Dear NAPE member,
As you are aware, at NAPE, the end of a calendar year is the beginning of an executive tenure. Hence, while we draw the curtain on what has been an eventful year, we usher in the expectations and goal setting mindset that comes with a new beginning.
2021 was full of changes. On a personal level, I started as your President-Elect, and here I am, writing this Presidential address to close the year. Reflecting on our Technical & Business activities, most of which held virtually, continue to remain a good measure of the importance of our prestigious professional association. Each event with your active participation, kept giving us at the executive level, a sense of delivering value on our various responsibilities. I must assure you that we have a great leadership team which thrives on change, diversity, and progress.
While the NAPE Conference is over, the impact is still reeling all around us. Our business meetings proceedings are in high demand from Industry key players while technical submissions are currently being collated into the year-end edition of the Nigerian Petroleum Business Bulletin for publishing. It remains quite exciting and value-adding to be a NAPE member at this time, and I recall, musingly, how handicapped we felt when we had to peg the number of conference physical registrations at 500. You can download the Pre-Conference “The Next Decade of Oil and Gas Business in Nigeria: Impact of Energy Transition” communique HERE and share with your industry network. This communique has been published in the public domain towards advocacy, a critical role we continue to play within the industry.
If I must mention, there are various wins for this year, but I would like to specially recognize the relentless support of our Board of Trustee, Advisory council members and the Annual General Meeting Committee team ably led by our General Secretary, Mr. Emeka Ejika, on delivering the long-standing constitution amendment. The passing of
this constitution is significant as we all were able to exercise our rights in determining how NAPE will be administered going forward.
Can you imagine our conference without the efforts and contributions of the planning team members? Allow me highlight some of the unique constraints this team had to contend with: Low sponsorship and funding, organizing a truly hybrid experience for physical and virtual participants, COVID-19 public space compliance; yet they delivered an outstanding conference. Our successful achievements continue to re-instate the importance of selfless team effort to NAPE’s success. It remains a call of duty that requires hard work & commitment to support our association to continuing relevance in the future landscape shaping of the Nigerian Upstream Industry and support to our nation’s energy agenda for our socio-economic development.
Lastly, but certainly not least, a huge acknowledgment and thank you to YOU for staying with NAPE this year. You deserve a standing ovation. It has been great working with you, and I hope you have benefitted from your membership.
It has been a pleasure to be part of the Executive team this year, led by Mrs. Patricia Ochogbu FNAPE, we have experienced proactiveness in professionalizing NAPE, delivering quality business and technical teaching, mentoring, and networking sessions. Madam President really did a Yeoman’s job.
The lessons we have learnt this year, about re-learning, retooling, transitioning, networking, empowerment, value to membership and critical advocacy will be further developed and extended in the incoming year.
As we look forward to next year, God keeping us all, I would like to conclude by sharing this story. It’s about a personal decision I made when I decided to contest for NAPE President-elect’s position few years back. While I had no doubt that I was up to the task, I was apprehensive as to what members really did think of what my presidency will be about. However, when I tried to piece all together, I realized that the success of my presidency and that of our great association lies on the connectedness of our members.
It was on this premise I decided to run and if the membership decides, as you did, then I will give priority to improving our community connections and collaborations.
I know how hard you all worked these past years dealing with the pandemic, shrinking workforce, energy transition, Technological disruptions, family challenges, work/life integration and in some cases, losses, and grief. I want you to reflect on these times and draw on the positives. Find the time to reach out to your colleagues, friends, and industry network; and draw from one another’s strength. NAPE remains our community.
Ahead of us, there will be challenges and great opportunities, I believe with your
support, we will meet them and make the best of next year!
Stay Safe and have a trouble-free Christmas and New Year.
Yours in Service
Dr. James Edet, FNAPE
NAPE President