Some stakeholders in the energy sector, and other well-wishers of late fomer group managing director of the NNPC Godwin aret adams gathered in lagos on friday, at the 23rd annual aret adams lecture to once again take stock of trends in Nigeria’s energy sector environment, and the impact of late aret adams to the development of the nation’s energy sector.
The event under the theme, “The african energy bank:Financing africa’s energy bank” provided another opportunity for speakers to highlight the bank’s potential in driving africa’s energy infrastructure growth while also reviewing latest policy direction of the current government at it relates to the sector. Managing director/ceo, financial derivatives, bismark rewane who delivered this year’s annual lecture in his presentation acknowledged the significant role the continental energy bank could play however expressed concerns over the present energy challenges in Nigeria, calling on the authorities to ensure that the current energy gap is bridged ahead of the final take-off of the energy bank.
The guest lecturer while expressing optimism that the there could be a significant push in the continent’s development agenda within the next five years said that could only be achieved if the right financing structures are in place for the bank.
On his part, Chairman, at the 23rd aret adams annual lecture, femi lalode who went down memory lane in his remarks said his relationship with late aret adams spanned over five decades describing the late former Gmd of the NNPC has a man driven by purpose and who pursues his vision to a logical end irrespective of obstacles. Lalode who declared that though such purposeful drive caused the late aret pains and frustrations at some point said the footprints of late aret adams to Nigeria’s energy sector development remains a legacy that cannot be easily erased years after his death.
While calling for strong collaboration to drive energy sector growth in Nigeria, Lalode applauded ongoing reforms in the oil and gas sector under the current administration of president bola tinubu, noting that despite public criticisms, he remains convinced that the policies are well mapped for development.
On the planned africa energy bank, femi lalode noted that there couldn’t have been a better time than now for the continent to have a specialised bank to drive energy infrastructure development, but regretted that those in authority over thirty years ago across the continent didn’t see the relevance of a continental African energy bank which him and some of his colleagues advocated over three decades ago. Lalode noted that africa would have witnessed significant growth beyond the present state if leaders at the time had listened to him and his colleagues on need for an energy bank back in the days. Another long standing friend of late aret adams, ogbueshi ben osuno during a fire-chat also went down memory lane on his close relationship with adams during their working years both in shell, and the NNPC describing adams as a man of great thought and intellect.
One of the highlights of the event was the presentation of the year 2026 aret adams M.sc scholarship award in geology to Abah, Juliet Omeche of the University of Ibadan to help the recipient achieve her research purpose in pursuit of her post graduate programme at the University.
The Aret Adams Foundation, established in 2003 to honor the late NNPC Group Managing Director, Godwin Aret Adams, promotes excellence, transparency, and capacity building in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. It funds university professorial chairs, provides scholarships to geology students, and hosts annual lectures to address industry challenges.
