The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) today, reinforced its commitment to developing and empowering Emirati youths during the ADNOC Youth Forum which was held virtually with over 3000 youths in attendance from across the ADNOC Group. ADNOC is prioritizing youth development as it nurtures the next generation of Emirati talent that will build on its legacy of success and drive its performance to new heights.
Aimed at inspiring youth-centric dialogue, the forum provided a platform for the youth to engage on topics such as climate and emissions, the role of oil and gas in the energy transition, new technologies and diversity as a competitive advantage.
Speaking during an interactive session at the forum, His Excellency Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and ADNOC Group CEO, highlighted the important role the youth will play in ADNOC’s efforts to deliver on its 2030 strategy and enable the post-Covid economic growth. He noted that the youth have made a major contribution to ADNOC’s strong performance this year.
“The youth at ADNOC make up the largest percentage of our workforce so without a doubt, the youth are key enablers of our 2030 strategy. We are delighted that many of our youth across our sites and offices made a vital contribution to ensuring our strong performance this year despite the Covid-19 pandemic and very tough market conditions.
“Going forward, the youth will continue to play an even more crucial role as we step up our efforts to help enable the post-Covid recovery by delivering a stable and reliable supply of energy to the world and driving in-country value to the UAE,” H.E. Dr. Al Jaber said.
Explaining the significance of the event, H.E. Dr. Al Jaber said it is a valuable platform for the youth to gain insights into ADNOC’s strategy and learn how they can contribute to its success, as well as the UAE’s growth and prosperity. He noted the forum provides an opportunity for leaders to learn how to better support and equip the youth with the skills and tools needed to build successful careers.
“The Youth Forum plays an important role in shaping our approach to the development of the youth. At ADNOC, we place great emphasis on developing the capabilities of our youth in line with the Leadership’s vision. ADNOC is investing heavily in nurturing Emirati youths and providing practical opportunities across our value chain to help unlock their full potential as we deliver our 2030 strategy.”
H.E. Dr. Al Jaber called on the youth to work more collaboratively, go beyond business as usual, and strengthen their contribution to ADNOC and the UAE’s growth and development.
Speaking during the forum, H.E. Omar Al Olama, Minister of State for Digital Economy and Artificial Intelligence, said: “The UAE’s ambition to become a world leader in the responsible adoption of artificial intelligence goes hand in hand with its focus on developing Emirati talent. We strive to create an environment where the youth of our nation will not only succeed but thrive. The ADNOC’s Youth Forum is a stand out example of the opportunity Emirati youth are being given to shine. Here they can discuss, debate and find real-world solutions for a sustainable future, not only for their organizations but also the UAE as a whole. I am delighted I was invited to take part in this forum and share with the leaders of tomorrow my thoughts on the adoption of AI, and the future of our economy.”
Over the course of the forum, industry leaders addressed the youths and shared their perspectives on sustainability as part of a ‘sustainability challenge,’ an interactive game designed to engage the youths on key sustainability themes, give them an insight into the issues facing the industry with regards to sustainability, and familiarize them with the steps ADNOC is taking to extend its legacy of responsible oil and gas production as part of its 2030 sustainability goals. The game saw the youths split into different teams and participate in dedicated tasks and quizzes on the various topics.
The leaders include H.E. Mohammad Barkindo, Secretary-General of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC); Vicki Hollub, CEO of Occidental; Dr. Pratima Rangarajan, CEO of OGCI Climate Investments; Dr. Daniel Yergin, Vice Chairman of IHS Markit; and Dr. Barbara Burger, Technology Ventures President, Chevron.
The forum also featured a youth panel under the theme ‘The Next Normal; From Surviving to Thriving’, where members of the ADNOC Youth Council from diverse technical backgrounds discussed the need to be agile and adapt quickly in a world of constant change.
The ADNOC Youth Forum provides a platform for ADNOC’s youth to shape innovative and sustainable solutions that will enable ADNOC to build long-term resilience and remain an integral part of the UAE’s economy. In addition to its in-house education and training programs, ADNOC has several professional and leadership development programs aimed at developing young people. These include the ADNOC Young Leaders Development Program, ADNOC Leadership Program, and Women’s Leadership Development Programs.
