Energy Insight NIGERIA… an interrogation of issues confronting energy industry

The energy think-tank, Centre for Petroleum Information (CPI), recently held events to mark its 20th anniversary.

AMNI International Petroleum Chairman, Chief Tunde Afolabi, who chaired the occasion, which held in Lagos, commended the Centre for marking its milestone in style with the publishing of an authoritative industry reference work, Energy Insight NIGERIA.

He recommended the 440-page book – edited by veteran industry resource-person, Victor Eromosele – to “a broad variety of readers at home and abroad.” He remarked: They “will find the book extremely useful in unraveling the numerous issues confronting our energy industry – be it oil, gas or power.”

He acknowledged the dignitaries present on the occasion including, the chief presenter, Dr. A. B. C Orjiako and the distinguished guest speaker, Gbenga Oyebode, who spoke on “Salvaging the Unrealised Nigerian Vision 2020.”

He pointed to the chief host, Chief Chamberlain Oyibo: “You and members of the CPI Board of Governors must, deservedly, be congratulated; not just for institutional staying power, but for thoughtfully leaving a worthy legacy through a documentation that covers both the last two decades and takes a peep at the next two.”

Also speaking on the book, Mele Kyari, Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, said, it is “a documentation of expert opinions on a wide range of petroleum industry, and indeed, the wider energy industry’s policy and strategic issues.”

While recommending the book to anyone keen at gaining an authoritative insight into several aspects of the Nigerian petroleum and energy industries, Kyari said, “industry executives and related professionals, policy makers, prospective investors, academics interested in the subject and their students; and media practitioners should find the book a worthy reference work.”

Suffice it to say that rarely do books capture, under one volume, the thoughts of 45 contributors – among the brightest minds – in a sector as strategic as the wider energy industry of Africa’s largest economy, Nigeria.

The easy to read style of the reference work lends it to essential reading for both the industry novice and the industry veteran.

Energy Insight NIGERIA: Evolutionary two decades in retrospect does not pretend to cover all key aspects of the country’s energy industry. It documents aspects of the industry using a wide-angled lens, as well as a rear-view mirror. Every chapter is written by an experienced, acknowledged expert on the subject.

The book contains 30 chapters divided into seven distinct sections. Carefully abstracted are special commentaries by 16 contributors and six informational boxes in grey pages dotting the book. An appendix contains Nigerian energy industry milestones covering 2000 to 2020.

Chapter authors (in alphabetical order) are Sola Adepetun, Prof. Fabian Ajogwu, Adekunle Alli, Tony Attah, Austin Avuru, Soji Awogbade, Cyril Azobu, Dr. Godwin Billy-Agha, Dr. Wiebe Boer, Mrs. Kofo Dosekun, Goody Egbuji, Prof. Gbolahan Elias, Victor Eromosele, Mrs. Omolola Esan, Dr. (Mrs.) Oby Ezekwesili, Mrs. Jumoke Fajemirokun, Dr. Layi Fatona, Mrs. Tariye Gbadegesin, Chima Ibeneche, Egbert Imomoh, Tony Ogbuigwe, Anthonia Okoh, Dapo Okubadejo, Afolabi Oladele, Godwin Omene, Babs Omotowa, Chike Onyejekwe, Chief Chamberlain Oyibo, Wale Shonibare, Dr. Simbi Wabote.

There are also special commentaries from H. Adedeji, A. Adefulu, Dr. A. Agbim, E. Akabogu, O. Arowolo, A. Avuru, G. Biobaku, V. E. Eromosele, A. Kragha, Mrs. E. E. Lore, U. V. Obi, L. Ogunlewe, E. Okeke, Y. Sanni, B. A. Soyode and J. A. Tinubu.

The editor, Eromosele, is an active industry resource-person and a prolific leisure-time essayist. His earlier reference work, Nigerian Petroleum Business: A Handbook (1997) is widely acknowledged.

The former General Manager Finance, Nigeria LNG Limited and NNPC-NAPIMS, is currently the Executive Director of the Centre for Petroleum Information (CPI) and secretary to the Board of Governors.

After nearly 34 years of service to the petroleum industry, in retirement he runs an energy and finance consultancy, M E Consulting Limited.