By Sebastine Obasi

There is urgent need for a fundamental shift in Nigeria’s energy strategy, particularly towards developing the downstream sector, as it holds the key for more opportunities in the country. Professor Yinka Omorogbe, Energy expert and former president of the Nigerian Association of Energy Economists, NAEE, stated this at a media parley to herald the 19th annual international conference of the association, scheduled for April 27 to 29, 2026.

She described the upstream sector as an enclave with minimal employment impact and explained that Nigeria’s over reliance on crude oil exports limits job creation in the industry. “When you now open up the downstream and really make it functional and viable, you have industries throwing in hundreds of thousands of jobs into Nigeria,” she said.

According to Omorogbe, developing local refining capacity is critical to economic stability, warning that without it, Nigerians would face undue higher energy costs.

She also explained that strengthening domestic refining and downstream operations would not only reduce dependence on imports but also create enormous employment opportunities for the citizenry.

Also speaking, Hassan Mahmud, president of the association expressed his concerns that Africa, despite contributing less than four per cent of global carbon emission, faces increasing pressure to decarbonise without adequate financing or technological support. He explained that the conference would focus on how emerging technologies such as renewable energy, energy storage and digital systems can shape the continent’s future energy landscape, as well as how economic frameworks and public policies can attract investment and support industrialisation.

According to him, the conference aims to reposition the energy transition as an opportunity for growth, job creation and poverty reduction, rather than a constraint on development. Participants, drawn from both within and outside Nigeria are expected to engage in high-level plenary sessions, technical discussions on energy markets and policy reforms, as well as industry showcases highlighting innovation across the energy value chain.

The event will also feature strategic dialogues aimed at producing actionable policy recommendations for governments and institutions across the continent.

Mahmud said the conference would serve as a platform to generate evidence-based insights and foster collaboration among stakeholders, with outcomes expected to influence policy direction and investment decisions in the energy sector.

Participants would undertake a technical visit to the 650,000 barrels-per-day Dangote refinery, described as the largest single-train refinery in the world, to gain first-hand insight into Nigeria’s refining capacity and its role in enhancing energy security in West Africa.

Part of the focal points at the conference would be to examine how Africa can leverage its vast hydrocarbon resources alongside renewable energy potential to drive a pragmatic and inclusive energy transition.