RismadarVoice Reporters
July 23, 2026
Energy experts, academics and industry leaders have called on the Federal Government to strengthen collaboration with the private sector and tertiary institutions to accelerate Nigeria’s energy transition and improve energy security.
The stakeholders made the call at the Fourth Dr Diran Fawibe Annual Lecture, organised by International Energy Services Limited (IESL) in partnership with the Centre for Petroleum, Energy Economics and Law (CPEEL), University of Ibadan.
Themed “ Public-Private Energy Shift: Innovation, Investment, Implementation,” the event focused on practical strategies for transforming Nigeria’s energy sector through stronger partnerships and improved policy implementation.
Participants observed that while Nigeria has developed several energy policies over the years, weak implementation, regulatory uncertainty and inadequate investment continue to hinder progress in electricity supply, gas infrastructure development and renewable energy adoption.
They stressed that building a resilient, competitive and sustainable energy industry would require coordinated efforts among government, industry and academia.
Speaking at the event, the Group Chairman of IESL and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of CPEEL, Dr Diran Fawibe, described energy security as fundamental to industrialisation, economic growth, healthcare, education, employment generation and national competitiveness.
He urged policymakers, investors, universities and young professionals to move beyond policy discussions and focus on implementation.
“The future of our energy sector will increasingly be determined not by the volume of resources beneath our soil alone, but by our ability to transform those resources into reliable, affordable, sustainable and accessible energy,” Fawibe said.
He advocated stable regulatory policies, increased investment in research and innovation, curriculum reforms in universities, expanded professional training and stronger public-private partnerships to unlock investment across the electricity, gas and renewable energy sectors.
Delivering the keynote address, Professor Yinka Omorogbe (SAN) of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies said the ongoing public-private transition in Nigeria’s energy sector should not be viewed as government abandoning its responsibilities.
She explained that the emerging model places government in the role of policy direction and regulation, while the private sector provides investment, innovation and operational efficiency.
“The shift is not simply privatisation. It is about moving from government promises to services that citizens actually receive,” she said.
Omorogbe identified policy certainty as a major factor influencing investment decisions, noting that investors are more attracted to stable regulatory environments than to countries with abundant energy resources.
She also described Nigeria’s vast natural gas reserves as critical to industrialisation, manufacturing, clean cooking, energy justice and poverty reduction.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode Adebowale, expressed concern over the country’s persistent implementation gap despite numerous energy policies.
“For too long, the conversation has stopped at policy pronouncements. We have had abundant plans, but we often falter at the final hurdle—the implementation gap,” he said.
Adebowale urged universities to produce research-driven, locally developed solutions capable of supporting investment, improving regulatory frameworks and enhancing energy efficiency.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the occasion, Dr Layi Fatona, said no single institution could transform Nigeria’s energy sector in isolation, stressing that sustainable development depends on collaboration, innovation, credible institutions and sound policies.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of IESL, Bayo Ige, said the annual lecture series was established to promote practical solutions to challenges in the energy sector rather than serve as another academic gathering.
He disclosed that the partnership between IESL and CPEEL has produced annual research grants, student merit awards and prototype technologies, including AI-powered solar irrigation systems, AI-enabled smart meters, hybrid biodigesters, solar generators and agricultural robotics.
Ige also revealed that construction of the proposed Dr Diran Fawibe CPEEL Research Centre had reached an advanced stage and appealed to corporate organisations to support the facility with research equipment.
“The Nigeria we desire will not happen by relying on the government alone. It will happen when industry, academia and individuals all play their respective roles,” he said.
The Director of CPEEL, Professor Olugbenga Falode, also advocated stronger collaboration between universities and industry to ensure that academic research translates into commercially viable innovations capable of addressing Nigeria’s energy challenges.
The high point of the event was a panel discussion moderated by Dr Ibilola Amao, featuring experts who explored practical approaches to strengthening innovation, investment and public-private collaboration across Nigeria’s energy value chain.
