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The Chairman of PANA Holdings and Group Chief Executive Officer of PE Energy Limited, Dr Daere Akobo, has called for youth-centred tech innovations.
Delivering his address at the Sub-Saharan Africa International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (SAIPEC) 2025, held in Lagos, Akobo said industry leaders should focus on mentorship, innovation, and global competitiveness in technology-driven sectors.
“Our policymakers need to understand that policy without people is a fiasco,” he said.
He commended the Nigerian Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NPRC) for its mentoring initiatives, highlighting their crucial role in shaping the next generation of industry professionals, but stressed the urgent need to prevent a “youthquake”, a disruptive gap in youth engagement, by equipping young talents with the skills necessary to transform Africa’s economic landscape.
Hee challenged the current direction of youth engagement in digital platforms, urging a shift from entertainment-focused applications to solutions that address critical sectors such as agriculture, energy, and industrial development.
According to him, Africa must prioritise return on investment (ROI) in talent development and ensure that policymakers align their strategies with human capital growth for long-term economic success.
SAIPEC is hosted by the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN); with the strategic partnership of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and NNPC Limited, the Sub-Saharan Africa International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (SAIPEC) stands as not only the largest event in the centre of the region’s energy, oil and gas hub but also the only truly industry-led event, held in partnership with the country’s petroleum sector.
