The Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) has unveiled a comprehensive industry roadmap to strengthen indigenous capacity for offshore oil and gas development, positioning itself to drive collaboration among key stakeholders, expand local expertise, and build a sustainable workforce capable of supporting Nigeria’s long-term production growth and energy aspirations.
Speaking during the strategic panel session titled “Offshore Frontiers and Local Content – Nurturing Local Capacity to Support Production Growth” at the ongoing Nigeria Oil & Gas Conference and Exhibition (NOG Energy Week) in Abuja, NAPE President Mrs. Cecilia Olajumoke Ajayi said the association would leverage its position as a trusted industry platform to unite government agencies, international and indigenous operators, service companies, academia and other critical stakeholders to address challenges confronting Nigeria’s offshore sector.
Ajayi noted that collaboration among stakeholders has historically driven major reforms in the petroleum industry, recalling that the country’s marginal field programme originated from similar industry engagements held in the early 1990s before eventually being implemented in 2002.
According to her, NAPE will continue to provide a neutral platform for constructive dialogue aimed at developing practical solutions that will enhance investment, local participation and sustainable production growth across the sector.
She stressed that human capital development remains central to Nigeria’s long-term energy sustainability, arguing that maintaining and expanding oil and gas production would require a steady pipeline of competent professionals equipped with industry-relevant skills.
To address this challenge, the NAPE President announced that the association would convene a national capacity-building workshop on August 6, bringing together key stakeholders across the petroleum industry to harmonise existing training initiatives and develop a coordinated national strategy for workforce development.
She observed that while several organisations—including industry groups, indigenous operating system companies and training institutions—already run graduate development programmes, their efforts remain largely fragmented.
Ajayi said the planned workshop would provide an opportunity for participants to develop a unified roadmap capable of producing measurable results, with the objective of ensuring that thousands of young Nigerians become employable each year across disciplines such as geosciences, engineering, information technology and other specialised fields required by the energy industry.
She explained that the workshop would feature breakout sessions designed to produce actionable recommendations and establish a clear implementation framework for strengthening Nigeria’s oil and gas talent pipeline.
The NAPE President also disclosed that the association intends to tap into the wealth of experience of retired professionals who built their careers within international oil companies, saying they would be engaged as instructors and mentors in a proposed industry academy to transfer technical knowledge and practical experience to the next generation of professionals.
According to her, Nigerian youths possess exceptional talent and innovation, adding that with structured mentorship and industry-focused training they can rapidly acquire the competencies required to drive the future of the country’s petroleum sector.
Ajayi expressed confidence that the initiative would help bridge the industry’s skills gap, strengthen local content implementation and position Nigerian professionals to play a greater role in offshore exploration and production.
She reaffirmed NAPE’s commitment to working with all industry stakeholders to ensure that Nigeria develops the skilled workforce needed to sustain production growth and maximise opportunities within the evolving energy landscape.
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