Great industries are not only built on rigs, refineries and policies; they survive because knowledge is passed down from those who have walked the path before. That is the spirit behind the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board’s (NCDMB) Business Mentorship Lecture Series, which, for its third-quarter edition, will feature one of Nigeria’s most familiar voices in the oil and gas industry, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu.

The former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and past chairman of NCDMB’s Governing Council is lined up as Role Model and Guest Speaker at the session billed for Monday, September 8, 2025. It will be hosted virtually on Zoom, streamed live on the Board’s YouTube channel, and steered by Richmond Osuji, a well-known event compere in the energy sector.

The Business Mentorship Lecture Series, launched in 2019, has always been more than a lecture. It was set up under the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act of 2010 as a platform for transferring real-world wisdom from seasoned players to young entrepreneurs, contractors and service providers.

Over time, it has grown into a one-day capacity-building class where experience meets ambition, and where those hoping to scale up can hear directly from people who have navigated the highs and lows of the industry.

Also Read: NCDMB, Coppercrux train youths on CNG to tackle unemployment and drive cleaner energy

Dr. Kachikwu’s appearance this quarter is particularly significant. His career, spanning more than three decades, has touched almost every corner of the energy value chain. He once served as Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), later as its Board Chairman, and also held the role of Executive Vice Chairman and General Counsel at ExxonMobil Nigeria.

As Minister, he introduced bold policies like the National Gas Policy and the National Petroleum Policy in 2017,  initiatives that helped reshape Nigeria’s energy framework while pushing forward the long-debated Petroleum Industry Bill.

Beyond the boardroom, he is also an academic standout. A first-class law graduate from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, he left the Nigerian Law School as its best overall student, winning multiple awards, including the Chief T.O. Elias Prize. He went on to Harvard Law School, where he earned a Master of Laws and graduated top of his class. He is also the author of four books on the oil and gas sector, released in 2021.

Internationally, Kachikwu has carried Nigeria’s voice onto bigger stages, serving at different times as President of OPEC, the African Petroleum Producers Organisation, and the Gas Exporting Countries Forum. Along the way, he has picked up numerous honours, including the Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022.

With that mix of experience, participants at the September session can expect more than just stories; they will likely come away with practical strategies for navigating a fast-changing industry.

For the NCDMB itself, this mentorship event is one part of a wider drive. Under the leadership of the Executive Secretary, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, the Board is rolling out programmes such as the Centre for Marine and Offshore Technology Development (CMOTD) and graduate trainee partnerships with PFL Engineering. The goal is to sharpen the skills of indigenous firms, raise efficiency, and give them a fighting chance to compete on both local and international fronts.

Looking ahead to the session, Engr. Ogbe described Dr. Kachikwu’s involvement as timely. “We are honoured to have a visionary like Dr. Kachikwu share his expertise in our mentorship series. His story is one of resilience, innovation and leadership, qualities we believe will motivate emerging companies and drive sustainable growth in the oil and gas value chain,” he said.

Since its inception, the Business Mentorship Lecture Series has hosted some of the biggest names in the industry, from Stanbic IBTC founder Atedo Peterside to former NLNG chief Tony Attah, Mutiu Sunmonu of Shell, Mike Sangster of Total, and Elohor Aiboni, former head of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company. Together, these sessions have reached more than 2,500 companies.

With Dr. Kachikwu taking the spotlight in September, expectations are already high for another session that blends hard-earned lessons with forward-looking insights.

Registration details are available on the Board’s website and social media pages for companies and individuals eager to join.

Meiza Nigeria