NOG Energy Week 2024: Contented but not Satisfied (Part 1)

It has been over ten days since the curtains were drawn on the 23rd edition of the NOG Energy Week Conference & Exhibition 2024 at the ICC, Abuja, North of Nigeria.

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Kudo goes to the organizers of the event, DMG, for their consistency in delivering such an awe-inspiring conference. The brand promise and focus for this year was to help showcase the vast opportunities in the country with the hope that it will drive “measurable investment” and by extension help the nation meet the yearning energy demands of her people and institutions.

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Like most of us, I have read a couple of posts and seen photo ops from participants outlining the benefits from attending and participating at this year’s event including but not limited to the networking opportunities, alliances built, capabilities demonstrated and the projects to deploy these “built competencies” on.

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While I genuinely align with some of these stated benefits, I want to share a different perspective from my keen observation as one who had 3 main goals we sought at this year event haven’t taken a break after exhibiting for over 5-7 years (with a break in 2020 - thanks to Covid19).

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It was Vusi Thembekwayo Inc who posited that the RoI for complaints is zero.

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My mentor, Sir Micah Ndackson , uses these phrases all the time which I found to be true: “We can not antagonize and influence at the same time.”

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It is on this note, that I want to share some pertinent thoughts for consideration and suggestions for improvement on subsequent editions since we are in a new dispensation and the world is moving, Nigeria cannot afford to continue to be left behind.

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I will classify every player into 3 major groups from where we can address these obvious gaps requiring improvements namely:

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1.???? The Body of Knowledge - The organizer, dmg events , PETAN , SPE, Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Nigeria (OGTAN) , The Media, All Speakers & Moderators both at the main conference room and technical session needs a new model.

2.???? The Umpires – NNPC Limited , Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) , NCDMB Online , etc.

3.???? The Players & Teams – IOCs, IPPG, EPICs, ISPs, Exhibiting entities, national pavilions, visitors and all.

On the body of knowledge…

After more than 60 years of independence and the discovery of crude, Nigeria continues to allow “experts” determine the conversations around her energy development, usually from people who are not heavily invested in the sector – painfully, event organizer!

The Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston Texas, USA where NUPRC recently launch the marginal field round is hosted by 13 nonprofit sponsoring organizations working cooperatively to develop the technical program. Revenue from OTC directly benefits the advancement of the energy sector by supporting the communities in which these organizations operate.?

ADIPEC is organized by SPE and spearheaded by Dr. khaled Abdul monem Kindi, SVP, Upper Zakum, ADNOC Offshore and ADIPEC 2024 Technical Conference Program Chairman, ADIPEC Technical Conference is the single largest meeting place for technical energy engineers and experts.

Yet the NOG Technical sessions are always empty, only attended by all the technical speakers waiting in rows for their turn to speak and with only a few of us who always embrace knowledge and are always hungry for knowledge, curious about “What next in an AI-driven world where technology will begin to shape our world”

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PETAN, OGTAN, Nigeria SPE and all relevant industry organizations who has real stakes in the energy industry in the country and understand our environment and unique challenges should take the lead to drive the conversations that should lead to the development of the re-emergence of Nigeria’s energy industry and help us become a truly energy resource dependent country.

Local content should also be captured in the organization of such a critical conference & exhibition.

What was the communique reached at the end of this year's "show?"

DMG should not be scared of losing anything as long as it it willing to partner with the relevant experts in the field as this will obviously be a new turf for them.

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I could listen beyond words the pain in the heart of the Chairman of Pana Holding, Sir Daere A. when he questioned our CTA by asking when we will walk our talk requesting to know how to measure progress on some of these conversations when next we reconvene 12 months later.

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I also watched the PETAN Chairman, Sir Wole Ogunsanya, literarily walking through the exhibition booths asking participating organizations to come join PETAN, explaining that a new sheriff is in town and things will be done right.

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Sir, this is me advocating for you… don’t expect this to be an easy ride.

Grace, grace and more grace!

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We can not say we are looking for Fx and a “foreign event organizing company” (smiles home with millions of dollars from sponsorship and participation) for just one event with its attendant impact on the economy.

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It took me 10 days to decide whether I should share these thoughts of mine because I understand the power play that goes on with conversations like this.

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But the courage to inspire change and influence things is what John Maxwell ask from all genuine leaders.

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If you had similar perspectives with me, share your thoughts on point 1, while I continue with points 2 and 3 tomorrow.

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I remain your

Reliable Growth Partner

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#nogenergyweek

#advocacy

#doingtherightthings

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