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COVER STORY
D
r Ibilola Amao is a l e a d i n g a d v o c a te o f L o c a l C o n te n t Laws and its outright implementation in the oil and gas sector. She was very involved in the various activities that greeted the actualization of the Nigerian oil and gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) guidelines before it was eventually passed into law on the 22nd of April, 2010. Via her STEM and local content activities, she creates value through community, local supplier and human capital development in resource-rich emerging economies. She sits on the Board of various reputable STEM focused firms. She holds a Ph.D. in Computer-AidedDesign and Draughting from Bradford University, UK; and she is recognized as a Forbes Africa Rising Star 2019. Dr A mao is the Principal Consultant of Lonadek Inc., an 42
engineering, technology and innovations solutions consulting company incorpora ted in 1991. As the Energy Woman of our February issue, here are highlights from her interview with JEROME ONOJA. You have established a brand for yourself in STEM pursuits via several global collaborations. What are these collaborations and the goals before you as a social innovator/entrepreneur? The reason I set up the Vision 2020 programme was because I realized there was a disconnect between the skills required in the hightechnology oil and gas industry and what was being churned out from the underfunded educational system in Nigeria. This shocking experience happed in November 2005, when Lonadek was asked to source for personnel by a multinational company. A few staff at Lonadek and I decided
Majorwaves Energy Report FEBRUARY 2020, Vol 3 No 2
to engage the next generation through career counselling, industry awareness and youth empowerment activities.
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I realized there was a c h a l l e n g e i n g et t i n g talents and knowledgeable Nigerian’s in ST EM. We need to have round pegs in round holes and square pegs in square holes, and organize career talks for young people because it is important to harness the young talents that we have in STEM, Nigeria. Through the initiative (a 15-year project that ends this year), we expose them to the industry and empower them so that they can combine their potential with their talents and passion then deliver on their mandate joyfully for 30/35 years. Since 2006,
