SPE Celebrates Independence Day with a Lecture
-By Said Abubakar
The Society for Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Abuja Section 199 penultimate weekend hosted two programs on the 9th and 10th of October, 2020, precisely to commemorate Nigeria at 60 independence celebration.
The theme for the first day was: NIGERIA AS ENERGY HUB FOR AFRICA – ASSESSING ITS FEASIBILITY IN THE NEXT 50 YEARS while the theme for the second day was: ROLE OF WOMEN IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF NIGERIA.
The programs featured several respected speakers from government, academia and energy industry which included the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Dame Pauline Kedem Tallen, and Director/CEO; Department of Petroleum Resources, Engr. Auwalu Sarki.
Others were the D-G, Ènergy Commission, Professor Eli Jidere Bala; Professor Wunmi Iledare; Professor Chidi Ibe and Professor Mosto Onuoha amongst other dignitaries.
In his presentation, the guest speaker for the first lecture, Engr Sarki Auwalu revealed that Nigeria’s oil reserve had developed for over 17 years at 37 billion barrels because the country chose to give opportunities to more indigenous companies to participate in the oil and gas sector.
According to him, this led to the emergence of the independent Petroleum Producers Group wholly owned by Nigerians with the ability to compete today with the International Oil Companies (IoC).
Engr Auwalu pointed out that the petroleum sector had, within the last 10 years, attracted over $40 billion in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) as the country remains destination of choice for investors.
Additionally, he revealed, the sector could surpass its 10 per cent contribution to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP)by driving in-country value addition and investment.
The DPR director further said that Nigeria’s Target of 40 billion barrels oil condensate reserve by the year 2025 is realistic and achievable.
Earlier, the keynote speaker of the occasion Professor Chidi Ibe had commended the SPE Abuja Section chairman, Aristotle John Emezi for the symposium which he noted “with all doom and gloom about Nigeria at 60, it is refreshing to see another Aristotle upbeat.”
He appreciated his invitation to be keynote speaker on the theme, stressing that based on the question attached to the theme – FEASIBLE IN 50 YEARS? He said categorically that it depends on the competition. “Today, there are at least 20 African countries producing petroleum. The club counts Nigeria, Libya, Angola, Algeria, Sudan, (South Sudan), Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Chad, Gabon, Tunisia, Egypt, Cameron, Cote d’Ivoire, Mauritania, Ghana and then Malawi with 200mbpd.”
He added Uganda, Senegal, G/Bissau, Kenya, Somalia, Mozambique and Tanzania as being not on the Radar but influential.
Professor Ibe went ahead to say “but more so, it depends also on ourselves – what we do (or do not do) because Nigeria has a pole position like in all choices we make in life – “self-propelled” or “self destruct” – the future is in our hands.” Dr. Sunday Kanshio was the moderator of the theme.
Day two of the program saw Pauline Kedem Tallen OFR, Minster of Women Affairs and Social Development as keynote speaker on the theme: Role of Women in Economic Development of Nigeria. Engr. Funmilola Ojelade FNSE, President, Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN) was a panelist alongside Engr. Bisola Atanda and Engr Chiamaka Kingsley-Akpara while Engr Yetunde Aladeitan PhD MNSE as the moderator.
The two-day event had a combined attendance of about 200 participants, including government officials and stakeholders in the energy industry, undergraduate students, young professionals and distinguished SPE section members. Participants were excited with the quality of the lecture delivered on the themes.
The event came to an end with SPE Abuja unveiling and recognizing Engr. George Kalu, Head of QA/QC Engineering, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation as its Industry Personality of the Quarter.
The SPE Abuja personality of the quarter was launched by the section to recognize senior and professional members who have contributed immensely to the growth of the Society and the Industry.
