Prestige as Engr. Basil Oyakhire Inducted as Fellow of the Institution

 By Genesis ogiri 

ABUJA - In an atmosphere of reverence, celebration, and professional distinction, Engr. Basil Oyakhire emerged among the distinguished figures honoured with the Fellowship Award of the Nigerian Institution of Petroleum and Gas Engineers (NIPetGE) at the Institution’s 2025 Annual Conference, held at the prestigious Abuja Continental Hotel, Federal Capital Territory.

The event, attended by an elite audience of industry captains, policy influencers, scholars, and technical professionals, reflected the Institution’s time-honoured tradition of recognizing exceptional individuals whose professional exploits have shaped the engineering landscape and advanced the frontier of petroleum technology in Nigeria and beyond.

The grand ceremony radiated with the aura of excellence as newly inducted fellows took the professional oath of integrity and leadership, administered by Professor Michael Onyekonwu, a renowned figure in petroleum engineering academia. With solemn grace and commitment, Engr. Oyakhire pledged to uphold the ethical leadership standards, discipline, and values that define the Institution, promising to continue serving the industry with distinction and moral fortitude.

A Professional Legacy Rooted in Depth and Dedication

With over two decades of comprehensive experience spanning Operating E&P, E&P Consulting, and Non-Operating Ventures, Engr. Oyakhire’s career journey tells a story of consistent excellence and transformational impact. His technical expertise and leadership philosophy have been instrumental in advancing the science of petroleum engineering and optimizing value creation across multiple operational environments.

An alumnus of the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, where he obtained his Diploma in Petroleum Engineering, Engr. Oyakhire advanced his academic pursuit with a Bachelor’s degree in Petroleum Engineering from the Federal University of Technology, Owerri. His thirst for knowledge and global exposure further earned him an MBA from Universidad Don Bosco, Guwahati, India, an MSc in Engineering Management from Brunel University, London, United Kingdom, and a Master’s degree in Petroleum Engineering from the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Nigeria. Presently, he is pursuing a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) in Strategic Management at the Swiss Business Management University, Switzerland — a pursuit that underscores his belief in continuous learning and intellectual growth.

Beyond the accolades, Engr. Oyakhire is a recognized authority in Reservoir Engineering and Subsurface Studies, with a career dedicated to bridging theory, research, and operational application. His thought leadership has been showcased through numerous technical papers published on OnePetro, the world’s leading digital platform for petroleum knowledge exchange.

Among his outstanding works, his recent publication — “Development of New Correlations for Predicting Oil Reservoir Recovery Factors Specific to Different Depobelts in the Niger Delta” (SPE 221693-MS) — has drawn significant attention within the professional community. The paper presents an innovative correlation model that serves as a benchmarking framework for field development planning and rapid investment decision-making, a contribution that advances both academic and industrial practice within the upstream petroleum sector.

As the Lead, Land Area Asset Petroleum Engineering Team at Oando Energy Resources Nigeria Limited, Engr. Oyakhire has continued to exemplify visionary leadership, technical acumen, and result-oriented management. His professional insight played a vital role in the acquisition and seamless integration of Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) assets — a strategic expansion that fortified Oando’s operational base and underscored indigenous competence in asset management.

Throughout his career, he has demonstrated remarkable expertise in uncertainty-based field development, reservoir surveillance and management, reserves estimation, and portfolio optimization, contributing to sustainable growth and technical innovation within Nigeria’s energy landscape.

A recipient of numerous professional laurels, Engr. Oyakhire was honoured with the 2023 Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Nigeria Council Award and the 2024 SPE Africa Regional Award for Reservoir Description and Dynamics, two distinctions that affirm his continental recognition as a thought leader and technical innovator.

As the fellowship oath was ceremonially administered by Professor Michael Onyekonwu, Engr. Oyakhire pledged to uphold the ethical leadership standards and professional ideals of the institution, promising to remain a beacon of integrity, innovation, and mentorship within the oil and gas industry.

The moment of oath-taking, steeped in reverence and professional pride, encapsulated the spirit of the ceremony — one that celebrates excellence, integrity, and commitment to national development through engineering.

The honour bestowed upon Engr. Oyakhire not only reaffirms his individual distinction but also reflects NIPetGE’s unwavering dedication to advancing professionalism, indigenous competence, and global best practices across Nigeria’s petroleum and gas landscape.

His emotional reflection captured the very essence of the fellowship — a lifelong commitment to excellence, mentorship, and national development through engineering practice.

The conferment of the Fellowship Honour on Engr. Oyakhire stands as a testament to his professional distinction and as a reflection of NIPetGE’s mission to celebrate merit, inspire innovation, and strengthen institutional integrity within Nigeria’s oil and gas profession.

As the conference drew to a close, it became clear that the honour was more than a personal milestone — it was a reaffirmation of the ideals that continue to define the Nigerian Institution of Petroleum and Gas Engineers as the custodian of excellence, ethics, and professional leadership in the energy domain.