SAIPEC unveils power-packed speaker lineup for 10th anniversary

The Sub Saharan Africa International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (SAIPEC) has released the initial roster of speakers for its 10th Anniversary edition, scheduled to hold next month in Lagos.

The event, which celebrates a decade of pan-African energy leadership, is set to convene a high-profile gathering of senior policymakers, regulators, and National Oil Company (NOC) executives from across the continent.

Leading the Nigerian delegation are the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Felix Ogbe Omatsola; the Commission Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Engr. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan; and the Chairman of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), Engr. Wole Ogunsanya.

They will be joined by key regional counterparts, including the Acting CEO of the Petroleum Commission Ghana, Dr. Emeafa Hardcastle, and the Director of Economics and Local Content, Kwaku Boateng. East African representation is notably strong, with Dr. Ernest Rubondo, Executive Director of the Petroleum Authority of Uganda, and Proscovia Nabbanja, CEO of the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC), both confirmed to attend.

The lineup also features other distinguished industry leaders such as Foday Mansaray, Director General of Sierra Leone’s Petroleum Directorate; Baboucarr Njie, Managing Director of the Gambia National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC); and Fabian M. Lai, President and CEO of the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL).

Further broadening the scope of the dialogue are Dr. Amadou Hassane, former General Director of Hydrocarbons in Niger Republic; Jean Michel Akossi, Director of Local Content for Côte d'Ivoire; and Zimbabwe’s Deputy Minister for Mines and Mining Development, Hon. Dr. Eng. Caleb Makwiranzou. According to the organizers, these leaders represent institutions that have consistently engaged with SAIPEC over the last decade, reinforcing its status as a trusted forum for policy formulation and investment.

Hosted by PETAN in strategic partnership with the NCDMB, NNPC Ltd, NUPRC, and AOS Orwell, the 10th-anniversary edition will take place from February 10–12, 2026, at the Eko Convention Centre.

A major focus of this year’s programme will be Nigeria’s ongoing oil licensing round. Dedicated sessions are planned to provide investors with the latest regulatory updates and acreage opportunities, alongside country spotlight sessions that highlight upstream and infrastructure potential across major African markets.

In addition to the conference, the event will feature an international exhibition with over 150 exhibitors showcasing technologies in exploration, production, and the energy transition, as well as curated networking events designed to facilitate deal-making.