As part of activities surrounding the ongoing NIES engagements, the leadership of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE), led by President Olajumoke Cecilia Ajayi, FNAPE, paid a strategic courtesy visit to the Special Adviser to the President of Nigeria on Energy, Olu Verheijen.
The visit provided an opportunity to formally present NAPE’s strategic priorities and advocacy agenda for the sustainable growth of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
Discussions focused on three main areas.
•In Reserves Growth and Exploration, the delegation emphasized expanding Nigeria’s hydrocarbon reserves through frontier basin exploration, pursuing deeper gas exploration to unlock additional value, and improving access to local funding mechanisms to de-risk exploration investments.
•In Capacity Building and Sustainability, attention was given to strengthening indigenous technical capacity, aligning academic curricula with industry realities, and proposing the establishment of a NAPE Academy in collaboration with key stakeholders to bridge the education–industry gap.
•Policy and Knowledge Sharing included the formal presentation of the communiqué from the NAPE 2025 Pre-Conference Workshop, which outlined actionable recommendations for industry advancement.
The delegation also briefed the Adviser on preparations for the 2026 NAPE International Conference & Exhibition, themed: “Unlocking More Barrels: Driving Reserves Growth through Exploration, Local Capabilities and Adaptive Technology,” scheduled for 8–12 November 2026 at Eko Hotels & Suites, Lagos.
The conference is expected to convene industry leaders, policymakers, investors, academia, and technology innovators to accelerate Nigeria’s reserves growth strategy and strengthen local capabilities.
In her response, Mrs. Verheijen commended NAPE’s forward-looking initiatives and reaffirmed her commitment to supporting the Association’s efforts to drive sustainable development, capacity building, and energy security for Nigeria.
The visit reinforces NAPE’s role as a trusted technical and policy partner, actively shaping the future of the nation’s energy landscape.
