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Dr. Joseph Dawha, NNPC GMD
Dr. Joseph Dawha, NNPC GMD

Despite the crash in the price of crude oil in the international market, the British government has aroused global interest in the Nigerian oil and gas sector. The British High Commission in Lagos recently promised to support activities that will ensure that the investments of its citizens in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector remain on course. One of such activities was the 19th edition of the Offshore West Africa, an annual oil and gas exhibition held recently at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. The three-day exhibition with the theme: “Managing West Africa’s Major Projects” featured key players in the oil and gas industry.

Mike Purves, the Acting British Deputy High Commissioner who was at the exhibition, described the Offshore West Africa as another opportunity for interaction between operators in the oil and gas industry for the sharing of ideas. According to him, such interactions in the past had yielded positive results. He explained that the British High Commission was prepared to create platforms for robust business partnership between investors from Britain and Nigeria.

Mike Purves, Ag. British Deputy High Commission to Nigeria
Mike Purves, Ag. British Deputy High Commission to Nigeria

Nick Richardson, Strategic Business Partner Manager, PennWell Corporation, organisers of the exhibition said the event provided an opportunity for stakeholders to address key technology and development issues in the West African offshore oil and gas market. The UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) section of the British High Commission, Lagos, threw its support to PennWell Corporation for the promotion of partnership opportunities in the oil and gas sector. Mr. Ranti Omole, chairman, Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), also agreed to partner with PennWell in promoting West African offshore oil and gas market.

Other speakers were Dorothy Bassey, Head Public Affairs Unit, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Mr Ijere Kanu, Business Relations Manager SNEPco, Dr Kenny Obateru, Manager, Public Affairs, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Dele Olaoye, Director of Operations Africa, PennWell Corporation.

As a truly West African event, Offshore West Africa promotes opportunities in the West African marketplace with numerous recent discoveries heightening the need for new intelligence, technology and investment. Offshore West Africa is well versed in providing highly specialized, market leading and thought-provoking information.

Highlights of Offshore West Africa 2015 include a three-day Exhibition comprising prominent local and international organizations, displaying their latest products, services, technologies and industry innovations. Alongside the exhibition was an impressive conference attended by eggheads in the oil and gas sector, including Mrs. Elizabeth Proust, Managing Director/Chief Executive, TOTAL Upstream Nigeria; Dr. Joseph Dawha, Group Managing Director, NNPC.

According to Glenn Ensor, event director, Offshore West Africa is a continuous professional development (CPD) programme, supported by the Energy Institute. He said that this initiative is part of PennWell Corporation’s and Offshore West Africa‘s Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy to help with the West African region’s objective of developing a fully sustainable sector.

With activity within West Africa expected to increase significantly, and with the huge potential and desire for local content and human development within Nigeria, this high-quality technical forum and exhibition provided a unique networking opportunity for attendees to share and learn from experts in their respective fields.

By Pita Ochai

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