NLNG’s Osobu Champions Technology Domestication at NOG Energy Week 2025

Deputy Managing Director of Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG), Olakunle Osobu, has emphasized the urgent need to domesticate technology within Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, stating that the future of local content depends on it.

Speaking during a panel session titled “Technology as a Local Content Imperative: From Adoption to Domestication” at the ongoing Nigeria Oil and Gas (NOG) Energy Week 2025 in Abuja, Osobu said technology must reflect national ownership, not just foreign adaptation.

“Our industry is one of the biggest consumers of technology. But beyond deploying it, we must simplify it, localize it, and make it speak the language of our people—literally and figuratively,” he said.

Osobu made a compelling case for developing indigenous tech solutions tailored to Nigeria’s unique environment. He advocated for writing software algorithms in local languages and building digital tools that resonate with African identities. “No country has advanced by learning technology in someone else’s language,” he stated, referencing global leaders such as Germany and China that build tech ecosystems using their native languages.

Policy and Inclusion: Critical to Domestication

Osobu stressed the importance of policy alignment in achieving true technological independence. “Until we treat technology as a national development priority, we’ll keep relying on external innovation,” he warned.

He said the domestication of technology must begin with inclusion: “If people can read and write, they should be able to use and even build technology. That’s how we expand access and create ownership.”

NLNG’s Train 7 Project: A Case Study in Local Capacity

Citing NLNG’s flagship Train 7 project as an example, Osobu revealed that more than 90% of the contractors working on the multibillion-dollar project—including the Project Director—are Nigerians.

“This success didn’t happen overnight,” he noted. “Over the years, Nigerians have worked alongside international experts on previous LNG trains, building hands-on experience. Today, they are leading the charge, and that’s what domestication looks like.”

He praised the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) for its role in enabling this outcome through consistent policy support.

Africa Should Look Within

Osobu called for a continental shift in thinking, asserting that Nigerian oil and gas experts—who are highly sought after globally—should take the lead in shaping Africa’s emerging energy economies.

“Nigerians are on oil rigs from Calgary to Singapore. As new discoveries emerge in Namibia, Senegal, Ghana, and Mozambique, it’s time for Nigerian professionals to provide leadership. We don’t need to keep looking to the West—we can be the experts Africa needs,” he said.

He also highlighted innovations like the African keyboard, which enables native languages to be used in digital systems, as examples of how technology can reflect cultural identity and serve local needs.

Looking Ahead

Osobu reaffirmed NLNG’s commitment to working with policymakers and partners to institutionalize domesticated knowledge across the energy sector.

“Our goal at NLNG is to make technology simple, inclusive, and transformative—rooted in our local realities,” he concluded.