LONDON: A total of 100 delegates representing 56 companies from Nigeria and the United Kingdom at the weekend explored opportunities for collaboration at the annual Nigeria-UK Supplier Engagement programme organised by Shell Nigeria Exploration Company Ltd (SNEPCo) in conjunction with the United Kingdom Trade and Investment (UKTI).
The event brought together companies engaged in a wide variety of activities in the oil and gas industry including engineering, maintenance, fabrication and subsea support services.
A statement by the Deputy Director/Head, Public Relations Unit of Shell, Hajia Lami Tumaka, she said the UK delegation, included Nigerian experts in the diaspora whom SNEPCo had reached in previous business summits in Aberdeen and London, first met by Shell companies in Nigeria on areas of need and technical gaps.
The Chairman, Shell companies in Nigeria and Managing Director of the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC), Osagie Okunbor, observed: “The striking feature of this year’s business summit is the presence of Nigerians in the diaspora in the UK delegation. It shows that our engagements with Nigerians to take up opportunities back home in the oil and gas industry, is being well received, and this is good news for everybody.”
The statement stated that the UK delegation also held networking meetings with their Nigerian counterparts which included several members of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN).
Shell has a long-term and continuing commitment to Nigeria, its people and the economy,” said Chiedu Oba, General Manager, Nigerian Content Development, Shell Nigeria in a welcome address.
“One of the most significant ways we have delivered on that commitment is by increasing the participation of Nigerian companies and individuals in our supply chain and operations – to ensure that as many Nigerians as possible benefit from our activities and business.”
The General Manager, Production, PSC in the National Petroleum Investment and Management Services (NAPIMS) enjoined the participating companies to work towards taking advantage of upcoming opportunities in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.
He reiterated the importance of local content in the growth of the Nigerian oil and gas industry.
UKTI Director Chris Maskell thanked Shell for the continued support on the Nigeria-UK Supplier Engagement programme.
