Oil tycoon and highflying businessman, Jubril Adewale Tinubu, has started the year 2025 on a very good and brighter note as he has just led Oando to secure a major oil block in Angola.

The  integrated energy solutions provider this week secured a major win by emerging as the operator of Angola’s Kwanza Basin Block KON 13.

This milestone marks a significant step in the company’s efforts to increase its oil production capacity to 100,000 barrels per day as part of its broader global expansion plans.

Over the weekend, the National Agency for Petroleum, Gas and Biofuels (ANPG), Angola’s upstream petroleum regulator, announced the results of the Limited Public Tender for Block KON 13, located in the Kwanza Onshore Basin.

The tender process began on May 24, 2024, with bidding held on September 3, 2024.

According to ANPG, Oando Energy has been designated the operator with a 45 percent stake in the block.

An additional 10 percent interest remains available for non-operating companies, to be awarded through a restricted competition involving unsuccessful bidders from the operator selection round.

The Angolan regulator stated that the bid process adhered to the requirements outlined in Presidential Decree No. 86/18, which governs criteria for financial and technical capacity for operators and financial capability for non-operators.

Oando’s success in Angola reflects its decade-long ambition to establish a presence in the country’s hydrocarbon sector.

In 2014, Tinubu revealed that Oando had signed joint ventures in Angola and Mozambique. However, financial challenges over the years cast doubt on the company’s ability to sustain its pan-African vision.

That narrative shifted with Oando’s recent acquisition of 100 percent ownership of Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited (NAOC Ltd) from Eni S.p.A., an Italian oil giant.

This acquisition increased Oando’s stake in four key oil mining leases —OMLs 60, 61, 62, and 63—from 20 percent to 40 percent.

Oando has outlined plans to enhance output through new drilling projects and improved security measures.

The acquisition has also bolstered investor confidence, with a notable rise in the company’s share price and market value.

Definitely, it is not too early to conclude that the world the world class serial investor  has achieved prompt success and  positive developments, while setting a favourable tone for the rest of the year.

Nigerian born Serumu Igberadja has  made his history as he assumed office as   President of the International Vocational Education and Training Association (IVETA) USA.  Igberadja who was  also the former Vice President of IVETA  East and West Africa, and the CEO of Think TVET Global Consult and Edu Tour Global Limited assumed office January 1^st 2025.

With his assumption as the president  of IVETA he becomes the first from West Africa to assumed such position.

The Delta State born is also the Director of International Relations and Business Development at Whitecloud TVET Solutions Ltd.

Igberadja who has  Bachelor of Science  (Ed) and M.Sc in Technical Education and Industrial Technology respectively is a youth leader and a community development advocate who  has special interest in good governance, non-violence, community development, quality education, vocational skills development, sustainable livelihood, and economic development.

Igberadja  is also an Alumnus of the Prestigious International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP) of the United States Department of State Bureau for Educational and Cultural Affairs.

He has an interest in contributing his expertise to the growth and development of Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) for sustainable development across the globe. He is a member of the UNESCO UNEVOC Forum and Skillman International Forum (SIF) Italy. As well, an Assistant Journalist in the Lucubrate Magazine and the Coordinator for the Lucubrate Project Nigeria.

Serumu Igberadja has facilitated several workshops, conferences, and partnerships to promote and advance TVET for sustainable livelihood and development. Notable partnerships with  Lucubrate NKB Norway and University of Nigeria Nsukka(UNN), IVETA and National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), IVETA and UNN UNEVOC Centre, IVETA and Ese Odo Local Government Council, and Linkages with TVET Equipment Manufacturers in Europe, Asia, and America such as Delorenzo Italy, Labtech International, Tesca India, Lucas-Nülle Germany, Lexsolar Germany, and Edibon Spain.

He has featured as Keynote Speaker in several TVET and Youth Development Workshops and Conferences, his recent outing was his participation as Moderator for   ‘Socio Professional Integration in TVET’ at the 2022 WorldSkills Africa Conference held at Swakopmund Namibia organised by the Namibia Training Authority, Keynote Speaker at the 2022 IVETA Las Vegas Conference, the US Africa Institute side event of the 2023 US Africa Leaders’ Summit Washington DC, Official Observer at Worldskills Lyon.

He is expected to rule over  the affairs of IVETA for the next 12 months.

During his inaugural speech he promised to enhance global TVET systems by promoting collaboration, sharing best practices, and addressing diverse needs to create impactful, sustainable outcomes. While he also highlighted his strategic priorities for IVETA in the next one year, such as Global Partnerships: Strengthening collaborations with governments, institutions, industries, and global organizations like UNESCO, ILO, and World Bank to drive TVET advancements worldwide, Quality Improvement: Enhancing TVET programs to prepare graduates for the global workforce, focusing on teacher training, student outcomes, and institutional excellence.

3. Advocacy and Awareness: Promoting positive perceptions of TVET through targeted campaigns, workshops, and community engagement across all regions.
4. Resource Mobilization: Securing grants and funding to support initiatives that benefit diverse member regions.
5. Governance and Representation: Ensuring balanced regional representation, strong governance, and efficient resource management to align with IVETA’s mission.

IVETA is a network of vocational educators. Its  network includes vocational skills training organisations, business and industrial firms, and individuals and groups interested or involved in vocational education and training worldwide.

It is dedicated to the advancement and improvement of high-quality vocational education and training throughout the world.