At the 2025 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, Texas, US,  Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, called on African countries to stand together in a coordinated push to eliminate energy poverty across the continent.

Speaking at the opening of the Nigerian Pavilion, hosted by the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), Lokpobiri emphasized that collaboration is crucial to unlocking Africa’s energy potential, driving economic growth, and transforming millions of lives.

He emphasized that with joint effort, African nations can pool resources, lower project costs, and accelerate innovation in the energy sector, adding that regional partnerships would enable the exchange of technology, expertise, and best practices.

Themed “Africa’s Energy Renaissance: Leveraging Innovation and Natural Gas for Sustainable Development,” the 2025 PETAN conference highlights the continent’s strategic role in shaping the future of global energy.

Lokpobiri warned against fragmented national policies and called for a unified African approach tailored to local realities. “This conference is not a jamboree. It is a platform for Nigeria, and by extension, Africa—to showcase its vast potential,” he said.

He cited the Africa Petroleum Producers Organisation (APPO) as a key institution for continental collaboration and revealed plans for the African Energy Bank, a landmark initiative designed to close financing gaps in the sector.

The bank, backed by a partnership between APPO and Afreximbank, is expected to launch within the current quarter with over $19 billion in funding—including Afreximbank’s $14 billion exposure and an additional $5 billion in start-up capital.

“This is an opportunity to let you know that your concerns are gradually being addressed.

“As members of APPO, we are in partnership with Afrexim Bank, which during our last meeting disclosed that it has an exposure of nearly $14 billion.

“This amount, along with an additional $5 billion as the initial take-off capital, will be transferred to the African Energy Bank—bringing the total to over $19 billion,” Lokpobiri  noted.

In a bilateral meeting, Lokpobiri encouraged Ghana to learn from Nigeria’s journey in the oil and gas industry and avoid early sectoral pitfalls. In response, Ghana’s Minister of Energy and Green Transition, Mr. John Abdullahi, commended Nigeria’s regional leadership and expressed eagerness to deepen collaboration.

“We will continue to consult Nigeria as we build a successful oil and gas industry,”  Abdullahi said. “The collaboration between both countries remains strong.”

PETAN Chairman, Mr. Wole Ogunsanya, underscored the importance of Nigeria’s presence at OTC, describing it as a vital platform for attracting investment and forming strategic alliances.

“This year’s event, under the Nigerian Pavilion, is set to highlight Africa’s growing role in the global energy sector,” Ogunsanya said. He credited PETAN’s two-decade participation at OTC with helping shape Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, especially since the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) mandated PETAN to lead the country’s OTC engagement.

He stressed the need for continued investment in capacity building and value creation across the entire energy value chain.

The event was attended by top Nigerian officials, major oil and gas stakeholders, exhibitors, and delegates from across West Africa.