The yearly Aret Adams Memorial event, the 22nd in the series is slated to take place on the 15th of May, 2025 at the Muson Centre (Agip Recital Hall), Marina, Onikan, Lagos, by 11.00am prompt. The theme for this year’s lecture is tagged “Aret Adams – Legacies and Impacts on Nigeria’s Oil & Gas Industry”
According to the Programs Manager of Aret Adams Foundation, Mr. Akin Jokojeje, he pointed out that in selecting the theme for this year’s memorial event, the Board of Trustees observed that it has been 22 years since the transition of this doyen of the nation’s oil and gas industry, and therefore decided to put together a collection of industry colleagues, subordinates and associates to espouse his virtues, ideals and legacies vis-à-vis the current state of the Nigerian Energy industry and to make projections for its future, growth and development.
The event will be chaired by former Managing Director of SNEPCo, Engr. (Dr.) Olufemi Lalude. Also billed for the event, are two sets of panelists, comprising his Oil & Gas industry colleagues/subordinates, as well as other contemporaries who can provide insights into his profound mindset, hope and legacies for the country, the people and the industry. These groups of Panelists include: Ogbueshi Ben Osuno, Pioneer Director of DPR, Dr. Ebi Omatsola, Founding Managing Director of Conoil Nigeria Limited, Mr. George Osahon, Former Director of DPR, Engr. Andy Yakubu, Former, GMD, NNPC, Mr. Austin Avuru, Chairman, AA Holdings, Chief Chamberlain Oyibo, Former GMD, NNPC, Mr. James Mavuaye Orife, Former GGM, NAPIMS & Founder/Chairman of Versa-tech Nigeria Limited, Dr. Steve Okolo, Director, Zebbra Energy Limited, Mrs. Ofueko Omoigui-Okaru, MFR, FCA, (Former Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service) Pastor Daniel Ndefo, Former Exploration Manager, Elf/Total Petroleum Co. Limited and Mr. Louis Nwachukwu Mbanefo, MD/CEO, Enuani Energy Limited.
As expected, major players and stakeholders in the Oil and Gas industry, financial institutions, manufacturing as well as captains of industries are expected at the event.
He said that the Foundation was established in honour of the late Chief Godwin Aret Adams, the first Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (1988 to 1990), who later became the Special Adviser on Petroleum Resources to former Head of State, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar (rtd) in1998, adding that Aret Adams made outstanding contributions toward the growth of Nigeria’s Oil & Gas industry and the nation’s economy in general.
The Foundation is aimed at promoting and building educational capacity and policy formulations. He disclosed further that the National Energy policy delivered to the Federal government in April 1980 was formulated by the late Aret Adams and that it was him that re-energized negotiations that led to the successful execution of the shareholders agreements for the execution of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) project in 1989 and many others.
He went further to reveal that the Foundation has established the Aret Adams Professorial Chairs at the University of Port Harcourt in Petroleum Engineering in collaboration with SPDC which was recently being taken over by the Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited (RAEC), as well as Aret Adams Professorial Chair in Geology, at the University of Ibadan.
Also giving an insight into the forthcoming annual lecture, the Chief Host of the event and Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Foundation, Engr, Charles Osezua OON, KSG revealed that the Late Chief Aret Adams had been a Geologist per excellence during his life time and an alumnus of the University of Ibadan. This has propelled the Foundation to be given scholarship award to the best selected Post Graduate students in Geology of the University of Ibadan on yearly basis to assist them in the pursuit of their M.sc degree programmes. Another set will be given the award for the year 2025 at the occasion.
He further pointed out that Chief Aret Adams left behind legacy of excellence and transparency in government transactions, development through market growth, good business value, free market competition and many more, which have reflected in many lives he touched, irrespective of tribe or religion affiliations while he was alive. It was these sterling virtues and ideals that motivated few colleagues and associates of him to establish the Foundation in 2003 to propagate and sustain his life-long dreams.
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