Nigeria rejoins World Energy Council, unveils governing board

Nigeria has rejoined the World Energy Council (WEC) with a newly constituted national member committee and governing board, marking a renewed chapter in the country’s longstanding relationship with the global energy body.

The World Energy Council is the world’s oldest independent and impartial community of energy leaders and practitioners. Its global network promotes informed, collaborative and practical action across the entire energy system.

According to a statement, WEC Nigeria will provide an independent, impartial and technology-neutral platform that brings together government, industry, finance, academia and civil society to advance practical solutions to Nigeria’s energy trilemma of energy security, energy equity and environmental sustainability.

The governing board will be chaired by the co-founder and Chairman of Waltersmith Petroman Oil Limited, Mr Abdulrazaq Isa, a leading advocate of indigenous energy development.

A seasoned energy executive with more than three decades of experience across the oil and gas value chain and former Chief Upstream Investment Officer of NNPC Limited (NNPC Ltd.), Mr Bala Wunti, will serve as the inaugural Chief Executive Officer.

Other members of the board are Professor Wumi Iledare, Dr Mustapha Abdullahi, Mrs Aisha Farida Katagum, Dr Ainojie “Alex” Irune, Dr Emmanuel Okon, Dr Victor Ekpenyong and Dr Imamuddeen Talba.

Welcoming the Nigerian member committee, the Secretary-General and Chief Executive Officer of the World Energy Council, Dr Angela Wilkinson, said: “Nigeria has a significant leadership role and the Member Committee will help bring that expertise and voice onto the world stage at the Riyadh World Energy Congress in April 2027 and beyond.”

Responding, the Chairman of WEC Nigeria, Abdulrazaq Isa, said: “Nigeria’s return marks more than renewed participation; it creates a platform for stronger national and African leadership within the global energy community. We will work across sectors to advance solutions grounded in our realities, responsive to our development priorities and capable of attracting sustainable investment.”

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Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of WEC Nigeria, Bala Wunti, said Nigeria must build an energy system that is secure, affordable, sustainable and capable of powering shared prosperity.

He said WEC Nigeria would connect evidence with leadership, leadership with capital, and capital with action, while bringing Nigerian and African realities into global energy discourse and translating global insights into practical, investable solutions at home.

Nigeria’s return comes at a pivotal time as the country seeks to expand energy access, strengthen energy security, accelerate gas development and mobilise the capital required for industrialisation and sustainable economic growth.

WEC Nigeria will convene leaders from across the energy ecosystem, apply the World Energy Council’s globally recognised Energy Trilemma framework to Nigeria’s unique context and promote evidence-based dialogue, practical collaboration and informed policymaking.

It will also ensure that Nigerian and broader African perspectives contribute meaningfully to global energy conversations.

According to the statement, the board brings together extensive experience in energy policy, operations, investment, regulation, technology, research and enterprise development, reflecting the breadth of Nigeria’s energy ecosystem.

Through the Council’s network of more than 3,000 member organisations across over 100 countries, WEC Nigeria will amplify Nigeria’s voice in global energy discussions and connect Nigerian institutions and businesses with international knowledge, technology, partnerships and investment opportunities.