Accra, Ghana, September 15, 2025: The 2025 AOW:Energy Summit is set to deliver an unmissable moment for Africa’s upstream oil and gas sector. As the premier energy investment platform on the continent, AOW:Energy is proud to announce an exclusive partnership and session where Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), will host operators to discuss the vast opportunities in Nigeria’s 2025 Licensing Round.

In a landmark collaboration, NUPRC and AOW:Energy have entered into a strategic partnership built on shared values of regional upstream development led by presentations on the 2025 licence round and the opportunity for operators to directly meet Nuprc to explore opportunity, geology and partnership. This partnership underscores the mutual commitment to the partnership between Nigeria and AOW:Energy and a shared aspiration for regional growth and unlocking Africa’s full energy potential.

During a recent meeting between Paul Sinclair, CEO of AOW:Energy, and Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, it was agreed that AOW:Energy will play a pivotal moment in the promotion of the Nigerian Licensing Round. At AOW:Energy 2025, Engr. Komolafe welcomes operators to gain deeper insights into available blocks, Nigeria’s rich geology, and the business frameworks designed to foster strong partnerships.

Speaking on the collaboration, Engr. Komolafe emphasized the unique value of AOW:Energy, stating: “AOW:Energy is a platform built on substance and African prosperity. We want to meet as many operators as possible in Accra on September 15 to advance our national upstream development through the licensing round. We have exciting announcements and opportunities to announce and we look forward to doing this at AOW:Energy.”

This momentous gathering will further cement AOW:Energy as the foremost regional platform for upstream negotiations, with Nigeria, a historic front-runner in African energy setting the stage for transformative discussions. With its three-decade pedigree, AOW:Energy provides the ideal setting for fostering connections between governments, operators, and investors.

However, it’s not just NUPRC and Nigeria leveraging AOW:Energy 2025 as a strategic hub. The African Petroleum Regulators Forum (AFRIPERF) will also convene all regional regulators at AOW:Energy to formalize their commitment to the AFRIPERF Regulators Charter. This landmark gathering will witness the election of the first-ever Chairperson and secretariate of the newly mandated AFRIPERF Regulators Forum, marking a major milestone in Africa’s regulatory cooperation.

With Petroleum Commission Ghana and NUPRC co-hosting this crucial AFRIPERF event at AOW:Energy, Paul Sinclair underscored the significance of this moment, stating: “This is huge. Standardization, shared knowledge, and a united continent at AOW:Energy demonstrate the power of what we can achieve together, share together, and grow together.”

Engr. Komolafe echoed this sentiment, adding: “AFRIPERF will chart a new, unified vision for our continent’s upstream sector. Together with AOW:Energy and Mr. Sinclair, we see a bright future for both AFRIPERF and our continent. We believe this is a new dawn—a united front to secure the best outcomes for Africa’s energy sector.”

With AOW:Energy 2025 set to be the most important upstream event of the year, operators, regulators, and investors are urged to mark their calendars. Join us in Accra, Ghana, from September 15-18, 2025, to witness history in the making.

As AFRIPERF embarks on this new chapter, Engr. Komolafe, the current Chairman and Founder of AFRIPERF, will step down after the election of the new Chair at AOW:Energy 2025 in Accra. His leadership has been instrumental in laying the foundation for AFRIPERF’s success, and his vision will continue to inspire the forum’s future direction.

For more information and registration details, visit www.aowenergy.com