Close partnership and collaboration among African oil and gas producing countries are some of the strategies that would enable sustainable development of Africa’s oil industry, according to discussants at the Africa Content Forum, a segment of the 2025 Africa Oil Week holding in Accra, Ghana.
Represented by the Director of Corporate Services, Dr. Abdulmalik Halilu, the Executive Secretary stressed that no single African country can fully develop its local content potential or support its oil and gas industry without the collaboration of other nations.
Halilu pointed out that the African continent holds more than 10 percent of global crude oil reserves and eight percent of proven natural gas resources, in addition to critical resources for renewable energy. He argued that the continent’s oil and gas wealth must fuel intra-African trade, industrialization, value retention, and prosperity, lamenting the current situation where many African countries export raw materials abroad while inter-country trade within the continent remains minimal.
On the need for consolidation and scaling of local content programs across borders, Halilu canvassed for enduring policy frameworks supported by governance, enforcement oversight, human capital development, and cross-border deployment. He maintained that without research and development, local content policies would remain static.
On cross-border collaboration, Halilu observed that Africa’s diversity is its greatest strength. “Just as a Boeing or Airbus is built with components from different countries, we can build a thriving African energy sector by specializing and trading with one another, where each country focuses on its comparative advantage,” he said.
He further reiterated the need for a mindset shift away from perceiving local content as a corporate social responsibility initiative, insisting instead that it should be about retaining capital within African borders and building technological and industrial capacity to compete globally.
“Let us build an African energy sector that is owned, operated, and sustained by Africans. A sector that provides jobs for our youth, creates wealth for our nations, and brings true prosperity to our continent,” he charged.
The forum featured four panel sessions attended by policymakers, oil and gas operating and service companies, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and other stakeholders from across Africa and beyond. Discussions centered on strategies for African content growth, capacity development, cross-border projects, knowledge exchange, and funding for African content initiatives.
Panelists recommended deliberate planning, strong policies, and bold steps to place African solutions at the center of the continent’s development. They also stressed the importance of partnership, knowledge sharing, and innovative funding models to accelerate progress and compliance with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) requirements.
Moderating the fourth session on funding African content, the General Manager of Corporate Communications at NCDMB, Dr. Obinna Ezeobi, highlighted the critical role of sustainable financing. He emphasized that “African oil and gas companies must not only attract funding but also demonstrate their commitment to decarbonization and compliance with ESG standards. This is how we can remain competitive globally and ensure long-term sustainability for the sector.”
The NCDF model was also showcased, with its success in building capacity and capability within Nigeria’s oil and gas industry highlighted as an example for wider adoption across the continent.
Halilu pointed out that the African continent holds more than 10 percent of global crude oil reserves and eight percent of proven natural gas resources, in addition to critical resources for renewable energy. He argued that the continent’s oil and gas wealth must fuel intra-African trade, industrialization, value retention, and prosperity, lamenting the current situation where many African countries export raw materials abroad while inter-country trade within the continent remains minimal.
On the need for consolidation and scaling of local content programs across borders, Halilu canvassed for enduring policy frameworks supported by governance, enforcement oversight, human capital development, and cross-border deployment. He maintained that without research and development, local content policies would remain static.
On cross-border collaboration, Halilu observed that Africa’s diversity is its greatest strength. “Just as a Boeing or Airbus is built with components from different countries, we can build a thriving African energy sector by specializing and trading with one another, where each country focuses on its comparative advantage,” he said.
He further reiterated the need for a mindset shift away from perceiving local content as a corporate social responsibility initiative, insisting instead that it should be about retaining capital within African borders and building technological and industrial capacity to compete globally.
“Let us build an African energy sector that is owned, operated, and sustained by Africans. A sector that provides jobs for our youth, creates wealth for our nations, and brings true prosperity to our continent,” he charged.
The forum featured four panel sessions attended by policymakers, oil and gas operating and service companies, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and other stakeholders from across Africa and beyond. Discussions centered on strategies for African content growth, capacity development, cross-border projects, knowledge exchange, and funding for African content initiatives.
Panelists recommended deliberate planning, strong policies, and bold steps to place African solutions at the center of the continent’s development. They also stressed the importance of partnership, knowledge sharing, and innovative funding models to accelerate progress and compliance with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) requirements.
Moderating the fourth session on funding African content, the General Manager of Corporate Communications at NCDMB, Dr. Obinna Ezeobi, highlighted the critical role of sustainable financing. He emphasized that “African oil and gas companies must not only attract funding but also demonstrate their commitment to decarbonization and compliance with ESG standards. This is how we can remain competitive globally and ensure long-term sustainability for the sector.”
The NCDF model was also showcased, with its success in building capacity and capability within Nigeria’s oil and gas industry highlighted as an example for wider adoption across the continent.
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