SAIPEC 2025: PANA Holdings’ Chairman, Daere Akobo, calls for youth-centred tech innovations

The Chairman of PANA Holdings and Group Chief Executive Officer of PE Energy Limited, Dr Daere Akobo, has called for youth-centred tech innovations. He disclosed this while delivering his address at the Sub-Saharan Africa International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (SAIPEC) 2025, which was recently held in Lagos.

According to Dr Akobo, industry leaders should focus on mentorship, innovation, and global competitiveness in technology-driven sectors. “Our policymakers need to understand that policy without people is a fiasco,” he asserted.

He commended the Nigerian Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NPRC) for its mentoring initiatives, highlighting their crucial role in shaping the next generation of industry professionals. However, he stressed the urgent need to prevent a “youthquake”, a disruptive gap in youth engagement, by equipping young talents with the skills necessary to transform Africa’s economic landscape.

Speaking further, Dr Akobo challenged the current direction of youth engagement in digital platforms, urging a shift from entertainment-focused applications to solutions that address critical sectors such as agriculture, energy, and industrial development. According to him, Africa must prioritise return on investment (ROI) in talent development and ensure that policymakers align their strategies with human capital growth for long-term economic success.

The SAIPEC 2025 conference, held at Eko Convention Centre, Lagos, between 11- 13 February, is not only the largest event in the centre of the region’s energy, oil and gas hub but also the only truly industry-led event, held in partnership with the country’s petroleum sector. It brings together key stakeholders from the energy, technology, and policy sectors with discussions exploring pathways for Africa’s sustainable growth in a rapidly evolving global economy.

SAIPEC is hosted by the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN); with the strategic partnership of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and NNPC Limited, the Sub-Saharan Africa International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (SAIPEC) stands as not only the largest event in the centre of the region’s energy, oil and gas hub but also the only truly industry-led event, held in partnership with the country’s petroleum sector