SPE-UI host Emmanuel Egbogah Memorial Lecture
The highly anticipated Emmanuel Egbogah Memorial Lecture, Themed “Energy Sustainability: Balancing Economics Security and Sustainability” commenced exactly by 10:17 a.m. at the KAAF Auditorium, Human Nutrition Department with an Opening Prayer from two students of the Petroleum engineering department.
In recognition of the notable personnel present at the occasion, the SPE-UI President, Habeeb Lanlehin, gave his opening speech and gratefully appreciated everyone’s presence at the memorial lecture.
One of the moderators of the event, Laura Onyetube, discussed Dr Emmanuel Egbogah’s contributions globally, stating
“ Dr. Emmanuel Egbogah was the founder and executive chairman of Emerald Energy Resources. During his more than 40 years in the industry, he held several leadership and policy advisory positions.
“He was the Presidential Adviser of Petroleum Matters to President Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua.”
She also noted Egbogah's philanthropic endeavours, including endowments in academic institutions such as Emerald Energy Institute, University of Port Harcourt, Emmanuel Egbogah Building, University of Ibadan among others.
Following the theme of the program, the Keynote Speaker, Professor Emeritus of Petroleum Economics, Prof. Wumi Iledare, delivered an insightful and enriching session on The Global Energy Sustainability Dynamics, highlighting the major problems affecting the Energy Sustainability in Africa and the pathway to achieving it in Africa.
He stated, “The road to sustain the economy is technology, economics and geopolitics”. He also asserted the fact that petroleum cannot be cut off in the next fifty to sixty years, emphasizing that no energy source can sustain the world in the next 60 years without petroleum.
Prof. A. I. Bamigboye, the dean of Faculty of Technology, was delighted by the speech and expressed his appreciation to Prof. Wumi Iledare for his insightful session. He further emphasized that inaccessibility and unavailability of energy are significant challenges that need to be addressed. According to him, one of the promising solutions is the integration of renewable energy sources.
The first Panelists’ Session, featured experienced energy industry professionals including the Managing Director of Gangko Energy, Olaoye Abiodun, the Group Head, External Affairs and Govt. Relations, Petroman Oil Limited, Eriye Onagoruwa, Senior Project Engineer at SLB, Olamide Atoyebi, and Asset Engineer, ExxonMobil, Chinyere Princess Effor. It was an eye-opening session as the panelists shared their experiences in the industry, advising the students to strive for knowledge and to not be narrow minded.
One major highlight was when Mr Olaoye emphasized the need to be hungry for knowledge, urging students to set their sights high and take time to learn. He said, “Be hungry for knowledge! Do not be narrow minded”.
The equally-enriching young professionals panelists session commenced shortly after the networking session. The young professionals—Kaito Chukwudi, Alex Ifenaike, Jaho-Kagbare Tamoefe, Oladipo Fatukasi—highlighted several ways of navigating through the energy industry and assuring undergraduate students that several opportunities lie for them when they put themselves out there.
Speaking with one of the students at the event, he expressed his gratitude to SPE-UI for organising the event. “It was a very insightful session. I have renewed hope and I got the opportunity to network with people,” he said.
—Olasunkanmi Mubarak
