YEEC President Calls on Nigerian Engineers to Harness Natural Gas Potential

By Abubakar Yunusa

Engr. Justice Nji Christian Ayafor, African Regional President of the Young Engineers Energy Consortium (YEEC) and CEO of Globaltech Energy Services Limited, has urged members of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), particularly the Abuja branch, to equip themselves with the skills needed to tap into Nigeria’s natural gas potential.
Speaking on the sidelines of the NSE Abuja branch’s November 2024 General Meeting on Thursday, Ayafor emphasized that engineers must be properly trained to address the energy sector’s demands.
“A lot of engineers graduating from the academic sector are not prepared for the industry,” he said.
“They lack the necessary skills for the job market, and organizations like mine offer training programs that help build the capacities needed to perform effectively.”
In his presentation on the role of engineers in harnessing Nigeria’s gas potential, Ayafor stressed the importance of collaboration and innovation within the engineering community.
“Engineers must come together to champion projects beyond just gas,” he added.
“The future is shifting toward renewable energy as we aim for net-zero carbon emissions, and engineers must be proactive in this transition.”
Ayafor urged the engineers to face the realities of the global energy transition, noting that the world is moving away from fossil fuels to cleaner energy sources. “Gas is the transitional energy for Nigeria,” he said, urging engineers to be part of the gas value chain.
“To transform Nigeria, we must first transform ourselves. Empowered engineers can empower the nation.”
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Abuja branch, Engr. Ahmed A.S.Y. Kutigi, expressed pride in the branch’s accomplishments and urged continued support from members to ensure its ongoing success.
“We have achieved great things with the efforts of everyone, and with continued support, we can make the Abuja branch even more active,” Kutigi said.
Ayafor said by stressing that the key to transforming Nigeria lies in collaboration and self-empowerment within the engineering community.
“We can achieve much more, just like Dangote, if we work together and secure funding for large-scale projects,” he said. “This is how we will transform Nigeria.”