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African energy experts have called on governments and investors to turn the continent’s vast gas resources into jobs, industries and economic prosperity through local manufacturing and technology development.
They made the call at the opening of the third Emogas International Natural Gas-Based Industry Conference and Exhibition (EINGICE 2026) in Abuja on Wednesday.
Convener of the conference, Engr. Emeka Okafor, said Africa would continue to lose the benefits of its natural resources without adequate investment in domestic industries, infrastructure and technological development.
“We have no business being poor in Africa,” he said, urging governments, investors, industry leaders and researchers to work together to transform the continent’s gas wealth into economic prosperity.
Okafor identified poor infrastructure, dependence on imported technologies and institutional weaknesses as major obstacles to developing gas-based industries across Africa.
He called for reliable energy supplies, predictable investment policies and stronger local value chains to accelerate industrialisation.
The convener also warned against favouritism in contract awards, insisting that projects must be awarded based on merit, competence and the capacity to deliver.
“Project allocation must be based on merit, competence and the capacity to deliver, rather than personal relationships or patronage,” he said.
He warned that awarding contracts based on personal connections could result in abandoned projects and waste scarce resources.
Okafor urged investors to explore opportunities across the gas value chain, while encouraging entrepreneurs to develop solutions that address Africa’s peculiar industrial challenges.
He also called for stronger partnerships between universities and industries to translate research into commercially viable products and services.
According to him, African countries must create opportunities for young people and skilled professionals to contribute to industrial development while embracing artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.
He stressed the need to build local capacity to develop and commercialise these technologies rather than depend on imported solutions.
“The time for ambition without execution has passed. The time for fragmented efforts has passed,” he said, urging stakeholders to translate discussions at the conference into investments and measurable results.
Earlier, Vice-Chancellor of the European University of Nigeria, Prof. Charles Esimonye, called for stronger partnerships among gas-producing countries, sustained investment and increased African participation in the global liquefied natural gas (LNG) market.
Esimonye, who delivered the welcome address, said the conference theme highlighted the need to link gas development with industrialisation and expand Africa’s share of global energy trade.
He urged governments, industry operators, academic institutions and entrepreneurs to collaborate in attracting investment and promoting technological innovation.
He said Africa must move beyond consuming imported technologies to developing and commercialising home-grown solutions.
Esimonye added that artificial intelligence, automation and data analytics could improve industrial efficiency and strengthen the protection of critical gas infrastructure.
Also speaking, founder of Laser Engineering and Resources Consultants, Engr. Mike Onyekonwu, commended the organisers for sustaining the conference into its third edition.
He said natural gas could drive industrial and economic growth if supported by investments in domestic utilisation, infrastructure, technology and human capital.
Onyekonwu called for stronger collaboration among governments, regulators, investors, operators and academic institutions to maximise the economic benefits of Africa’s natural resources.
He reaffirmed his organisation’s commitment to the energy sector through engineering services, research, professional training and technical capacity development.
The conference, themed “Accelerating Africa’s Global LNG Trade Share and Driving Gas Industrialisation,” brings together energy industry leaders, policymakers, investors, regulators, researchers and entrepreneurs to explore investment opportunities, gas-based industrial development and technological innovation.
