Nigeria has formally rejoined the World Energy Council (WEC), marking a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to strengthen energy security, expand access to electricity, accelerate gas development and attract investment to drive industrialisation and sustainable economic growth.

The country’s return to the global energy body was marked by the inauguration of the World Energy Council Nigeria (WEC Nigeria), alongside the constitution of a new National Member Committee and Governing Board that will steer the organisation’s activities in Nigeria.

WEC Nigeria will serve as an independent, non-partisan platform, bringing together government institutions, private sector players, financiers, development partners, academia and civil society to address the country’s most pressing energy challenges through collaboration, policy dialogue and strategic partnerships.

Central to its mandate is the application of the World Energy Council’s globally recognised Energy Trilemma framework, which seeks to balance energy security, equitable access to energy and environmental sustainability in shaping national energy policy and investment decisions.

Chairing the newly inaugurated Governing Board is Abdulrazaq Isa, Co-founder and Chairman of Waltersmith Petroman Oil Limited, while veteran oil and gas executive Bala Wunti has been appointed the inaugural Chief Executive Officer of WEC Nigeria.

Wunti, a former Chief Upstream Investment Officer at NNPC Limited, brings more than three decades of experience across the oil and gas value chain.

Other members of the Governing Board include Professor Wumi Iledare, Dr Mustapha Abdullahi, Aisha Farida Katagum, Dr Ainojie “Alex” Irune, Dr Emmanuel Okon, Dr Victor Ekpenyong and Dr Imamuddeen Talba. The board brings together expertise in policy formulation, regulation, investment, technology, research, operations and enterprise development.

According to WEC Nigeria, the organisation will adapt the Energy Trilemma framework to Nigeria’s unique energy landscape by promoting evidence-based discussions and practical policy solutions capable of addressing the country’s energy security, access and sustainability challenges.

The committee also aims to strengthen collaboration between policymakers, investors, industry leaders and technical experts, while amplifying Nigerian and African perspectives in global energy conversations. It will equally leverage the World Energy Council’s international network to facilitate investment, technology transfer, knowledge sharing and strategic partnerships that support local energy projects and reforms.

Welcoming Nigeria back into the global organisation, World Energy Council Secretary General and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Angela Wilkinson, described the country’s return as significant, noting that Nigeria has an important role to play in shaping global energy dialogue ahead of the World Energy Congress scheduled for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in April 2027.

Nigeria’s renewed membership comes at a time when the Federal Government is pursuing ambitious reforms aimed at expanding energy access, unlocking the country’s vast natural gas resources, strengthening energy security and mobilising private capital to support industrial development and economic diversification.

Speaking at the inauguration, Isa said WEC Nigeria would provide “a platform for stronger national and African leadership within the global energy community,” adding that the organisation would champion solutions rooted in Nigeria’s development priorities while responding to evolving investor expectations.

For his part, Wunti said the committee would work to “connect evidence with leadership, leadership with capital, and capital with action,” ensuring that global insights are translated into practical and bankable solutions capable of accelerating Nigeria’s energy transition.

Through the World Energy Council’s network of more than 3,000 member organisations spanning over 100 countries, WEC Nigeria is expected to deepen access to international best practices, technical expertise and collaborative opportunities that will strengthen policy reforms and support sustainable investments across the nation’s energy sector.

Founded in 1923, the World Energy Council is one of the world’s oldest and most influential energy organisations, providing a global platform for governments, businesses and experts to promote secure, affordable and sustainable energy systems. As Nigeria’s National Member Committee, WEC Nigeria is expected to play a pivotal role in fostering dialogue, building consensus and advancing practical solutions to the country’s energy transition and long-term development aspirations.