Olushola Okunlade Writes

The Oil Trading and Logistics (OTL) Africa Downstream Secretariat has announced the inauguration of a new Advisory Board for Africa’s leading downstream energy event, the OTL Africa Downstream Week.

The board is led by Mr. Tunji Oyebanji, Managing Director, 11 Plc as the Chairman. Others are Mr. Ian Brown, International Energy Consultant; Mr. Clement Isong, Executive Secretary, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN); MrMumuni Dagazau, Chief Operating Officer, OVH Energy and Mrs. Sheila Abiemo, Director, Projects Monitoring and Evaluation, National Petroleum Authority, Ghana.

At the inauguration of the five-man Advisory Committee during a virtual ceremony on Thursday, outgoing Chairman, Dr. Reginald Stanley said he was delighted to bequeath the platform to a perfect team that will take OTL Africa to another level and provide direction to navigate the global energy transition.

Stanley expressed complete confidence in the professionalism of individuals who have committed their time and resources to downstream oil and gas development and attested to their ability to promote inclusiveness and increase participation among African countries and beyond.

He reiterated his enduring support for OTL Africa and charged the new Advisory Board to “keep their eyes on the future; improve on advocacy; and remain a voice to be reckoned with in the industry”.

In his address, Dr. Emeka Akabogu, Founder and President, OTL Africa Downstream thanked the outgoing chairman under whom he said, “OTL Africa witnessed significant growth”. He deployed his goodwill, passion, and industry knowledge to facilitate new collaborations and staked his reputation and more to ensure the OTL initiative gained industry support.

Akabogu noted that the world was changing very fast and with it, preferences, practices, and operations. He added that the industry was also changing and it was important to remain firmly in the mix of its most important developments, discussions, and plans.

He said: “It is on the foregoing basis that everybody in this Advisory Board has been identified. Individually, you all have achieved significant heights in your unique areas and roles, demonstrating leadership, passion, commitment, and friendship. You have each succeeded in creating considerable value in challenging circumstances and are all individually highly regarded by both colleagues and adversaries. You are now called upon involuntary service in the downstream energy industry to bring a bit of you to create a mass of good.”

“We trust that the profile and experience of the new board will lead to greater global acceptance and respect to the OTL Africa Downstream Week”, he added.

Akabogu expressed gratitude to Mr. Tunji Oyebanji for showing unmitigated interest, unwavering support, and staunch commitment and loyalty to OTL over the last 15 years, adding that “We look forward to great and lasting legacies and renewed impetus from the guidance you and the board provide”.

In his acceptance speech, Oyebanji said it was an honor and privilege for him to be invited to work with a very distinguished group who have contributed significantly to the downstream industry in their various spheres of endeavor, and thanked the new members for heeding the call to serve driven by a passion for OTL and the downstream industry.

Oyebanji acknowledged that he was stepping into the very huge vacated by Dr. Stanley and thanked him for his outstanding service to OTL. He promised to seek his advice in order deliver on the confidence reposed on him and the board.

Confirming his passion for OTL, the 11 Plc boss said “I have been involved in OTL right from the inception and it is an event I look forward to with great expectation and enthusiasm“.

Addressing the new board members Oyebanji said: “We are all driven by a passion for the downstream industry and for OTL definitely. So as you join me on this board, I will like to request and appeal for your full support. You are all individually very accomplished people, so it’s indeed an honor to be what I call first among equals. I count on your support, advice, and guidance to make OTL an even better event. The idea should be that across Africa it should be known as a household event in the downstream industry and a reference point for similar events on the continent.”

“I can give everybody the assurance that we will do our best to deliver on our mandate and ensure that OTL continues to be the envy of all”, he concluded.

In a goodwill message, Group Executive Director, Ventures and Business Development, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Sir Billy Okoye, showered praise on Reginald Stanley for supporting OTL to attain great heights; he attested to the expertise and professionalism of the members of the new board and charged them to leverage their areas of comparative advantage across governments, private sector and global networks to meet the growing expectations of the downstream industry in Africa.

On his part, Ian Brown said it was an honor to be invited to serve and he looked forward to giving something back after 20 years of working in Nigeria’s downstream industry. He noted that OTL has brought a level of respect to the downstream industry.

Also commenting, Mumuni Dagazau said “this is an opportunity to serve Nigeria and this industry and I accept. He described OTL Africa as a bridge between the public and the industry, noting that it stimulates interaction between subsectors in the downstream industry.

“As we go into a different phase in the downstream industry, we have to be mindful of issues arising from the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), subsidy removal, and the push for autogas, and LPG among other considerations. OTL gives us a platform to have these difficult discussions in a safe manner,” he said.

Clement Isong, in his comments, said OTL presented an excellent platform to drive the deregulation of the downstream oil and gas industry in Nigeria. “We are at a critical moment in history when we must engage. We need the PIA to be implemented as it was written and we must step up to ensure that the PIA delivers to the economy and Nigerians. OTL must go beyond its flagship event to deepen engagement and invest in the professionalization of this industry.”