Info data, Professional Services has called on oil and gas operators in Nigeria to accelerate investments in secure digital transformation, warning that companies that fail to modernize their operations risk losing competitiveness in an increasingly technology-driven global energy industry.
Speaking on the sidelines of the NOG Energy Week 2026 in Abuja, the company’s Sales Leader for Oil and Gas Operations, Nduka Nwosu, said the conference reinforced the growing importance of digital transformation, operational technology (OT) cybersecurity and artificial intelligence (AI) as critical drivers of the future of energy production.
Nwosu said the annual energy conference provided Info data Professional Services with an opportunity to showcase innovative digital technologies designed to improve operational efficiency, safeguard critical infrastructure and support the industry’s transition to smarter and more resilient operations.
According to him, the company demonstrated how digital technologies and cybersecurity solutions could help operators strengthen operational performance while accelerating their digital transformation initiatives.
He noted that the event also enabled the company to strengthen existing customer relationships while creating new opportunities for strategic partnerships within the energy sector.
He identified digital transformation, heightened cybersecurity awareness and rapid adoption of AI and advanced analytics as the three dominant themes that shaped discussions during the conference.
He noted that digital transformation had evolved from being an optional business strategy to an operational necessity, while cybersecurity had become a boardroom concern as oil and gas operators increasingly face sophisticated cyber threats, targeting operational technology environments.
He explained that AI was already reshaping the industry by enabling organizations to analyze massive volumes of operational data, improve predictive maintenance, enhance asset reliability, strengthen cyber threat detection and optimize production processes.
“When implemented responsibly, AI improves decision-making and operational performance,” he said.
He added that Info data continues to support Nigeria’s oil and gas industry with specialized technology solutions that modernize industrial infrastructure without compromising safety or operational continuity.
He said the company’s offerings include OT cybersecurity, network segmentation, threat monitoring, data protection, systems integration, managed services and compliance alignment, all designed to help operators build secure and resilient digital environments.
Highlighting the growing importance of operational technology security, he warned that cyber-attacks targeting industrial control systems could disrupt production, threaten personnel safety and result in significant financial losses.
“Operational technology systems control critical industrial processes. Protecting these environments requires a specialized approach that balances security with operational continuity,” he said.
Looking ahead, he projected that digital oilfields would play an increasingly significant role in improving production efficiency, reducing downtime and supporting data-driven decision-making across Nigeria’s energy industry.
He stressed that achieving this vision would require stronger collaboration among engineering firms, technology providers, operators and regulators to deliver integrated digital solutions that address both physical infrastructure and digital operations.
He also underscored the complementary roles of engineering companies and technology firms, noting that while engineering firms provide expertise in plant design and project execution, technology providers contribute cybersecurity, automation, digital platforms and advanced data solutions essential for modern industrial operations.
Calling on industry stakeholders to embrace innovation, he urged operators to make strategic investments in secure digital transformation to improve efficiency, strengthen operational resilience and remain globally competitive.
“The energy industry is evolving rapidly. Organizations that invest strategically in secure digital transformation will be better positioned to improve efficiency, strengthen resilience and remain competitive,” he said.
He disclosed that Info data would continue investing in advanced technologies, building local technical capacity and expanding strategic partnerships to support Nigeria’s evolving energy sector.
According to him, the company’s long-term objective is to help organizations deploy secure, scalable and innovative digital solutions that promote sustainable growth while strengthening the resilience of the nation’s oil and gas industry.
Also speaking, the Regional Operations Manager of Info data, Chika Udensi, said his participation at NOG Energy Week focused on understanding the evolving operational and technology priorities of organizations across the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors.
Udensi said the company adopts a consultative engagement model that begins with discovery workshops aimed at identifying customer pain points, operational bottlenecks and business objectives before recommending tailored technology solutions.
“Our approach is not to sell products first; it is to understand the customer’s business. We engage organizations through collaborative workshops to identify operational challenges, define use cases and recommend the right combination of technologies and services that deliver measurable business outcomes,” he said.
He explained that through Info data’s network of global technology partners, the company provides solutions covering artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital resilience, cloud services, infrastructure modernization, data management, automation and managed services across the financial services, manufacturing, oil and gas and telecommunications sectors.
Udensi said discussions at the conference revealed the growing demand among operators and oilfield service companies for technologies capable of improving operational efficiency while enabling faster, data-driven decision-making.
He identified key industry challenges as delays in processing large volumes of operational data, difficulties in deploying AI models, limited visibility across distributed operational environments, increasing cybersecurity threats to OT systems, ageing infrastructure, fragmented data sources and the need for predictive maintenance to reduce unplanned downtime.
“As organizations continue to digitize their operations, there is an increasing need to transform historical and real-time operational data into actionable intelligence. AI, advanced analytics and secure digital platforms are helping organizations accelerate decision-making, improve asset reliability, optimize production and strengthen operational resilience,” Udensi said.
He disclosed that the company plans to engage operators, marginal field owners, refineries, exploration and production companies, and oilfield service providers through targeted discovery workshops to better understand their operational environments and develop customized technology roadmaps.
“Our goal is to work closely with customers to identify opportunities where technology can simplify operations, improve productivity, strengthen cyber security and deliver long-term business value. By combining our consultative methodology and our partnerships with leading global OEMs, we are able to recommend solutions that are aligned to each organization’s operational and business objectives,” Udensi added.
He reaffirmed Info data’s commitment to driving the digital transformation of Nigeria’s energy sector through integrated technology solutions, professional services and strategic partnerships that enable organizations to operate more securely, efficiently and competitively.