Dr. Emeka Okwuosa, Chairman and Group CEO of Oilserv Group, has underscored the importance of regional cooperation and reliable data in unlocking the vast natural resource wealth across Africa.
He made this known during a Local Content Plenary Session jointly organized by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and the Ghana Petroleum Commission at the recently concluded African Oil Week (AOW) in Accra, Ghana.
The plenary had as its focus: “Cross-border Projects and Knowledge Exchange.”
Okwuosa, in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, highlighted the need for a unified approach among African countries. He called for more flexible visa policies to encourage the movement of skilled professionals, knowledge sharing, and faster project execution across the continent.
Represented by Mr. Chuka Eze, Managing Director of Frazimex Engineering Ltd. (an Oilserv subsidiary), Okwuosa said Africa’s collective progress depended on shared infrastructure, expertise, and commitment to common goals.
He stressed that regional integration was critical for resource development, urging countries to build on one another’s experience rather than duplicating efforts.
“Given the operational complexities of the upstream sector, there is a need for African countries to learn from those who have already mastered the process, leveraging their knowledge to extract resources efficiently and sustainably.
“I am calling for unity and innovation, envisioning an Africa that harnesses its own resources, expertise and partnerships to power a brighter, self-defined energy future,” he said.
He also underlined the value of accessible and credible data, saying investors and governments required accurate information to make bold, evidence-based decisions.
According to him, initiatives like the Nigerian Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair (NOGOF) and the Service Providers Qualification System, introduced by NCDMB, were models for bridging knowledge gaps and boosting local participation.
Okwuosa added that Oilserv’s evolution demonstrated how deliberate investment in human capital and persistence could translate into continental impact.
From modest beginnings with small-scale contracts such as pool refurbishments, Oilserv has grown into a trusted Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) company with operations spanning Nigeria, Benin, Ghana, Togo, and Uganda.
Each milestone, he noted, contributes to energy security, job creation, technical training, and supply-chain growth, directly aligning with NCDMB’s mandate to transform local content into tangible capacity and economic opportunity.
He explained that Frazimex complemented Oilserv’s work by handling engineering design and project definition, enabling large projects to move from concept to bankable ventures.
Two major projects highlighted were the Obiafu–Obrikom–Oben (OB3) Gas Infrastructure, for which Frazimex executed the engineering design, and the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) Pipeline, handled by Oilserv under extremely challenging conditions.
“These initiatives confirm Africa’s technical capacity to deliver complex energy infrastructure,” he said.
He concluded by emphasizing the urgency of adopting policies that encourage business growth, simplify cross-border mobility, and expand collaborative frameworks that can fast-track skills transfer and technology adoption across Africa.