Stakeholders To Examine Financing Options For Africa’s Energy Future At The Aret Adams Lecture

The annual Aret Adams Memorial lecture, now in its 23rd iteration, is scheduled for the 27th of February, 2027, at the Muson Centre (Agip Recital Hall), Marina, Onikan, Lagos, commencing promptly at 11:00 AM. This year’s lecture theme is titled “The African Energy Bank: Financing Africa’s Energy Future.”

Mr. Akin Jokojeje, the Programmes Manager of the Aret Adams Foundation, indicated that the Board of Trustees, in selecting this year’s memorial lecture topic, recognized the necessity of emphasizing the vision and mission of the African Energy Bank. This is aimed at elucidating its role in sustainable energy development and the potential opportunities it presents for Nigeria and the broader African continent. Consequently, the Board of Trustees has decided to invite the esteemed financial expert, Mr. Bismarck Rewane, to deliver a presentation on unlocking Africa’s energy potential through financing, innovations, and partnerships that will best facilitate its growth and development.

The Chief Host and Co-Host for this significant event are Engr. Charles Osezua and Dr. Layi Fatona, who serve as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees and the Chairman of the Governing Council of the Aret Adams Foundation, respectively.

 A notable highlight of the occasion will be a special fireside chat with Ogbueshi Ben Osuno, a close associate of the late Chief Aret Adams, to celebrate his 90th birthday. As anticipated, key players and stakeholders from the Oil and Gas industry, financial institutions, manufacturing sectors, and industry leaders are expected to attend the event.

The Aret Adams Foundation was established in memory of the late Chief Godwin Aret Adams, who served as the first Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation from 1988 to 1990, and later became the Special Adviser on Petroleum Resources to the former Head of State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar (rtd) in 1998. He passed away in 2002.

According to Engr. Charles Osezua, OON, KSG, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, it was disclosed that the Foundation’s purpose is to enhance educational capacity and formulate policies. The National Energy policy, which was presented to the Federal government in April 1980, was crafted by the late Chief Aret Adams.

He was instrumental in revitalizing negotiations that resulted in the successful implementation of the shareholders’ agreements for the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) project in 1989, among other initiatives. Additionally, he disclosed that the Foundation has established the Aret Adams Professorial Chairs at the University of Port Harcourt in Petroleum Engineering in partnership with SPDC, which has recently been taken over by the Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited (RAEC).

The Foundation also established the Aret Adams Professorial Chair in Entrepreneurship at Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, as well as the Aret Adams Professorial Chair in Geology at the University of Ibadan, Oyo State. Providing further details about the upcoming annual lecture, Dr. Layi Fatona, the Co-Host of the event and Chairman of the AAF-Governing Council, shared that the late Chief Aret Adams was an exceptional Geologist during his lifetime and an alumnus of the University of Ibadan.

This has inspired the Foundation to award scholarships to the top selected Post Graduate students (M.Sc.) in Geology at the University of Ibadan annually, to support their pursuit of M.Sc. degree programs. Another set of awards will be presented at the upcoming event for the year 2026.

He also emphasized that Chief Aret Adams left a legacy of excellence and transparency in government dealings, development through market growth, good business practices, and free market competition, which have positively impacted many lives he influenced, regardless of tribal or religious affiliations during his lifetime.

It was these admirable qualities and principles that inspired a few of his colleagues and associates to establish the Foundation in 2003 to propagate and sustain his life-long dreams.