The month of August was activity-filled and highlights the increased pace of activities as we pick up the pace towards our November Annual Conference. We are still working on all fronts to positively project our Great Association and explore ways of collaboration.
The Young Professionals held a Technical Workshop August 19th in the city of Kano, themed ‘Repositioning the Young Professional: Skills and Training for Future Energy Dynamics’. Thanks to the Vice Chancellor of Bayero University, Professor Sagir Abbas, and his team, for their warm hospitality and special kudos to the NAPE Team led by Flora Anusiobi, the YP Lead, and the NAPE Abuja Chapter for a successful outing.
I was honored to have attended the just concluded AAPG/SEG Annual IMAGE Conference where I joined several technical sessions, included those presented by Nigerian students. It was especially pleasing to see that some of the works being presented were carried out while some of these students were still in Nigeria. One of the highlights of the Conference was the Awards Night where the African Region took center stage with one of NAPE’s Past Presidents and an Executive Director with SLB (formerly Schlumberger), Dr. Nosa Omorodion, FNAPE, being bestowed with the highest AAPG Award categories, the Michel T. Halbouty Outstanding Leadership Award & Honorary Service Award. It was a most deserved recognition for Nosa, who has spent his career supporting the study and practice of geosciences through NAPE, AAPG and the Industry at large. Other Nigerian awardees included Philip Ajaebili, the current UAP Chairman, for the Young Professional Exemplary Service Award, with Oluseye Ekun and Mimionitu Opuwari grabbing Distinguished Service Awards.
While at the IMAGE Conference, I met up with some members of the NAPE community in North America and great things are cooking in that kitchen. I also held a sidebar with the Executive Director of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG), Jim White and Yogaani Bhatia, the Managing Director, Global Strategy & International Operations for the SEG. The meeting was focused on fostering a working relationship between NAPE and the SEG while contributing to overall development of the energy landscape in Africa. We will expand these conversations in the coming months.
The NAPE August Continuing Education Programme was activity-filled with various Technical Meetings and the Summer School. The virtual Summer School had close to a hundred attendees with courses on Machine Learning in Geosciences and its Applications. The Central Technical Meeting held Aug 16th with Dr. Muyiwa Olawoki, FNAPE, delivering a very insightful presentation on the Bida Basin. The Warri Chapter followed up on August 24th with a presentation by Dr. Ifeanyi Obi, a senior geoscientist with ExxonMobil, on the interplay between strata thickness and deformation in hydrocarbon accumulation. The Port Harcourt Chapter hosted their members to a Technical Meeting August 28th where Dr, Jude Osimobi, a geophysicist with Shell, presented a paper on building realistic velocity models and providing high-end imaging as key to finding and developing hydrocarbons. The Awka/Owerri Chapter were not left out with a presentation August 30th by Prof. Berti Ozumba, FNAPE, FNMGS and Managing Director, De Legend Group of Companies, on entrepreneurship Development and Continuing Education in Nigeria. The Abuja Chapter rounded off the technical meetings in August with a presentation August 31st by Ekenedilichukwu Ani, a senior geoscientist with Degeconek Nigeria, on Revamping and Abandoned Oil & Gas Well. I want to thank all the presenters for their very well put together presentations as well as the attendees for making the sessions most interactive.
August also witnessed the rounding up of preparations for the September 6-9 NAPE/NMGS Students’ Conference. I salute all those who worked assiduously to ensure the huge success of that Conference. The students were the real winners at this Conference!
The NAPE Electioneering cycle continues with the announcement of the candidates for the positions of President-Elect, Vice President and UAP Chairman. Voting is from 1st September to 15th October, so I call on all our members to update their financial status and vote massively in this election.
With less than two months to the start of the Annual Conference activities, the Conference Planning Committee is working round-the-clock to ensure a great outing this year. There are, however, several items still open for sponsorship and few exhibition spaces still open, so we call upon our corporate and individual sponsors to continue their support of the Association.
I want to thank members for their tremendous support even as these activities are being put together, especially with their attendance and contributions.
Elliot Ibie, FNAPE,
President, NAPE