities could be developed alongside hydrocarbon resources.
“Let us not simply ask where the next barrel is. Let us build the capability to find it,” she said.
She formally welcomed delegates and participants to the 44th NAPE Annual International Conference and Exhibition, reaffirming the association’s commitment to advancing exploration, reserves growth and the development of Nigeria’s petroleum industry.
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