The Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS) has called for greater investment in human capital, saying skilled professionals are essential to developing Nigeria’s natural resources and sustaining the upstream petroleum sector.
The society made the call at the third NMGS/ND Western/Layi Fatona Annual Lecture Series, held at the University of Ibadan on October 2, 2026.
The lecture focused on the development of geoscience human capital for Nigeria’s upstream sector.
Its theme was “Development of Geoscience Human Capital for the Nigerian Upstream Sector: The Degeconek Experience.”
The event was sponsored by ND Western Limited and brought together professionals, academics, students and other stakeholders in Nigeria’s geoscience and energy sectors.
NMGS Links Resource Development to Skilled Professionals
NMGS President, Rose Ndong, said Nigeria’s natural resources alone could not guarantee sustainable sectoral development.
She said the competitiveness and resilience of the upstream industry depend significantly on the quality of professionals managing its resources.
According to Ndong, the sector is undergoing major changes driven by digitalisation, artificial intelligence, the energy transition and environmental considerations.
These developments, she said, require Nigeria to continually review how young geoscientists are trained, mentored and retained.
She also called for stronger links between universities, professional bodies, government and industry.
The objective is to ensure academic programmes remain connected to the practical demands of the resource industry.
Energy Industry Faces Changing Skills Requirements
The discussion comes as Nigeria’s petroleum industry continues to operate within a changing global energy environment.
Technology is transforming how geological data is collected, analysed and applied to exploration and production.
Artificial intelligence is also creating new opportunities for data interpretation and decision-making.
At the same time, environmental concerns and the global energy transition are changing the skills required across the industry.
For Nigeria, these developments create a need for professionals who understand traditional geoscience while also adapting to emerging technologies.
The NMGS therefore emphasised continuous learning and practical professional development.
Layi Fatona Proposes Student Science Development Fund
Chairman of the Board of ND Western Limited and chief host of the lecture, Dr Layi Fatona, focused on opportunities for students and young professionals.
Fatona proposed the establishment of a Student Science Development Fund to support eligible students.
The proposed fund would assist with activities such as conference participation, professional conference fees, poster presentations and research.
He said the initiative would initially be piloted through the Department of Geology at the University of Ibadan.
The proposal would also involve a governance structure with the NMGS to support sustainability and possible expansion to other institutions.
The initiative highlights the importance of exposing students to professional environments before they enter the workforce.
Such exposure can provide opportunities for networking, research presentation and interaction with experienced practitioners.
Degeconek Experience Shows Value of Practical Training
Guest speaker at the event, Abiodun Adesanya, Chief Executive Officer of Degeconek Hydrocarbon Asset Management Company, said human capital development should extend beyond university qualifications.
According to Adesanya, effective professional development requires education, practical field experience and mentorship.
He pointed to Degeconek’s experience as an example of industry involvement in developing geoscience professionals.
Adesanya said hundreds of geoscientists had passed through the organisation and gained exposure to real project data and professional experience.
He encouraged students and young professionals to continue developing their skills as the industry evolves.
Among the areas he highlighted were artificial intelligence, climate change, professional networking and practical technical capabilities.
Universities and Industry Need Stronger Collaboration
The speakers also highlighted the relationship between academic institutions and the private sector.
Universities provide the foundational knowledge required for professional careers.
However, industry experience can expose students to real-world challenges that may not be fully replicated in classrooms.
Closer collaboration can therefore create opportunities for internships, research, mentorship and practical training.
It can also help universities better understand the skills employers require.
For Nigeria’s upstream petroleum industry, this relationship could become increasingly important as companies adopt new technologies and respond to changing global energy requirements.
Heirs Energies CEO Calls for Competent Energy Workforce
Osayande Igiehon, Chief Executive Officer of Heirs Energies Limited and chairman of the event, also stressed the importance of human capital.
He said Nigeria’s energy industry needs professionals who can innovate and adapt to changing global conditions.
Igiehon linked Africa’s energy sufficiency ambitions to the availability of competent human resources.
He commended the NMGS, ND Western and the University of Ibadan for sustaining the lecture platform.
According to him, initiatives of this nature can help transfer professional experience and opportunities to the next generation of geoscientists.
Building Nigeria’s Geoscience Human Capital
The discussions at the annual lecture point to a broader challenge facing Nigeria’s natural resource sector.
The country has significant petroleum and mineral resources.
However, extracting value from those resources requires technical knowledge, effective institutions, modern technology and skilled professionals.
Human capital development can therefore influence how effectively Nigeria identifies, manages and develops its natural resources.
For the geoscience sector, this includes building expertise in geology, geophysics, petroleum exploration, data science and related disciplines.
It also involves preparing professionals for emerging areas such as artificial intelligence, environmental management and energy-transition technologies.
A Focus on the Next Generation
The annual lecture placed particular emphasis on young geoscientists.
That focus reflects concerns about how Nigeria can maintain a strong pipeline of professionals as the energy industry changes.
Mentorship can help transfer institutional knowledge from experienced professionals to younger practitioners.
Research opportunities can also expose students to practical industry problems.
Meanwhile, conferences and professional networks can connect young geoscientists with employers, researchers and industry leaders.
The proposed Student Science Development Fund could provide one mechanism for expanding such opportunities if implemented as proposed.
Human Capital Investment Remains Central to Resource Development
The NMGS position is that natural resources and financial investment must be supported by people with the skills to manage them effectively.
For Nigeria’s upstream sector, that means developing professionals who can work across traditional geoscience disciplines while adapting to technological and environmental changes.
The University of Ibadan lecture therefore placed human capital at the centre of the conversation about Nigeria’s resource development.
As the country’s energy and mining sectors evolve, the ability to educate, train, mentor and retain skilled professionals will remain an important part of the industry’s development.
