Folashade Adekeye from Nigeria has been appointed as the Chairperson of the Forum of the Directors of Oil & Gas Training & Vocational Education Institutes of the African Petroleum Producers Organization (APPO).
Adekeye, who serves as the Director of NNPC Academy, succeeded Mr. Abdelkader Guenone, the Managing Director of the Algerian Petroleum Institute (API), during the second Forum meeting held in Abuja over the weekend.
With over 30 years of experience in the oil and gas sector, Adekeye, leading NNPC’s oil and gas training division, is expected to collaborate with colleagues from APPO Member Countries to address challenges such as competencies, skill gaps, infrastructure, and inadequate funding in the organization’s training institutions.
During the meeting’s opening ceremony, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd., Mele Kyari, stressed the significance of a standardized educational and training approach to meet the evolving demands of the oil and gas industry. APPO’s Secretary General, Dr. Omar Farouk Ibrahim, also urged Member Countries to enhance collaborative efforts in establishing Oil & Gas Centres of Excellence across Africa.
Dr. Ibrahim, also representing Nigeria, highlighted the importance of understanding the Forum’s challenges to enable APPO Member Countries to propose recommendations and solutions related to Oil & Gas project funding, technology adoption, and the establishment of an Africa Energy Bank.
He emphasized that collective collaboration among all member countries will ensure improved energy accessibility, affordability, and sustainability in Africa, ultimately strengthening economies and fostering prosperity for citizens.
