Dear Esteemed Fellows, Distinguished Members, Young Professionals, Students, Industry Partners, and Friends of NAPE,
I warmly welcome you all to the month of August.
As we continue to navigate an evolving energy landscape, I remain inspired by the passion, professionalism, and commitment demonstrated by members of our great Association. Your active participation in our programmes, technical engagements, and strategic initiatives continues to strengthen the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) as the leading professional body driving energy excellence, innovation, and sustainable development in Nigeria and beyond.
The month of July was particularly remarkable, showcasing the strength of our Association through impactful engagements, knowledge-sharing platforms, capacity development initiatives, and outstanding achievements by our members on both national and international stages.
One of the highlights of the month was my participation at the Nigeria Oil & Gas (NOG) Energy Week 2026, where I joined fellow industry leaders during the Strategic Panel Session titled "Offshore Frontiers & Local Content: Nurturing Local Capacity to Support Production Growth." Our discussions reaffirmed that while Nigeria possesses abundant hydrocarbon resources and significant offshore opportunities, the true measure of sustainable success lies in our ability to build indigenous capacity, strengthen local content, deepen collaboration across the value chain, and transform our human capital into a globally competitive workforce. As our industry evolves, investment in people will remain just as important as investment in technology and infrastructure.
July also brought well-deserved recognition to two distinguished members of our Association whose achievements continue to make us proud. I heartily congratulate our Immediate Past President, Mr. Johnbosco Uche, FNAPE, on being honoured with the Rising Star of the Year Award at the Nigeria Oil & Gas (NOG) Energy Week Conference and Exhibition 2026. I also congratulate Dr. Nosa Omorodion, FNAPE, Country Director for Nigeria at SLB, on his well-deserved recognition with the Lifetime Achievement Award to be presented at the African Energy Week (AEW) 2026. These honours celebrate years of excellence, leadership, innovation, and unwavering contributions to our industry. They remind us that the pursuit of excellence is always rewarded and that NAPE continues to produce professionals whose impact resonates across Africa and the global energy community.
Throughout the month, our National body and Chapters sustained a vibrant calendar of Technical and Business Meetings covering diverse and highly relevant industry topics. Members explored deepwater exploration successes, quantitative interpretation techniques, investment opportunities within the Niger Delta Basin, natural gas utilisation, artificial intelligence in upstream operations, and other emerging technologies shaping the future of exploration and production. These engagements continue to reinforce NAPE's commitment to technical excellence, lifelong learning, and professional collaboration.
A significant milestone for the Association this month will be the Academy Establishment Workshop, scheduled for 6 August 2026. This strategic engagement will convene leaders from industry, academia, funding institutions, and government to jointly develop the vision, governance framework, and implementation roadmap for the establishment of the Academy. As we seek to build an institution that will serve generations of energy professionals, collaboration remains indispensable. I look forward to the invaluable contributions of our stakeholders as we work together to create a world-class academy that will advance technical excellence, leadership development, research, and innovation across Nigeria's energy industry.
Our investment in the next generation was equally evident through the NAPE Young Professionals Technical Workshop, held on 25 July 2026, which equipped students and early-career professionals with practical knowledge, technical skills, and industry perspectives essential for succeeding in today's dynamic energy environment. These initiatives reflect our unwavering belief that developing people remains the most sustainable pathway to advancing our industry.
As we commemorate International Youth Day on 12 August, I encourage us all to celebrate the ingenuity, resilience, and limitless potential of our young professionals and students. The future of Nigeria's energy industry will be shaped not only by our natural resources but by the quality of the people we nurture today. Whether in geoscience, petroleum engineering, digital technologies, artificial intelligence, energy transition, or subsurface innovation, our young professionals possess the creativity and determination required to solve tomorrow's challenges. I therefore encourage experienced professionals to continue mentoring, coaching, and creating opportunities that will enable the next generation to flourish.
In the same spirit of continuous learning, I encourage members to participate actively in the NAPE Summer School 2026, scheduled for 26th–28th August, themed "Co-opting AI/ML to Existing Oil & Gas Upstream Digital Ecosystems: The Case for Exploration, Drilling & Production." As digital technologies continue to redefine our industry, initiatives such as this will ensure our professionals remain globally competitive and equipped to deliver innovative solutions across the energy value chain.
As part of our commitment to promoting knowledge sharing and keeping members informed, I am pleased to announce the release of the June 2026 Edition of the NAPE News Magazine. I encourage all members to explore this latest edition, which captures key activities of the Association alongside insightful technical articles and industry developments. I also invite members to contribute to future editions as we continue to foster a vibrant community of learning, innovation, and professional excellence.
Preparations for the 44th NAPE Annual International Conference and Exhibition (AICE 2026) continue to gather momentum. I sincerely appreciate everyone who responded to the Call for Abstracts, which closed successfully at the end of June. We are encouraged by both the enthusiasm and the quality of submissions received, and I thank every contributor for helping to enrich the technical content of this year's conference.
As we move into the next phase of preparations, I encourage members, organisations, and stakeholders to register early, explore the available exhibition and sponsorship opportunities, and actively participate in what promises to be another outstanding conference. AICE remains our foremost platform for technical excellence, business engagement, innovation, networking, and collaboration across the energy value chain.
I also wish to thank the many Fellows, members, and friends of the Association who have already responded to our fundraising drive towards the purchase of a permanent NAPE Secretariat. Your generosity and belief in this vision are deeply appreciated.
For those who are yet to participate, I warmly invite you to join this collective effort. Every contribution, regardless of size, brings us closer to securing a permanent home that will strengthen our institutional capacity, preserve our legacy, and provide a lasting foundation for future generations of NAPE members. Together, we can make this historic project a reality.
I also encourage every member to maintain an active membership status in order to continue enjoying the numerous professional, technical, educational, leadership, and networking opportunities available through our Association. A vibrant Association depends on the commitment and active participation of its members, and together we will continue to build an even stronger and more impactful NAPE.
As we look ahead, let us remain united in purpose and steadfast in our commitment to advancing geoscience, promoting technical excellence, embracing innovation, and developing the human capacity that will shape the future of Nigeria's energy industry. Through collaboration, mentorship, continuous learning, and visionary leadership, we will continue to position NAPE as a beacon of excellence and a trusted voice within Africa's evolving energy landscape.
I wish you all a productive, fulfilling, and successful month of August.
Thank you, and God bless the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists.
Warm regards,
Mrs. Olajumoke Cecilia Ajayi, FNAPE
President, Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE)