Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited has called for an urgent overhaul of operational efficiency and accelerated upskilling of Nigeria’s youthful energy workforce to unlock the country’s competitive advantage in the global energy market.

Speaking at the 43rd annual international conference of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) in Lagos, Renaissance Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Tony Attah, said Nigeria stands at a critical juncture as global energy dynamics shift, capital allocation becomes more selective, and technology disrupts traditional value chains.

“Despite these complexities, Nigeria retains enormous strategic advantages – world-class reserves, a young and dynamic population, entrepreneurial agility, and resilience to innovate our way forward,” Attah said in a keynote address delivered by the company’s General Manager for Greenfields Capital Projects, Abimbola Tijani.

Attah stressed that improving operational efficiency and developing human capital are not just corporate objectives but national priorities. “We must operate smarter, faster, and more efficiently, while building and empowering the next generation of energy talent,” he said.

He defined operational excellence as streamlining workflows, empowering teams with data-driven autonomy, and creating feedback loops for continuous improvement. “Operational efficiency is not about doing more; it is about doing better, consistently, sustainably, and smartly. It is no longer optional. It is the price of relevance,” he added.

Attah noted that while hydrocarbons will remain vital for revenue and energy security in the near term, competitiveness will hinge on modernising operations and workforce capabilities. “We are not just competing with national oil companies; we are competing with agile, technology-enabled energy firms worldwide,” he said.

The Renaissance CEO urged policy reforms and investment alignment to create an enabling environment for efficiency and talent development. “Clear, consistent, and forward-looking regulatory frameworks, de-risked funding models, and partnerships between government, industry, and academia are essential,” he said.

On workforce transformation, Attah highlighted targeted training, diversity and inclusion, retention strategies, and safety-first cultures as critical. “Potential needs development and platforms to excel, training, mentorship, and opportunity,” he said.