The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.), Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, is scheduled to highlight Nigeria’s ongoing oil and gas reforms and efforts to attract international investment during a fireside discussion at the 2026 Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC) on Tuesday, November 3.
The session, titled “Nigeria’s Reform Agenda: Competing for Energy Capital,” is expected to focus on the country’s changing petroleum investment environment, regulatory reforms and strategies for attracting foreign capital into its energy sector.
Key Highlights
- NNPC GCEO Bashir Bayo Ojulari is scheduled to speak at ADIPEC 2026 in Abu Dhabi.
- The 20-minute discussion is scheduled for 10:30 to 10:50 GST on November 3.
- The session will examine Nigeria’s oil and gas reforms and competition for international energy investment.
- The discussion comes amid efforts to attract fresh capital into Nigeria’s upstream petroleum sector.
- Nigeria’s reform framework builds on the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 and subsequent government measures.
- The 2026 ADIPEC conference runs from November 2 to 5 in Abu Dhabi.
Ojulari to Discuss Nigeria’s Energy Investment Strategy
The 20-minute fireside talk will take place at the Impact Theatre, Conference Room B, from 10:30 to 10:50 GST.
Ojulari will be in conversation with John Defterios, Chairman for the Middle East and North Africa at APCO and a board member of Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL).
NNPC Limited announced the event through its official X account, highlighting the discussion’s focus on reforms in Nigeria’s upstream petroleum sector and their implications for international investors.
The company, which is participating in the wider ADIPEC exhibition and conference, has placed the engagement under its themes of “Energy for Today” and “Energy for Tomorrow”.
Who Is NNPC GCEO Bashir Bayo Ojulari?
Ojulari is a mechanical engineer with nearly 35 years of experience across the oil and gas value chain.
President Bola Tinubu appointed him Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited in April 2025, succeeding Mele Kyari.
Before his appointment, Ojulari served as Managing Director of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Renaissance African Energy Company.
He was also involved in the indigenous consortium’s acquisition of Shell’s onshore assets.
Since taking office, NNPC has reported stronger financial results and efforts to increase production from its operated assets.
Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Reforms at the Centre of Investment Drive
Nigeria’s petroleum reform agenda under the Tinubu administration builds on the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 and subsequent executive measures designed to improve the investment environment.
The measures include adjustments to fiscal terms, streamlined regulatory approvals, changes to certain revenue arrangements and incentives for deepwater and other petroleum projects.
Government officials have also highlighted clearer regulatory frameworks, improved security, cost management and licensing rounds as key measures for attracting international investment.
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission has pointed to recent project approvals and the forthcoming 2026 licensing round, which offers dozens of oil and gas blocks, as part of efforts to attract investors.
The reforms are taking place amid increasing competition among oil-producing countries for international capital, with investors weighing project costs, regulatory certainty, security and commercial returns before committing funds.
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ADIPEC 2026 Brings Global Energy Stakeholders to Abu Dhabi
ADIPEC 2026 is being held from November 2 to 5 at the ADNEC Centre in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Hosted by ADNOC under the patronage of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the conference is expected to bring together ministers, national oil companies, international energy firms, investors and technology companies.
Organisers describe this year’s edition as the largest to date, with more than 239,000 expected attendees and over 2,250 exhibiting companies.
Discussions at the event are focused on energy security, infrastructure, investment and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence.
Nigeria Seeks to Attract Global Energy Capital
Ojulari’s scheduled appearance provides an opportunity for NNPC Limited to present Nigeria’s reform efforts to an international audience of energy investors and industry stakeholders.
The central issue for investors will be how the country’s policy and regulatory changes translate into predictable operating conditions, commercially viable projects and sustained investment.
The discussion is therefore expected to place Nigeria’s oil and gas investment ambitions within the wider global competition for energy capital.
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