Stakeholders in Nigeria’s energy sector have called for deeper collaboration among government, industry and academia to accelerate the country’s energy transition, attract investment and bridge the persistent gap between policy formulation and implementation.
The consensus emerged on Wednesday at the fourth Dr. Diran Fawibe Annual Lecture Series organised by the Centre for Petroleum, Energy Economics and Law (CPEEL), University of Ibadan, in partnership with International Energy Services Limited (IESL).
Speaking on the theme, “Public-Private Energy Shift: Innovation, Investment, Implementation,” the experts, scholars and industry leaders argued that Nigeria’s ambition to build a resilient, competitive and sustainable energy sector would only be realised through coordinated action rather than isolated efforts by government or the private sector.
Chairman of the Board of Trustees of CPEEL, Dr. Diran Fawibe, said the country’s energy security remains fundamental to industrialisation, economic growth, healthcare, education, employment generation and national competitiveness.
He urged governments, industry leaders, universities and young professionals to move beyond dialogue and focus on implementing practical solutions.
According to him, innovation without investment remains an idea, while investment without implementation is merely a promise.
“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 called for stable regulatory frameworks, greater investment in research and innovation, curriculum reforms in universities, expanded professional training and stronger public-private partnerships to accelerate investments in electricity, gas infrastructure and renewable energy.
Delivering the keynote lecture, the Nabo Graham Douglas Distinguished Professor at the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS), Abuja, Prof. Yinka Omorogbe (SAN), said the ongoing public-private shift in the energy sector should not be mistaken for privatisation or government withdrawal.
Rather, she said, it represents a redefinition of responsibilities in which government provides credible regulation and policy direction while the private sector delivers investment, innovation and operational efficiency.
“The shift is not simply privatisation. Its deeper meaning lies in the changing structure of energy governance and delivery. It is about moving from government promises to services that citizens actually receive,” she said.
Omorogbe identified investment and implementation as the critical pillars of energy transition, stressing that energy infrastructure requires patient capital attracted by policy credibility rather than national need alone.
“Capital follows credibility, not need alone,” she said.
She described Nigeria’s gas reserves as central to industrialisation, manufacturing, clean cooking, energy justice and poverty reduction, insisting that government must remain a strong enabler capable of delivering public purpose through effective regulation and implementation.
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, said universities must become active contributors to the country’s energy transition by producing research-driven, home-grown solutions.
He noted that while Nigeria has developed numerous energy policies over the years, implementation has remained weak.
“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 noted that the University’s Centre for Petroleum, Energy Economics and Law is strengthening research on legal frameworks, economic models and technological innovations capable of supporting investment and improving energy efficiency.
Earlier, Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Layi Fatona, described collaboration among government, industry and academia as indispensable to sustainable energy development.
He said Nigeria’s abundant natural resources would only translate into prosperity if supported by sound policies, credible institutions, innovation and effective implementation.
“No single institution can transform the energy sector alone. It requires collaboration. It requires trust. And above all, it requires execution,” Fatona said.
He added that countries leading the global energy transition are not necessarily those with the largest natural resource endowments but those capable of attracting investment, developing talent and implementing reforms consistently.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of IESL, Bayo Ige, said the annual lecture series was conceived as a platform for practical action rather than another conference.
According to him, the collaboration between IESL and CPEEL has produced annual research grants, student merit awards and several prototype technologies, including AI-powered solar irrigation systems, AI-enabled smart meters, hybrid biodigesters, solar generators and agricultural robotics.
He also disclosed that the proposed Dr. Diran Fawibe CPEEL Research Centre is under construction, with its first floor nearing completion, and appealed to corporate organisations to support the project with research equipment.
“The Nigeria we desire will not happen by relying on government alone. It will happen when industry, academia and individuals all play their respective roles,” Ige said.
In his remarks, Director of CPEEL, Prof. Olugbenga Falode, said stronger university-industry partnerships are essential to ensuring that research findings move beyond academic journals to address real-world challenges.
He lamented that valuable intellectual resources generated by universities often remain confined within academia instead of contributing to industrial development.
“When I reflect on the development of this lecture, the first thing that comes to mind is the need to bridge the gap between academia and industry. We need to unlock that potential,” Falode said.
The event also featured a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Ibilola Amao, with contributions from Mr. Oladayo Orolu, Prof. Olufemi S. Shuaib, Engr. Prof. Samuel Titiloye and Dr. Temilade Sesan, who examined practical pathways for implementing public-private energy reforms and strengthening innovation across Nigeria’s energy value chain.
Also present at the event were Professor Idowu Olayinka, Prof. Akin Iwayemi, Prof. Adeola Adenikinju, Prof. Oolabode Lucas, Prof. Olusanya Olubusoye and others.
Advertisement
