Ekpo Emphasizes Human Capacity Development for Nigeria's Gas Expansion

Nigeria's Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, emphasized the importance of human capital development in driving the country's gas expansion and industrialization plans.

Speaking at the OGTAN HCD Conference and Expo 2026 in Delta State, Ekpo noted that infrastructure investment alone cannot deliver on the ambition to deepen domestic gas utilisation, improve power generation, expand cleaner cooking and transport fuels, and strengthen Nigeria's position in regional and global energy markets.

The Minister highlighted that human capacity development must remain at the centre of the Decade of Gas (2021-2030) and Nigeria's broader energy transformation. He called for a workforce equipped not only with traditional technical disciplines but also with skills such as AI, digital technologies, automation, cybersecurity, gas commercialisation, carbon and emissions management, project finance, contract negotiation, and energy economics.

The OGTAN HCD Conference and Expo 2026 honoured several notable key stakeholders in the oil and gas industry, including Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Content Development And Monitoring Board, Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, the Commission Chief Executive, NUPRC, Engr. Ofure Perfection Chizi of Renaissance Africa Energy Limited, and Chevron Nigeria Limited.