Winner, Dratech Energy Innovation Excellence Award 2021
The ballroom at the Eko Hotels & Suites buzzed with anticipation as industry leaders, energy executives, and innovators gathered for the Dratech International Conference 2021, a summit that celebrated African excellence in technology, business, and sustainable innovation. Cameras flashed and applause filled the air when Joshua Umejuru, a calm but confident figure, was announced as the recipient of the Dratech Energy Innovation Excellence Award 2021.
The recognition, one of the most prestigious in the African energy space, honors professionals whose ingenuity has reshaped operational efficiency, safety, and sustainability in the oil and gas sector. For those who knew Joshua’s story, from a young engineering graduate to one of Nigeria’s most respected drilling and well engineers at TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited, the award felt not only deserved but long overdue.
“Innovation for me is not about technology for its own sake; it’s about making daily operations smarter, safer, and more cost-effective.” _Joshua Umejuru,
Engineering a Career Built on Precision and Purpose
Over a decade ago, a young engineer fresh out of university began a career in Exploration and Production (E&P), guided by an unrelenting curiosity about how Africa’s energy resources could be harnessed more safely and efficiently. That engineer was Joshua Umejuru.
With a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical/Petrochemical Engineering and a Master’s in Petroleum Engineering and Project Development, Joshua possessed a solid academic foundation that would soon meet the rigorous demands of real-world drilling operations. His entry into TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Ltd. marked the beginning of a journey defined by precision, leadership, and a deep sense of professional integrity.
From his earliest days as a Trainee Drilling Engineer, Joshua demonstrated an eye for technical detail and a hands-on approach to problem-solving. His early responsibilities in real-time operations monitoring, drilling hydraulics, and torque and drag analysis offered the ideal platform for developing the kind of on-site decision-making skills that separate good engineers from great ones. His progression to Senior Drilling Engineer was a testament not just to experience but to measurable impact on the company’s operational performance.
The Power of Innovation: Building Tools That Transform Operations
What distinguishes Joshua from many of his peers is his drive to not only understand engineering systems but also to improve them. Among his standout contributions is the Drilling Difficulty Index (DDI) Engineering Toolkit, an in-house software solution that streamlined well design evaluations, improved trajectory planning, and reduced analysis time.
This innovation was not born from a corporate directive but from a personal mission to make well designed decisions more transparent and data-driven. The DDI Toolkit quickly became a reference point within his team, demonstrating how simple but effective digital tools can cut through operational complexity.
Joshua’s innovative thinking also extended to cost-effective drilling program design and technical studies that generated multi-million-dollar savings for his employer and joint venture partners. His work on feasibility assessments, workover optimization, and asset retirement obligations demonstrated both engineering competence and financial acumen, the dual language every modern energy professional must speak.
“When innovation becomes part of the team’s daily workflow, cost efficiency becomes a culture, not just a target.”
Leadership in Crisis: Navigating the COVID-19 Pandemic
Perhaps Joshua’s most defining leadership moment came during one of the industry’s most difficult periods, the COVID-19 pandemic. As global operations struggled to balance continuity with safety, he was appointed Lead POB (Personnel On Board) Coordinator for TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Ltd., responsible for managing the movement of between 300 and 700 personnel daily across nine quarantine centres in multiple states.
It was a logistical challenge of extraordinary scale, requiring not just engineering coordination but empathy, foresight, and discipline. Joshua’s leadership ensured that every offshore and onshore deployment adhered to strict health protocols without disrupting production schedules. Under his supervision, the company achieved zero infection transmission from movement operations, maintained compliance with national health mandates, and saved significant costs through optimized logistics and quarantine management.
Colleagues recall those months as the most testing of their careers. “He managed uncertainty with remarkable calm,” said a fellow engineer who worked on the offshore deployment team. “Joshua didn’t just follow protocol; he redefined how we approached safety logistics under pressure.”
His role during the pandemic reinforced a key aspect of his professional character, the ability to merge technical systems thinking with human-centred leadership.
Why the Jury Chose Him
In the words of the chairman Dratech International Awards Jury, Joshua Umejuru was selected for his “technical ingenuity, leadership under crisis, and measurable contributions to operational excellence within Africa’s energy sector.”
The Dratech Energy Innovation Excellence Award is not given for routine success; it honors professionals who turn complexity into clarity and deliver tangible results across performance, safety, and innovation. The jury particularly cited Joshua’s DDI Toolkit, his cost-saving drilling proposals, and his leadership during the pandemic as “an exemplary blend of innovation, resilience, and engineering foresight.”
Beyond personal achievement, his recognition underscores a broader truth about Africa’s energy ecosystem: that sustainable progress is being driven by engineers and managers who innovate from within, not waiting for imported solutions, but creating home-grown tools that address local challenges.
“Joshua represents a new generation of African engineers, practical, data-driven, and unafraid to innovate within the system.”
Advancing Africa’s Energy Future Through Local Ingenuity
Nigeria’s energy industry has often been criticised for its dependence on imported technology and expertise. But professionals like Joshua Umejuru are changing that narrative. His approach, to develop indigenous, context-sensitive engineering tools, aligns perfectly with the Dratech International vision of promoting innovation that strengthens Africa’s self-reliance in energy operations.
Through his technical studies and field initiatives, Joshua has demonstrated how innovation can emerge from daily operational realities. Whether designing well programs that minimize drilling complications or generating analytical templates for cost estimation and risk assessment, his work contributes to a leaner, smarter energy ecosystem.
The significance of his award goes beyond TotalEnergies. It represents hope for the local content movement, reinforcing the idea that African engineers are not just implementers of technology but creators of it.
The Broader Meaning of the Dratech Award
Now in its third edition, the Dratech International Conference and Awards have become one of Africa’s foremost platforms for spotlighting exceptional professionals in technology, energy, and sustainable innovation.
The Energy Innovation Excellence Award, in particular, reflects the industry’s commitment to efficiency and adaptability in an era defined by volatility, from pandemic disruptions to fluctuating global oil prices. Joshua’s recognition, therefore, carries both symbolic and practical significance. It signals that Africa’s energy sector is evolving from reliance on imported expertise to fostering indigenous innovation ecosystems.
“Dratech’s mission has always been to recognize and reward those who challenge convention,” said a member of the award selection panel. “Joshua’s work speaks directly to that vision, not just in what he has built, but in the mindset he represents.”
“Every well drilled, every system optimized, that’s where Africa’s energy independence begins.”
A Voice for the Next Generation
Beyond the accolades, Joshua remains deeply committed to mentoring young engineers. His quiet insistence on teamwork and professional development has made him a respected figure among early-career engineers within TotalEnergies. He believes that the sustainability of Africa’s energy industry depends not only on technology but on human capacity.
“Every young engineer must see innovation as a daily responsibility,” he once said during an internal technical workshop. “It’s not something reserved for R&D departments; it begins with how you approach your next project.”
This ethos of everyday innovation reflects the spirit of the Dratech Energy Innovation Excellence Award itself, rewarding those who do not wait for global recognition before making local impact.
Looking Ahead: From Recognition to Responsibility
As Joshua walked off the stage with his award plaque, the applause lingered. It was not just applause for an individual but for what he represented, resilience, ingenuity, and the discipline to make Africa’s energy story one of innovation and excellence.
The coming years will likely see Joshua expanding his footprint beyond Nigeria, collaborating with other African engineers to scale the kind of technical tools that made his name. But for now, his achievement stands as a reminder that progress in Africa’s oil and gas sector will depend on professionals who combine innovation with integrity.
A Call to Innovators: Dratech International Awards 2022
As the curtains fall on the 2021 Dratech International Conference, the organisers have announced that nominations are open for the 2022 Dratech International Awards. The forthcoming edition will spotlight new categories in Energy Transition, Artificial Intelligence, and Infrastructure Innovation, alongside its traditional excellence awards.
Young engineers, researchers, and innovators across Africa are invited to submit nominations or self-applications for recognition in various sectors. Details on eligibility and submission deadlines are available on the official Dratech International website.
For aspiring professionals inspired by Joshua Umejuru’s story, the message is clear: innovation begins where passion meets purpose, and Africa’s next breakthrough might just be waiting in your idea, your data, or your next project.
