During the African Petroleum Regulators Forum (AFRIPERF) Roundtable Engagement at the Nigeria Oil and Gas Conference, Gbenga Komolafe, the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), urged African leaders to prioritize the development of hydrocarbon resources for the continent's advancement in the changing global energy landscape. Africa, with significant oil and natural gas reserves, has the potential to drive prosperity and energy security. Komolafe emphasized the need for collaboration and sustainability in the petroleum industry, citing the establishment of AFRIPERF to enhance innovation and cooperation. In addition to hydrocarbons, Africa also possesses resources for green and blue hydrogen, solar, wind, biomass, and critical minerals, offering opportunities for clean energy technologies. Komolafe stressed the importance of leveraging Africa's abundant resources to propel economic growth and address the energy needs of the growing population. He called for a unified effort to navigate the evolving energy sector and capitalize on recent hydrocarbon discoveries across the continent.