Gov Dickson Made the Difference at OTC, to sponsor Upstream/Downstream Conference 2017

By Upstream & Downstream Expo 2017

The 2017 edition of the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) that just

ended in Houston, Texas the USA may have come and gone but, its enduring

memories will linger for sometimes to come, especially for the high power

delegation from Bayelsa State led by Executive Governor of the state,

Honourable Seriake Dickson.
The delegation that was deliberately selected for the purpose of

fashioning a new economic drive weaved around the oil and gas industry,

had as part of the team Secretary to the Government of Bayelsa, Barrister

Serena-Dokubo Spiff; Professor Steve Azaike, former Secretary to the State

Government/Adviser to the Governor and Mr Kemela Okara, Commissioner of

Trade and Investment.
Others include Senator Foster Ogola who has as his legislative interest

the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and operations of the

Upstream and Downstream petroleum industry, among others.

In another development, the Bayelsa Chief Executive have assured of the

full participation of his government as sponsor and partner to the 2017

edition of the annual Upstream and Downstream Oil and Gas Exhibition and

Conference scheduled for August 30 – 31 in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

Details of the Bayelsa state sponsorship of the 2017 edition of the

Upstream and Downstream Oil and Gas Exhibition and Conference will soon be

unveiled but suffice to say that Governor Dickson expressed his

satisfaction with the tenacity and vision of the organisers of the leading

annual oil and gas exhibition and conference in Nigeria.

It is apparent that Governor Dickson understands the strategic role of the

oil and gas industry in the economy of Bayelsa state and the entire

South-south of Nigeria’s economy hence, his untiring support of the sector

and its activities.
Beyond the value chains provided by oil and gas to the South-south state,

the Bayelsa chief executive understands that whatever future plans he has

for his people, oil and gas remains a pivotal segment which cannot be

taken with levity.
Reacting to some of the accomplishments of the Bayelsa team to OTC 2017,

Dr Kune Igoni who is the Chief Executive Officer of West Africa

Exhibitions and Conferences, organisers of the annual Upstream and

Downstream Oil and Gas Exhibition and Conference said, “Indeed, the 2017

edition of OTC as usual did not disappoint our expectations. We went to

find out about new ways of conducting oil and gas business, we got enough

of that and much more.”
Among some of the innovative items at OTC 2017 include new technologies in

building modular refineries which has received the support of the Federal

Government of Nigeria and improved and cost-effective ways of operating

different segments of business of oil and gas, among others.

Declaring open the Nigerian pavilion, Minister of State for Petroleum

Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, announced that deliberations at the conference

was expected to produce workable solutions that would impact on Nigeria’s

development and the country’s attendance included the search for

investors.
Notably, according to the minister, beginning from 2018, the country’s

sponsorship of delegates to the conference would be drastically pruned

down to only experts in the oil and gas sector, Kachikwu pointed out that

in 2016 a total 250 delegates were sponsored by the Nigerian government.

The 2017 edition had only 50 delegates sponsored by the Federal

Government.
In another development, the Group Managing Director of Nigerian National

Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Maikanti Baru, welcome visitors to the

Nigerian pavilion warmly, “NNPC is here and we are open for business.”

This is amidst the promising development witnessed in the global price of

oil which has instigated renewed hope in the recovery of the Nigerian

economy.
Nigeria’s representatives of included officials from Ministries,

Departments, and Agencies, as well as lawmakers.
Founded in 1969, the Offshore Technology Conference is the world’s

foremost event for the development of offshore resources in drilling,

exploration, production and environmental protection. A top-notch

conference hosted to showcase technological breakthroughs in oil and gas

exploration and exploitation; it is also an opportunity for the organisers

to reward individuals, companies and academic researches into these

breakthroughs.
Nigeria’s participation was organised by the Petroleum Technology

Association of Nigeria (PETAN). PETAN is an association of Nigerian

indigenous technical oilfield service companies in the upstream and

downstream sectors of the oil industry.
PETAN was formed to bring together Nigerian Oil and Gas entrepreneurs to

create a forum for the exchange of ideas with the major operators and

policy makers.
Date: 15th May, 2017
West Africa Exhibitions & Conferences
Tel: +234-703-489-5500, +234-805-310-0096
Telefax: +234-(0)84-361-381
E-mail: [email protected]
http://www.oilandgasexpos.com