Africa Oil Week (AOW) is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the African Regulatory Forum (AFRIPERF), chaired by Engineer Gbenga Komolafe, Commission Chief Executive of NUPRC. This strategic collaboration marks a new dawn for African upstream development, where regulatory unity and cross-border cooperation will accelerate investment, capital deployment, exploration, and production for the prosperity of the continent.
AOW and AFRIPERF share a bold vision, one rooted in unity, collaboration, and the belief that when African stakeholders align, they can forge the future of the African oil and gas sector. This partnership signifies more than just dialogue; it is about delivering actionable change, results-driven engagement, and definitive progress that will reshape Africa’s natural resource development trajectory.
A Unified Regulatory Approach for Africa’s Future
At the core of this partnership is a commitment to:
- Harmonizing petroleum regulations and standards across African nations to create a more competitive and investor-friendly environment.
- Enhancing regulatory capacity through training and knowledge-sharing, ensuring that Africa’s regulatory frameworks evolve to meet the needs of a dynamic energy landscape.
- Promoting direct engagement between regulators, industry stakeholders, and international organizations to foster collaboration and align on global best practices.
The forum will address regional challenges, facilitate knowledge transfer, and encourage the adoption of capacity and growth, ensuring that Africa develops robust Africa-centric roadmaps for regional energy development. With this partnership, AFRIPERF will emerge as a platform that drives tangible transformation. We will deliver more than just conversation, we will develop a result-driven dialogue that will effect change and shape the future of the continent’s prosperity through resource development.
A Commitment to Regional Development
Engineer Gbenga Komolafe, Commission Chief Executive of NUPRC, emphasized the importance of this partnership, stating, “The commitment of the African Regulatory Forum (AFRIPERF) aligns perfectly with the passion and vision of Africa Oil Week. This is a united voice for growth and change, a true game-changer for the region. We look forward to hosting regulators from across the continent in what is set to be a transformative partnership for Africa.”
Outlining AFRIPERF’s priorities, Engr. Komolafe highlighted the need to build regulatory capacity sustainably, harmonize frameworks to ensure consistency, and enable member countries to effectively share expertise and best practices.
Paul Sinclair, CEO of Africa Oil Week, added: “This relationship provides a new dawn for what we believe will move the needle for investment attraction for the region. As an African-driven initiative, we can align on unified policies and roadmaps that will strengthen the competitive nature of our regional environment and position at the heart of exploration strategies for operators across the globe. Together, Africa can offer scale, opportunity, and prospectivity, and now, with AFRIPERF, a single voice and direction to enhance cross-border regulatory alignment.”
AOW 2025 will showcase some of the most exciting licensing rounds, direct award presentations, and groundbreaking upstream insights, solidifying its role as the premier platform for African upstream investment and regulatory collaboration.
This partnership represents a major step forward in Africa’s journey toward a thriving, competitive, and harmonized energy sector, one that attracts global investment while ensuring long-term, sustainable growth for the continent.
About Africa Oil Week:
Africa Oil Week (AOW) is the premier platform for upstream investment and deal-making in Africa, bringing together governments, operators, investors, and service providers to shape the future of the continent’s energy sector.
About AFRIPERF:
The African Regulatory Forum (AFRIPERF) is a collaborative platform for African regulators focused on harmonizing regulatory frameworks, building capacity, and fostering investment in the African upstream oil and gas sector.
About NUPRC:
The Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) is responsible for regulating and promoting the upstream sector in Nigeria, ensuring sustainable development and efficient resource management.