SPE student chapters and geographic sections are located across the globe and provide an operating framework for all major Society activities. Many SPE members join the Society during their time at university and transition into an SPE professional membership upon graduating.
In this article, SPE Lagos Section Young Professionals Chair, Chimezie Egbuna, and SPE Warri Nigeria Section Young Professionals Chair, Lucky Akpovire Emiemie, share how their sections support young professional (YP) members as they transition from their involvement in SPE student chapters to SPE Sections.
TWA: How does your section help former student members transition smoothly into professional membership?
Emiemie: At SPE Warri Section, we have built a deliberate pipeline that guides graduating students into the YP community even before they leave school. Our flagship platform for this transition is the Annual Student Graduation Symposium (ASGS), a major event fully dedicated to preparing final-year students for life after campus and integrating them into the larger SPE Warri ecosystem.
The ASGS is structured around keynote sessions, professional readiness workshops, networking mixers, and a formal induction into the YP network. This event is championed by the YP Committee in collaboration with our SPE student chapters and coordinated through the Student Liaison Office.
Our focus remains on ensuring that every graduating student is connected directly to ongoing section programs, has visibility into volunteering pathways, and is supported through their first steps as YP members. ASGS serves as a bridge, closing the gap between SPE student chapter exposure and professional SPE engagement.
Egbuna: SPE Lagos supports a structured transition pathway led by the YP Committee. Through programs such as the YP Career Launchpad, Lagos Career Fair, “Graduate-to-Young Professional” series, and targeted student chapter engagements, we guide outgoing students into professional membership, mentorship, and industry integration.
The section also sustains continuity through scholarships and intervention programs; over 30 university scholarships were awarded in the 2024/2025 board year to ease financial barriers and encourage long-term participation.
TWA: Are there mentorships, buddy systems, or specific programs to connect new members with more experienced members?
Emiemie: Yes. SPE Warri Section has a multilayered approach that ensures new members are never left to navigate their professional journey alone.
We run a Membership Onboarding Program, where new members especially former student members and YP members, are paired with experienced YPs who support their integration into the section’s activities. This system helps new members understand our various activities, find suitable committees to join, and access guidance for their early career decisions.
In addition, our section hosts targeted membership programs and structured onboarding sessions that introduce new members to the role and value of SPE, the opportunities available, and how they can immediately become active contributors.
New YP members are also encouraged to join any of the YP committees, a strategic step that ensures they find a community, gain responsibility, and quickly feel a sense of belonging.
Egbuna: Yes. Mentorship is central to our YP strategy. Our YP Career Fair, informal executive mentorship program, “Navigating the Path” with 2024 SPE President Terry Palisch, and “A Day with a CEO” sessions link new professionals with local industry leaders and global mentors.
We also launched the YP Leadership and Professional Growth Hub peer groups that provide continuous interaction, mentorship, and shared learning. Nevertheless, the majority of the mentoring comes informally through networking sessions organized after our monthly technical meetings. Through these sessions, students graduates and YPs meet experienced mentors in a stress-free and relaxed atmosphere and are able to seek guidance in a nonjudgmental atmosphere.
TWA: What strategies does your section use to help new members feel valued and part of the section right away?
Emiemie: We place strong emphasis on visibility, recognition, and personal connection.
- Birthday Celebrations: Every member receives personalized birthday shoutouts, which foster a family-like atmosphere and help new members feel seen.
- Monthly Recognition of Outstanding Members: Those who display commitment or excellence in volunteering are publicly recognized, reinforcing a sense of value and contribution.
- Intentional Onboarding: New members are formally welcomed through onboarding announcements, orientation sessions, and immediate opportunities to participate in committees or ongoing projects.
We believe that when people feel noticed and appreciated, they naturally become more committed. Our culture ensures that even the newest member feels like a meaningful part of the SPE Warri Section from Day 1.
Egbuna: We integrate new members immediately through YP townhalls, volunteer drives, committee placements, and study groups. We also make efforts to motivate our volunteers through volunteer recognition programs which include monthly spotlights on our social media platforms, mid-year YP Chair’s awards, AGM Awards and recognitions, birthday celebrations and gift exchanges as well as daily little acts of kindness and gratitude to our volunteers. This fosters inclusion, visibility, and a strong sense of community from the outset.
Our recognition drive achieved more than 243 volunteer sign-ups this year alone.
TWA: How do you highlight opportunities, volunteering, events, or leadership roles for new members who may not know where to start?
Emiemie: Each SPE Warri Section board year begins with a townhall meeting, a strategic gathering where the structure of the section, available committees, leadership opportunities, and upcoming programs are clearly presented.
During this session
- All committees outline their mandates and expected deliverables.
- New and existing members receive a detailed volunteer form, which allows them to indicate areas of interest.
- Committee leads engage directly with prospective volunteers to help them understand expectations and the value they can bring.
Throughout the year, we also use WhatsApp groups, emails, and targeted communications to share upcoming events and volunteering opportunities. This ensures that opportunities are transparent and accessible to every member, especially those who are just starting their professional journey.
Egbuna: We communicate opportunities through email bulletins, LinkedIn, the YP Social Connect Hub, and the sectionwide WhatsApp community. New members are encouraged to join initiatives aligned with their interests across technical dissemination, social impact, social events, and community development.
Leadership roles are rotated intentionally and based on merit to ensure growth. These offerings are emphasized during YP townhalls, where we introduce new members to SPE Lagos’ vision, mission, and value pathways.
TWA: Are there specific events or activities designed to help new members build connections and “plant roots” in the section?
Emiemie: SPE Warri Section invests heavily in community-building activities that help new members develop meaningful relationships.
Some key initiatives include:
- YP networking events: Spaces for informal interaction, idea sharing, and professional bonding.
- Technical workshops and masterclasses: Where members collaborate, learn, and connect with experts and fellow professionals.
- Community impact and corporate social responsibility programs: Which encourage teamwork and social responsibility while deepening bonds across member groups.
- Collaborative events with student chapters: Where returning alumni engage with current students, keeping graduates connected to their original SPE communities.
Each event is purposefully designed to help new members build long-lasting relationships and find their anchor within the SPE Warri family.
Egbuna: Relationship-building is woven into our calendar. Monthly networking hangouts (after technical meetings), wellness week, the half-year YP leadership retreat, and the YP Liaisons’ end-of-year hangout help new members integrate quickly. Flagship platforms including Lagos Energy Week (more than 700 delegates), the Annual Golf Tournament Fundraiser, and the SPE Lagos Energy Cup create additional opportunities for broad, cross-generational industry connections.
The overall goal is to create an ecosystem that sustains mutual value creation that’s beneficial to all stakeholders in the long term.
TWA: What challenges do new members face when joining a section from a student chapter, and how do you address them?
Emiemie: Some common challenges include
- Difficulty understanding the shift from student chapter culture to professional culture. Many fresh graduates are used to highly structured campus activities and may feel unsure about navigating the more dynamic professional environment.
Our response: We offer structured onboarding, mentorship, and direct committee involvement to help them acclimate. - Limited awareness of volunteering and leadership opportunities. New members often don't know where to plug in or how to contribute.
Our response: We provide clear communication during the Town Hall Meeting and ongoing visibility of opportunities throughout the year. - Networking intimidation. Graduates may initially feel overwhelmed connecting with more experienced professionals.
Our response: We facilitate mixers, buddy systems, and intentional small-group interactions that help build confidence gradually. - Balancing early-career pressures with volunteering. YPs sometimes struggle to manage work commitments with SPE involvement.
Our response: We encourage flexible participation, highlight low-commitment roles, and promote a support culture where members can volunteer at their own pace.
Egbuna: New members often experience limited awareness of opportunities, financial constraints, early-career uncertainty, and difficulty securing relevant roles in the industry. We address these through informal membership sponsorships, the SPE Lagos Career Fair, the SPE Lagos Career Portal, direct recruiter engagement, orientation sessions, and continuous mentorship pipelines.
In the 2024/2025 board year alone, over 40 graduates secured internships, full-time roles, or sponsorships through our network. Our skills accelerator program, which trained more than 114 YPs, also strengthens competence, confidence, and long-term retention.
TWA: What advice would you give recent graduates to make the most of their first year as a professional member?
Emiemie: Here are the top recommendations we give to our new professional members.
- Stay connected—don’t disappear after graduation.
Your first year is critical. Join a committee immediately, no matter how small the role. - Build meaningful relationships.
Attend workshops and technical events. Networking is one of the strongest assets SPE offers. - Seek mentorship early.
Connect with older YPs or senior members who can guide your career decisions and help you leverage SPE opportunities effectively. - Volunteer consistently.
Volunteering is the fastest way to grow leadership skills, increase visibility, and unlock future opportunities in SPE. - Take ownership of your development.
Engage in certification programs, training sessions, and technical workshops within the section. - Be present and proactive.
The value you get from SPE is directly proportional to your participation. New members who immerse themselves early tend to grow faster professionally and socially.
Egbuna: Engage early and consistently volunteer, seek mentors, and attend as many events as possible. SPE Lagos hosts 20–30 programs annually across technical development, skills acquisition, leadership, social impact, and networking. Every event is a doorway to visibility, capability-building, and community.
The value you derive equals the effort you invest; SPE rewards initiative, curiosity, and collaboration.
Learn more about how to get involved in SPE geographic sections here.