On November 10, 2022, The Nigerian Institution of Petroleum Engineers (NIPetE) Confers Fellowship Status of the Division on distinguished members. During the ceremony, which was a part of the Division’s International Conference, the National Chairman, Engr. Prisca Kanebi, stressed that the NIPetE is local and aim to address the local needs of our industry, and making the petroleum engineering profession in Nigeria worth the while for young Nigerian graduates.
Kanebi admits the institution, which was recently inaugurated is still at young stage but expresses optimism that it will achieve it goals as membership grows.
She praised the organizing committee for good job in organizing this first conference of the Institution.
Kanebi roles out some of the achievements of the Institution with it short period and thanked her team for their doggedness and commitment. She reiterated her determination and those of her team to ensure the institution attain it destined greatness among the Institution of NSE.
“We will build on this milestone, and with your guidance and leadership, we will chart a course for the development of petroleum engineering as a trade in Nigeria and for strengthening and accrediting universities and other training institutions for quality manpower in our industry.” She said.
“As we begin to take our rightful place in leading conversations on petroleum engineering issues in Nigeria, the importance of other professional associations we belong to should not be lost on us.” She added.
She used the opportunity to challenges members to contribute into the building of NIPetE for local petroleum engineers even as they are already members of International body. She said that NIPetE is not in competition with SPE but to complement each other by leveraging on Local professionals to address local challenges facing the industry.
“All of us here are members of the Society of Petroleum Engineers and we have played different roles in that international organisation. But NIPetE is local and should aim to address the local needs of our industry, and making the petroleum engineering profession in Nigeria worth the while for young Nigerian graduates.
“We should build strong mentorship platforms and collaborations with universities teaching petroleum engineering, as well as major industry operators.” She stressed.
Kanebi said the Institution will pursue many options to impact community and grow the profession. She added that this is what informed the choices of the Theme for the conference. – the role of the petroleum engineering profession in the energy transition journey of the African continent.
On climate change, she expressed concern that African countries are at disadvantage in the planned phasing out of fossil fuel in the energy portfolios. She noted that countries like Nigeria where fossil fuels drives the economy will be affected if they were to suddenly give up their energy portfolio.
The challenge, according to her also extended to the Petroleum Engineers who must be prepared for the transition. She called on members to come up with innovation and thing out of box to advice government on how to earn revenue and also how the profession will remain relevant for many years to come.
She expressed optimism that the NIPetE conference “will evolve over the years, as a major meeting point of the key players in the energy value chain, while enhancing the town and gown interactions between industry and the academia on the one hand, and the policy makers and international investors on the other – for robust interrogation of critical challenges that will advance our industry.”
“The leadership of the institution will be reaching out to many of you for ideas and guidance as we chart our new direction in the months and years to come.” She concluded.