By Khalid Idris Doya Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has been honoured with the Best Performing Governor in the Oil and Gas Sector A...
By Khalid Idris Doya
Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has been honoured with the Best Performing Governor in the Oil and Gas Sector Award at the 3rd Edition of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Forum Awards 2026, in recognition of his administration's commitment to the growth and development of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
The award was presented at a ceremony held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, by the leader of the forum, Nafisa Haruna Aliyu, who said Governor Bala Mohammed was selected for his outstanding contributions to the sector, particularly the establishment of the Bauchi State Oil and Gas Academy, Alkaleri, the first state-owned oil and gas training institution in Nigeria.
She also commended the Bauchi State Government for its crucial role in supporting the ongoing Kolmani oil exploration project, noting that the initiative is vital to Nigeria's energy security, economic growth, and job creation.
Speaking after receiving the award, Governor Bala Mohammed described the oil and gas sector as a critical pillar of Nigeria's economy, providing opportunities for dialogue, innovation, policy coordination, and strategic partnerships.
He reaffirmed his administration's commitment to working with relevant stakeholders to strengthen and sustain the sector.
The Governor was represented at the event by the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Hon. Usman Shehu Usman, who said the recognition reflects the ongoing reforms under Governor Bala Mohammed's leadership aimed at strengthening institutions, diversifying the state’s economy, and developing human capital in line with national development objectives.
The Nigerian Oil and Gas Forum Awards 2026, organised by RANA Group Limited in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, brought together key stakeholders from across the industry.
Governor Bala Mohammed commended the forum for recognising individuals and organisations contributing significantly to national development, describing the initiative as timely and deserving of broad support.
He disclosed that his administration has approved the establishment of an Oil and Gas Institute in Bauchi State, adding that students have already commenced skills acquisition training in various segments of the oil and gas value chain.
According to him, the institute remains the first state-owned oil and gas training institute in the country.
The Governor also highlighted major achievements of his administration, including improvements in governance delivery, infrastructure development, healthcare services, implementation of an education blueprint, and youth and women empowerment programmes.
He noted that Bauchi State’s commitment to good governance has begun to yield positive results, with the state attracting development partners and investors, leading to the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) across key economic and human development sectors.
Hon. Usman Shehu Usman described the recognition as a clear testament to the progress being recorded in Bauchi State, particularly as acknowledged by professionals within the oil and gas industry.
He assured that the state government would continue to pursue people-focused policies in line with global best practices for the benefit of Bauchi State and Nigeria at large.
The Commissioner also congratulated the organisers of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Forum on the successful hosting of the 3rd edition of the event, adding that the Bauchi State Government purchased ten copies of the forum’s magazine in support of the initiative.
Governor Bala Mohammed further called for stronger collaboration among governments, industry players, regulators, and host communities to build a resilient and inclusive energy sector, while congratulating fellow award recipients and wishing participants fruitful deliberations.
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