…Exploited and opened frontier basins of Nigeria, with great successes offshore
…Aret was a symbol for professional excellence in Earth Sciences
…Transforming NNPC into a mega national oil company
-By Felix Douglas
Speaking at the 19th Annual Aret Adams Memorial Lecture Series held in Lagos, the Chairman, Aret Adams Foundation, Engr. Charles Osezua, revealed that it is being organised to focus attention on a topical issue, in the hope that from the collective wisdom of all the speakers and contributing audience, it will espouse some solutions and sketch a way forward for the good of our country.
According to Osezua: “This year, the 19th in the series, with the theme: “Global Energy Transition Agenda: Nigeria’s preparedness?” is not different. In deed the stakes could not be higher. Our way of life, the way we obtain and use energy at home, industry and for transportation could be impacted significantly, depending on our readiness. Giving the enormity of issues at stake, the Board of Trustees, this year decided to change the format of the lecture series to allow flexibility in putting together a robust and diverse team of experts from the Environment, Energy, Finance, Legal, Energy infrastructure development to do justice to the topic, and guide us on how to navigate in these ambiguous and uncertain times, for the good of business and our country.”
The Foundation Chairman said, “Chief Aret Adams was a force for good, the first Group Managing Director, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC); a passionate and visionary leader who promoted excellence and meritocracy for the good of his country, against all odd at the risks of his career.”
Aret offered his voice through these annual lecture series, where topical issues affecting the country were discussed.
Osezua said Chief Aret Adams, was a Geologist, with great commitment to excellence and was daring. At the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, (NNPC), he exploited and opened the frontier basins of Nigeria, with great successes offshore. And as a pragmatist, who never say die, nor give up in the face of obstacles and challenges, he pushed the boundaries, when crude oil prices dropped below $13:00 per barrel in the mid-1980s, Aret re-innovated the joint operating agreements, with IOCs, to keep the Rigs in the Country working, while most of the global oil activities, were short down!
His success as a hands-on professional and ability to achieve greater goals, in a volatile, uncertain, and chaotic period, was so incontrovertible, that upon his passing in 2002, his peers resolved to make him the symbol for professional excellence in Earth Sciences. Accordingly, today, the highest award for excellence, by the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationist (NAPE), to Earth Scientists, of any nationality, for distinguished and outstanding contributions to, or achievements in the sciences and practice of Petroleum exploration and exploitation in Nigeria, is the Chief Aret Adams Awards.
Osezua noted that after his appointment as Managing Director of NNPC in 1987, he set himself the ambitious goal of transforming the Corporation into a mega national oil company. Accordingly, he set up a task force for the Commercialization, Reorganization and Capitalization, (CRC) of NNPC, pulling together the best in the Corporation; to enable him realize his goals. By 1988, he saw to the creation of a commercially and financially autonomous NNPC, with the establishment of 11 subsidiaries; and was re-appointed as its first Group Managing Director.
Aret’s love for the truth drove his struggle for the enthronement of meritocracy, in NNPC, and the removal of petroleum subsidy. He wanted to release energy held hostage by the agents of subsidy and free the creative and entrepreneurial capacities of Nigerians, and transform the national economy, on the back of oil!
Then and now there was resistance and Aret was eventually removed from office, in what was called in the “National interest.” Aret was recalled to government services, almost ten years later, as Special Adviser to the Head of State, in 1998.
Osezua also stated that in furtherance of the dreams of Chief Aret Adams, the Foundation, continues to propagate excellence, through scholarships and Research programs in the Universities.
“In this regards, we took steps during the year to fulfill a long-standing commitment to establish the two remaining professorial Chairs at Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma and the University of Ibadan respectively. With this development, we now have three (3) Professorial Chairs, focusing on; Petroleum Engineering Studies at the University of Port Harcourt, Geosciences, at the University of Ibadan, and Business Enterprise at Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma.”
“Additionally, we also award post graduate scholarships to deserving students in Geosciences at the University of Ibadan, in a continued effort to promote and reward excellence.”
The Foundation Chairman made it known that the Board of Trustees after considering and carrying out intense survey on what could be topic for this year lecture, decided to delve into the resolution issued at the recently concluded United Nations Conference on Environment (COp26). The resolution among other things was to accelerate the implementation of the Paris agreement on climate change. Nevertheless, the general concern in Nigeria is about the challenges and opportunities it holds for Nigeria and its implications for the plans and programs for a large spectrum of decision makers, both local and international.
In her keynote address at the memorial lecture, the Minister of State for Environment, Mrs. Sharon Ikeazor who was involved in COp26 deliberations gave an in-depth analysis into what transpired at the COp26 conference in Scotland, and what preparation are being put in place for the implementation of the energy transition in Nigeria.
Other seasoned professionals and experts including panelists, spoke about legal and regulatory framework; funding and financial perspective; the need for synergy among stakeholders and renewable experience as it affect the economics-mix of energy transition journey.
It was moderated by former Group Managing Director of NNPC, Dr. Thomas John who also doubled as the Chairman of the event.
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