Oando receives Nigerian Institution of Petroleum Engineers
Globalisation is localisation, Managing Director, Oando Energy Resources (OER), Dr. Ainojie ‘Alex’ Irune has said. He spoke when he received Nigerian Institution of Petroleum Engineers (NIPetE) on a visit at
Globalisation is localisation, Managing Director, Oando Energy Resources (OER), Dr. Ainojie ‘Alex’ Irune has said.
He spoke when he received Nigerian Institution of Petroleum Engineers (NIPetE) on a visit at its Lagos head office on Monday.
The meeting focused on local capacity development, technology adoption, and Nigeria’s competitiveness.
The engagement provided a platform for both organisations to explore collaboration opportunities while examining broader shifts shaping the global energy landscape. Central to the discussions was how Nigeria can strengthen its engineering ecosystem in response to increasing global emphasis on domestic capability and value retention.
For Oando, localisation is not framed as policy alignment, but as a strategic response to global shifts. Irune noted that leading economies are increasingly investing in domestic capabilities, from technology development to data infrastructure, to retain value and strengthen resilience.
“Countries that build their own capacity will have the advantage,” he said, pointing to a growing shift towards self-sufficiency in critical sectors.
Within this context, discussions explored the role of indigenous engineering solutions in driving industry competitiveness, particularly the need to move from development to real-world application.
A key focus was a locally developed reservoir simulation software, presented as a potential alternative to established international platforms. Oando indicated its readiness to evaluate and benchmark such tools within its operational environment.
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“We are open to engaging with and testing locally developed solutions within our operations,” Irune said. “If we rely on foreign solutions when we have local capability, we are sending value out of our economy.” The emphasis on performance reflects a broader approach to ensuring that local innovation is competitive, scalable, and aligned with industry standards.
Beyond technology, the meeting highlighted the importance of strengthening Nigeria’s engineering talent pipeline. Participants noted the need to better align academic training with industry requirements, particularly as the sector evolves in response to advancements in data, artificial intelligence, and computational capabilities.
“There are changes happening globally at an accelerated pace,” Irune said. “We need to be deliberate about how we build our own capacity, from education to industry application.”
Chairperson of NIPetE, Yetunde Aladeitan, PhD, said the visit was aimed at strengthening collaboration with industry leaders capable of supporting the growth of indigenous engineering solutions.
“This engagement is about ensuring that Nigerian engineers and locally developed solutions are not just created, but are positioned for real industry adoption,” she said. “We are looking to deepen collaboration with organisations like Oando that have the capacity to validate, deploy, and scale these solutions.”
She added that the institution is expanding its focus on training and capacity building to support the development of industry-ready professionals and strengthen local content across the sector.
The meeting also explored opportunities for structured collaboration in skills development and knowledge sharing, with both parties recognising the need for sustained engagement to build a more competitive and self-sustaining engineering ecosystem.
For Oando, the engagement reinforces its role in shaping how local capabilities are developed, validated, and integrated into the future of Nigeria’s energy sector, with localisation emerging as a central pillar of long-term competitiveness.
