Prof. Oba Saka Adelola Matemilola, former SPE Nigeria Council Chair
…Regulators and policy makers should work as partners to meet production.
-Felix Douglas
“Looking back at what has been achieved over the few decades I feel very proud. When I see indigenous stakeholders taking over the petroleum industry and competing with international oil companies (IOCs), I feel very proud. Two of the groups I am very passionate about are the youths and women and SPE has done a lot to bring them together.”
These were the words of Prof. Oba Saka Adelola Matemilola, the Olowu of Owu Kingdom in his goodwill message at the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibition (NAICE).
Prof. Oba Matemilola was former SPE Chair Nigeria Council and he spoke at the opening ceremony of the event.
The former SPE Chair said NAICE at the beginning dedicate two days for developing, training and re-training people. A lot of discussions and sessions were focused on development, the same goes to NAPE. He appreciated these major professional associations for their roles in developing and training members.
He spoke about policy makers and regulators of the industry. “Talking about building a sustainable energy future not only for Nigeria but Africa, the role of the professionals are set and they are doing them. But they also need partnership.”
Prof. Oba Matemilola pointed out that regulators and policy makers should work as partners because operators have target of meeting two million barrels of oil.
The youths see the industry as dirty and polluting while the industry professionals are working hard to transform and transition the industry from petroleum to energy. In doing this they need the right policy guidance and framework with implementation. They need the regulatory framework to implement it and succeed.
According to Prof. Oba Matemilola, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), alone cannot produce two millions of barrels of oil per day and there are lots of independent companies who need to participate but if the right framework is not put in place plus the policy and implementation those companies will not be able to invest resources to enable the industry grow and meet target.
“This is why the policy makers and regulators are to be partners in this future.”
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