THE NGA AWARDS NIGHT

     L-R; Engr. Simbi Wabote, Audrey Joe-Ezigbo, Dr. Maikanti Baru and Dada Thomas

Nigerian Gas Association (NGA), had its 11th International Conference and Exhibition recently in Abuja. The biannual conference brought together juggernauts in the gas sector including other countries that have made progress in gas production with significant reserves. 

After various sessions where challenges were highlighted and solutions proffered, NGA had its Gala Night that was co-sponsored by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Shell companies in Nigeria and a leading indigenous company, Aiteo.  

Eminent professionals who have distinguished themselves in services they provide for the gas industry were honoured and celebrated. Awards were given to serving and corporate members for their outstanding support to the association.

In his remarks, Dada Thomas made it known that the objective of 11th NGA Gala Night is for members to relax after the technical sessions and other discussions pertaining to the gas industry. Dada projected a bright future for the association with a bigger event going forward.

He thanked members and corporate sponsors of the event for their support in ensuring that the association had an occasion that brought members together.  

Speaking as one of the sponsors, Group Managing Director (GMD) of Aiteo, Chike Onyejekwe, said, it is a pleasure for the company to associate itself with NGA. He revealed that Aiteo is a conglomerate which operates in the downstream, upstream, power and agricultural sectors, “So, you could see a whole value chain of business within Aiteo.”

Onyejekwe recalled his younger days in the oil industry as a Geologist whereby he discovered hydrocarbon and he and his colleagues were celebrating the discovery, but when it was production-tested, it was gas. The Aiteo boss said it was like a failure, “Why are you celebrating something that will not add value but today, that discovery is powering one of the biggest plants in this country.” Aiteo being an independent at present in Nigeria, has an asset that will play big not only in the oil sector, but gas which is becoming the future. As a major supporter of various related industry associations in Nigeria, the company will add significant value by making sure they are sustained. Onyejekwe pointed out clearly that “Aiteo is proud to be a part sponsor of NGA.”

On his part, Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Gas, Ed Ubong, said, Shell companies in Nigeria believed that NGA is a premier platform for gas advocacy in-country. Shell has contributed its quota to “Further the gas story.” Ubong believes that gas has a place in Nigeria’s oil land scape and the country has come a long way when it only had NLNG and presently it is pushing for big domestic gas project. He revealed that Shell is working on a gas project in Asa north which will be a big changer when it comes on stream in the domestic gas market.

Special awards were given to corporate members in recognition of their roles in Nigerian gas industry. Lead Way Assurance Company Limited, Greenvile NLNG and West African Gas Pipeline (WAPCO) were awarded. WAPCO was recognized for its role in integrating West African countries along the west coast. Other recognition awards were given to ACCUGAS, Falcon Corporation, Chevron Nigeria Limited, Total, Axxela, Aiteo group, Shell Companies in Nigeria, NLNG and NNPC.

Awards were also given to NGA Executive members including gas industry award which was received by Managing Director, NLNG Limited, Tony Attah. The NGA leadership award went to Chief Executive Officer, Axxela Limited, Bolaji Osunsanya. Osunsanya has over thirty years of executive management experience including management consultant, finance, commercial banking and oil and gas. He has supervised and initiated many projects on gas.

Engineer Simbi Wabote, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board (NCDMB) was given NGA industry award. The NCDMB boss was a former Director in Shell, whose career spanned over twenty-five years and served in various senior executive positions. He developed local content strategy in Shell including its implementation in several countries.

The NGA gas person of the year award went to the Group Managing Director (GMD) of NNPC, Maikanti Baru. The GMD of NNPC has held various senior executive positions within the corporations with many awards to his credit.

Responding on behalf of other awardees, Baru said with commitment and interest the corporation will harness the huge potentials of Nigeria gas resources for the benefit of Nigerians. The GMD commended the association for the gas person of the year award of which he was the first beneficiary.

Baru made it clear that gas at present is given prominence over oil as a cleaner energy source for the world. The shared vision coincided with the first agenda of gas exporting Forum which is to exploit and produce gas as a cleaner energy source for the benefits of member countries.

The GMD stated further that when the vision is implemented, “It can unlock the prosperity of the member countries.” The potentials for gas in economic growth and GDP is never in doubt as gas is a catalyst for industrialization and energy sufficiency. It is equally an exciting time to visualize the future potentials of gas especially with the new marriage between gas and electric vehicles revolution.

Baru noted that NNPC saw vision concerning future of gas which made the corporation in 1999, spearheaded the formation of NGA as a veritable platform to promote use of gas in Nigeria. After its creation, the GMD added that “NNPC has always been at the forefront in affairs of the association through financial, moral and purposeful leadership support.”

According to the NNPC helmsman, the award is deserving while he thanked NGA and its leadership at all levels. He said an award represents three things, which are: marks of appreciation for the awardee, an encouragement to work harder and it makes others to aspire in order to get same or better recognition. He assured NGA of NNPC continued commitment to do more at individual and corporate levels. The GMD enjoined other gas companies in Nigeria involving in gas activities to step up to assist the association because, “United we stand, divided we fall.”

Tributes and encomiums were poured on Engineer Yemi Akinlawon who passed away recently. Akinlawon was a foundation and pioneer member of NGA. He had more than thirty years experience in the oil and gas industry. Before his death, he was an active member of the association and served in various executive capacities. A former Chevron staff, Akinlawon displayed uncommon discipline and tenacity during his tenure as Secretary General of NGA. He ensured meetings were held properly, promptly breaking all odds to provide venues for meetings of the association as it had no secretariat at that time. He was also involved in training, conferences and exhibitions organized by the gas association. Akinlawon was industrious, humbled and forthright in all his undertakings with the association. He contributed immensely to the growth of NGA.

At the Gala Night, new executive saddled with responsibility to run the association was inaugurated. It also witnessed for the first time in the history of NGA, a woman president. Audrey Joe-Ezigbo, Vice Chairman of Falcon Corporation, a renowned gas company is the president of NGA.

Audrey extolled the exemplary leadership of her predecessor, Dada Thomas. She said the NGA embarked on revitalization drive to position itself as an authentic voice in the industry. The association has consistently driven the agenda over last four years through an advocacy with government and private sector. For the first time, NGA has represented the country has a voice to be reckoned at the International Gas Union (IGU), putting Nigeria into the global space on discourse for gas. 

Audrey told members that there are much work to be done and with the array of council members, they will continue to drive advocacy with enhanced policy and legislations to make it possible by bringing needed investments that will transform the country. The new NGA president also known as Mrs. Gas said, “Gas is an enabler and gas is what is going to take us out of conundrum that we face as a nation.” She said Nigeria needs to take cue from other countries such as Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago among others that have improve the gas sector through friendly policies.

The new president of NGA stated further that the association and its executives will not relent on its efforts hence to succeed it needs government, policy makers and legislators including participants in the gas value chain. She enjoined members to support the association through every viable means to move it forward.

Audrey submitted that NGA has a robust continuity plan with six years presidential term which will help it to strategize and toe the line of progress in future.

It is believed that with new set of executive that will run the gas association for next two years, NGA will attain its planned objectives.