The Deputy Managing Director of Nigeria LNG (NLNG), Mr. Olakunle Osobu, has called for a radical shift in the way technology is developed and deployed in the Nigerian oil and gas sector and advocated the use of indigenous Nigerian languages in the creation and application of critical technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Speaking at a Panel Session on “Technology as a Local Content Imperative: From Adoption to Domestication”, at the 2025 NOG Energy Week on Tuesday in Abuja, Osobu said it was time for Nigeria to move beyond simply adopting foreign technologies to actively domesticating them using local languages, warning that over-reliance on foreign linguistic frameworks could limit the country’s technological growth.
“The oil and gas sector, and especially Artificial Intelligence, are too critical to be developed solely in foreign languages when Nigeria’s own linguistic resources remain underutilized,” Osobu said.
He argued that current approaches, which often tie technological understanding and innovation to advanced academic degrees and English fluency, exclude a large portion of the population and hinder broader development.
“Until we see localized technology as a national asset, we will continue to struggle,” he said. “We need to bring it down to a level where everyone can understand the terminologies through Nigerian indigenous languages.”
Osobu emphasized that democratizing technology, particularly through language would empower more Nigerians to engage with digital systems, write code, and interact with AI applications without being dependent on foreign concepts or elite academic credentials.
“No country has ever developed by learning technology in a foreign language,” he said. “If we’re not careful, we will miss out on the entire spectrum of Artificial Intelligence.”
He urged the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) to work closely with universities and research institutions to enable developers to begin writing algorithms and even cryptographic codes in local languages.
He suggested that starting with major local languages like Hausa or Yoruba, and even regional African languages like Swahili, could be a game changer.
“Using English keywords to write technology is limiting. AI will respond to local issues only if we domesticate its algorithms in our indigenous languages,” he said.
According to Osobu, this linguistic relevance is not just about national pride, it is central to developing AI systems that are context-aware and responsive to the unique challenges and realities of Nigerian communities.
He further challenged the historical notion that English proficiency equals intelligence or technical capacity.
“Gone are the days when English was the dominant language and a measure of brilliance. That should no longer determine one’s ability to write code or use technology,” he said.
Osobu also highlighted NLNG’s commitment to local content, noting that over 90 per cent of the company’s contractors are Nigerians and that many of them are now working on the landmark Train 7 project, which is nearing completion.
“In building the six trains, we had Nigerians working on them. So, when Train 7 came up, we already had enough local expertise,” he said, adding that Nigerian vendors from earlier projects were now leading efforts on Train 7.
He underscored that not only is the workforce Nigerian, but even the project leadership and directors are locally sourced, reflecting the maturity and depth of indigenous capacity in the oil and gas sector.
“Technology is not a difficult thing to know. All you need is the ability to read and write,” Osobu said
“It’s time we stopped seeing technology as something foreign. Let’s make it Nigerian in language, in leadership, and in logic,” he added.
GIK/APA