By Our Reporter
Calabar, Nigeria — At the just-concluded Niger Delta Oil & Gas Investment & Security Summit, Eur Ing (Amb.) Dr. Chinedu Ogwus, a renowned energy strategist and advocate for youth empowerment, delivered a compelling call for Nigeria to position itself as a renewable energy leader in Africa.
In his keynote address, “The Global Energy Transition and Nigeria’s Energy Security,” Dr. Ogwus proposed targeted government incentives chiefly, a five-year tax holiday to attract investment into solar energy and battery manufacturing. He stressed that fostering local solar factories could help Nigeria take the lead in Africa’s clean energy race by 2060.
Government must encourage investment and support individuals to build solar factories,” said Dr. Ogwus. “This measure would assist the nation in leading Africa’s energy transition by 2060.
Highlighting the region’s complex security challenges, Dr. Ogwus emphasized that sustainable progress hinges on constructive and peaceful engagement with host communities, not force.
The two-day summit, hosted in Calabar, focused on the theme: “Constructive Engagement for the Protection of Oil & Gas Assets and Supporting Institutions to Drive Implementation of Extant Laws to Deepen Local Content Realization“.
It convened top political leaders, energy policymakers, and private sector stakeholders to chart a path toward regional security and economic revitalization.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, represented by Senator Benson Agadaga, advocated for grassroots-driven development and stronger enforcement of existing legislation:
It is through platforms like this summit that ideas are shared to help develop our communities and advance our environment. The laws exist, but it is up to us to bring them to life, Akpabio noted.
He encouraged collaborative investments in the oil and gas sector, saying, “There is nothing wrong if two or three individuals or organisations come together to establish their own company and invest in the region’s oil and gas sector.”
The summit saw participation from several high-ranking officials, including:
- Senator Chief Sunday Benson Agadaga MON
- Senator Ned Munir Nwoko, Chairman, Senate Committee on Oil & Gas Host Communities
- Senator Eteng Jonah Williams, Chairman, Senate Committee on Crude Oil Theft
- Rt. Hon. Obongemgem Ekparikpe, Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum (Upstream)
- Hon. Balarabe Abbas Lawal, Minister of State for Petroleum
- Hon. Minister of Environment
Hosted by Cross River State Governor Prince Bassey Otu and Deputy Governor Rt. Hon. Peter Agbe Odey, the summit provided a powerful platform for discussing security, investment, and community development.
In recognition of his impactful contributions to youth empowerment and improved oil and gas productivity across the Niger Delta since January 2025, Dr. Ogwus was honoured with a prestigious award during the submit.
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