The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, Tony Attah, has called for an urgent overhaul of operational efficiency and accelerated upskilling of Nigeria’s youthful energy workforce to strengthen the country’s competitiveness in the global energy market.

Attah made the call at the 43rd Annual International Conference of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) held in Lagos.

Ad >>>

Delivering his keynote address through Abimbola Tijani, the company’s General Manager for Greenfields Capital Projects, Attah said Nigeria stands at a critical point as the global energy landscape undergoes major transformation.

He noted that as capital becomes more selective and technology continues to disrupt traditional value chains, Nigeria must act decisively to reposition its energy industry for sustained growth.

“Despite these complexities, Nigeria retains enormous strategic advantages – world-class reserves, a young and dynamic population, entrepreneurial agility, and resilience to innovate our way forward,” Attah said.

He emphasized that boosting efficiency and building human capital are not just business goals but national priorities.

“We must operate smarter, faster, and more efficiently, while building and empowering the next generation of energy talent,” he stated.

Attah described operational excellence as the process of streamlining workflows, empowering teams with data-driven autonomy, and creating systems for continuous improvement.

“Operational efficiency is not about doing more; it is about doing better, consistently, sustainably, and smartly. It is no longer optional — it is the price of relevance,” he added.

According to him, while hydrocarbons will continue to play a vital role in Nigeria’s revenue base and energy security in the near term, long-term competitiveness will depend on modernized operations and workforce capabilities.

“We are not just competing with national oil companies; we are competing with agile, technology-enabled energy firms worldwide,” he said.

The Renaissance CEO also called for policy reforms and better investment alignment to enable efficiency and human capital development across the industry.

“Clear, consistent, and forward-looking regulatory frameworks, de-risked funding models, and partnerships between government, industry, and academia are essential,” he said.

Attah further highlighted the need for workforce transformation through targeted training, diversity and inclusion, talent retention, and a strong safety culture.

“Potential needs development and platforms to excel — training, mentorship, and opportunity,” he said.

Attah’s remarks come amid growing calls for Nigeria to improve productivity and innovation across its oil, gas, and emerging energy segments to remain competitive in a rapidly changing global market.