admin The American song writer and Singer, Andy Biersack, founder of the Rock band, Black Veil Brides, says, “The Pen and the written word hold a great deal of power.”
His compatriot and fellow American citizen, Donald Miller, an author, public speaker and chief executive officer of Story Brand marketing company, gave an affirmation to Biersack’s view of the power possessed by the media, describing them as change catalysts. In his words, “To change the world, you will need a pen”. The golden words of these two men was proven right at the just concluded National Energy Correspondents Annual Strategic International Conference, 2024. The attendance of the one day event by a cream of top players in the oil and gas industry in Nigeria, which cuts across all sectors, is a pointer to the fact that journalists often fondly referred to as men of the pen profession command a lot of tremendous power and respect.
Lantana Hall, inside Eko Hotels, could not have bargained for what it got, as dignitaries numbering one hundred and fifty all came. From Chief Executives and Managing Directors, Investors, Engineers and Technical partners, industry experts and government regulators were, all in attendance to brighten up the atmosphere at the event which lived up to it’s pre billing high profile status. By the time dignitaries mounted the podium with their goodwill messages, there was a common thread that connected all the speakers without exception. In what looked like a well rehearsed song that was beautifully rendered, they all commended the Energy Correspondents for representing their media outfits well as evidenced by their objective, fair and balanced reporting of issues shaping the Nigeria oil and gas industry. Not forgetting their ruggedness, tenacity of purpose and determination to make the founding fathers of their professional calling proud. The correspondents also received glowing commendations for keeping the oil and gas industry vibrant and making it remain at the forefront of Nigeria’s economic recovery efforts under President Bola Tinubu led federal government.
The Chief Executive officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed commended what he called, the symbiotic relationship between the media and the industry players, adding that the journalists covering the energy beat had performed excellently well.
In his own goodwill message, the Chief Executive of the Nigerian UPSTREAM Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mr. Gbenga Komolafe noted that the Energy correspondents have helped in keeping the light of the oil and gas
industry burning through their educational and constructive analyses of issues that are defining the scope of things among the key and upcoming players in the sector. He calls for exploration of 
more ways that will lead to energy sustainability, stressing that the new dynamics of the Nigerian economy necessitates a bold diversification of her revenue generation portfolio to the non oil sectors with vast natural resources yet untapped.
The conference chairman, the Group Managing Director of Rainoil Limited, Dr. Gabriel Ogbechie commended the media under the umbrella of the National Energy Correspondents Association for doing so well in their oversight functions in the oil and gas industry as the watchdog of the society.
On the Theme of the conference: Gas as Energy Transition Fuel: Navigating Nigeria’s Trilemma of Finance, Energy Security and International Politics, Dr. Ogbechie lamented that despite Nigeria’s vast natural resources bestowed on her, millions of Nigerians are still in abject poverty of unbelievable proportion with no access to power supply, while hundreds of businesses have crumbled at alarming rates. To get out of the Trilemma situation confronting the nation, Dr. Ogbechie said government must do the needful to ensure that more Nigerians can transit from use of firewood and kerosene to cleaner energy sources.
The Rainoil Group Managing Director noted that time is running out fast on fossil oil dependent economies like Nigeria. He advocated for a strong commitment to environmental sustainability, and becoming a reliable supplier of gas with stakeholders adhering strictly to international and global best practices. The business oil magnate sounding philosophical said he would like to see a Nigeria of the future with accelerated growth and development, friendly business environment that attracts direct inflow of investments and a Nigeria where the huge natural and human resources freely given to her by God will be used to help millions of her people fulfil their destinies.
The Chairman of the National Energy Correspondents Association, Ugo Amadi said the conference’s theme was carefully chosen to draw attention of industry experts and stakeholders to challenges confronting the industry with the hope of finding solutions to the major challenges facing the Nigerian economy.
He expressed gratitude to all the industry players who honoured the association with their presence, saying the partnership already built between the media and the various stakeholders will be sustained so as to achieve a common goal of birthing a more stronger and prosperous economy where there will be no hunger, poverty, deprivation, but an enabling environment where everyone can shine and thrive within the scope of God given talents and skills. He assured all the attendees that the Nigerian media will continue to be the voice of the voiceless while reminding both players and government regulators whatever needs to be done to keep the oil and gas industry thriving better.
Reports: By Tunde Olaore.
