The Association of Energy Correspondents of Nigeria (NAEC) has unveiled plans for its 2026 Annual Conference, with a strong focus on addressing structural barriers limiting indigenous participation across Nigeria’s oil, gas, power, renewable energy, and solid minerals sectors.
The conference, scheduled for October 8, 2026, at Eko Hotels & Suites in Victoria Island, Lagos, will convene policymakers, regulators, operators, financiers, and energy industry leaders under the theme: “Access to Assets: Empowering Participants and Driving Growth.”
According to a statement jointly signed by Ugo Amadi, Chairman of NAEC, and Adeola Yusuf, Conference Chairman, the event is designed to stimulate strategic conversations around energy sector competitiveness, indigenous asset ownership, investment mobilisation, and regulatory reforms required to deepen local participation within Nigeria’s evolving energy landscape.
The conference comes at a critical time for Nigeria’s energy sector as International Oil Companies (IOCs) continue portfolio realignments, divestments, and strategic transitions toward low-carbon investments globally. Organisers said the development presents both opportunities and challenges for indigenous operators seeking greater access to upstream oil and gas assets, financing, technology, and operational scale.
NAEC noted that the annual conference has evolved into a major agenda-setting platform shaping discourse across Nigeria’s oil, gas, and power industries, particularly around energy transition, local content development, infrastructure investment, and sustainability-driven growth.
Speaking on the rationale behind the conference theme, Ugo Amadi said the choice reflects urgent national and global realities confronting the energy industry, including shifting investment patterns, energy security concerns, operational efficiency challenges, and the need to strengthen indigenous competitiveness.
He explained that deliberations at the conference would examine practical pathways for indigenous oil and gas firms to improve operational capacity, scale production, attract investments, strengthen governance systems, and restore investor confidence within Nigeria’s energy market.
According to him, the conference will feature three high-level panel sessions focused on repositioning Nigeria’s energy industry for sustainable growth, competitiveness, and long-term resilience across the oil, gas, and power value chains.
On his part, Adeola Yusuf said the conference would place strong emphasis on local capacity development and the strategic role of indigenous operators in supporting Nigeria’s economic growth, energy security objectives, and industrial expansion.
He noted that indigenous companies are increasingly becoming central to sustaining production activities, infrastructure investments, energy access expansion, and broader economic transformation efforts across Nigeria and Africa.
Yusuf further stated that discussions across the oil, gas, power, renewable energy, and mining sectors would focus on establishing new performance benchmarks, improving operational standards, strengthening environmental stewardship, and advancing practical solutions capable of unlocking sustainable industry growth.
The conference is expected to feature keynote addresses from Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil); Ekperikpe Ekpo, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas); and Olu Verheijen, Special Adviser to the President on Oil and Gas, alongside other senior government officials and industry executives.
Organisers disclosed that the conference is projected to attract more than 300 delegates and over 20 speakers, including chief executive officers, regulators, investors, policymakers, financiers, technology providers, and sustainability experts from across the Nigerian and African energy ecosystem.
Industry observers say the conference is expected to generate critical conversations around asset accessibility, energy transition financing, hydrocarbon sector sustainability, renewable energy integration, infrastructure expansion, and Nigeria’s broader competitiveness within the global energy market.
