“Africa’s oil and gas future depends on bold partnerships, not isolated efforts”.
This was the clear message from the Africa Content Forum at Africa Oil Week 2025, where leaders stressed the need for regional collaboration to unlock the continent’s full energy potential.
Delivering the keynote, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), represented by Dr. Abdulmalik Halilu, warned that no single African nation can maximize its oil and gas industry alone.
“Africa’s diverse capabilities are its greatest strength. Just as a Boeing or Airbus is built with components from different nations, Africa can build a thriving energy sector by trading and specializing with one another,” Halilu declared.
Africa holds over 10% of global crude oil reserves and 8% of proven natural gas resources, while also hosting critical minerals for renewable energy. Yet much of this wealth is exported as raw materials, leaving intra-African trade and industrial growth stunted.
Halilu emphasized that Africa needs robust policies, human capital development, and cross-border deployment of expertise to ensure its energy wealth fuels jobs, value retention, and prosperity across the continent.
The NCDMB leader urged African nations to move beyond viewing local content as corporate social responsibility. Instead, it should be seen as a strategy to keep capital within Africa and strengthen industrial and technological capacity to compete globally.
“Let us build an African energy sector that is owned, operated, and sustained by Africans. A sector that provides jobs for our youth, creates wealth for our nations, and brings true prosperity to our continent.”
The Africa Content Forum, attended by policymakers, oil and gas majors, service companies, and OEMs, featured four power-packed panel sessions:
- Strategies for African Content Growth – Bold policies, African-led solutions, and deliberate planning are essential.
- Capacity and Expertise – Scaling talent and sharing knowledge across borders can unlock regional strength.
- Cross-Border Projects – Breaking silos and driving collaborative projects will accelerate progress.
- Funding and ESG – Innovative financing, decarbonization, and ESG compliance are key to future competitiveness.
The Nigerian Content Development Fund (NCDF) was spotlighted as a successful model for financing and scaling African content initiatives.
From Accra, the verdict was unanimous: Africa’s oil and gas future will not be built in isolation but through collective ambition, regional collaboration, and a shared commitment to local content development.
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