Managing Director of Sahara Group, Kola Adesina, is set to lead discussions on decarbonisation in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry at the 2026 Oriental News National Conference scheduled for July 23 in Lagos.
The conference, organised by Oriental News Nigeria, will hold at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja GRA, Lagos, with stakeholders expected to deliberate on strategies for accelerating Nigeria’s transition to cleaner energy and achieving net-zero emissions by 2060.
The summit’s theme, _“Carbon Capture: Accelerating Decarbonization Initiatives in Nigeria’s Extractive Industry Through Broad Regulatory Reforms,”_ reflects the Federal Government’s renewed commitment to strengthening climate action policies within the energy sector.
According to the organisers, discussions at the event will align with ongoing efforts of the National Assembly to pass the National Decarbonization Bill, complementing the Climate Change Act 2021.
The conference will also review the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission’s Decarbonisation Blueprint and Handbook for the upstream oil and gas industry.
Adesina, who previously chaired Egbin Power Plc and currently chairs Ikeja Electric’s board, will address the environmental impact of fossil fuel emissions and Sahara Group’s comprehensive decarbonisation strategy.
The company’s strategy targets net-zero emissions by 2060 through cleaner energy investments, improved operational efficiency, and nature-based climate solutions. Sahara Group is also investing in natural gas as a transition fuel, renewable energy projects, and reforestation initiatives across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
The summit will feature a sub-theme focusing on finance challenges, investment strategies, operational sustainability, and climate change management within the extractive industry.
Organisers said the conference would bring together government officials, regulators, oil and gas operators, manufacturers, financial institutions, and other stakeholders to discuss Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan and recent regulatory developments affecting the sector.
Energy experts are also expected to review global decarbonisation trends in the oil and gas industry, including measures being adopted internationally to reduce emissions and the implications for Nigeria’s economy.
Mrs. Yemisi Izuora, Publisher and Convener of Oriental News Nigeria, emphasised the conference’s role in fostering dialogue among energy, finance, and industrial sector stakeholders on regulatory reforms and investment opportunities. “Each year, Oriental News Nigeria provides a platform for critical stakeholders to discuss regulatory issues and investment prospects, supporting initiatives that promote economic growth and sustainable development,” she said.
Now in its fifth edition, the conference aims to address practical sustainability challenges confronting operators in the oil and gas, petrochemical, and manufacturing sectors.
Participants are expected to explore decarbonisation solutions, case studies, and emerging technologies such as low-carbon hydrogen, carbon capture, utilisation and storage, digital technologies, and alternative fuels.
The event will also include keynote speeches, panel discussions, thematic dialogues, and policy exchanges focused on bridging financing gaps and accelerating Nigeria’s progress toward its climate goals.
