Sahara Group thought leadership initiative don call for fundamental rethinking of how Africa dey approach energy transition, infrastructure financing and energy journalism. Di group urge stakeholders to embrace solutions wey reflect continent realities while building partnerships, institutions and investments wey dey needed for long-term development.
Ejiro Gray, Director of Governance and Sustainability for Sahara Group, say di company Beyond XXX vision na to look ahead rather than dwell for past accomplishments. Gray note say Africa energy future must be shaped by local realities, and she call for more balanced, evidence-based journalism wey fit interrogate di complexities of energy transition, development and sustainability.
Delivering keynote address, Sadiq Wanka, Special Adviser to di President on Power Infrastructure, highlight di opportunities wey dey emerge inside Nigeria electricity sector as reforms continue to open new pathways for investment. He say di issue no be technology again, but di real challenge na to mobilise capital at scale, structure bankable opportunities, and create ecosystem wey go attract long-term financing.
Wanka say reforms across di sector dey create opportunities for embedded generation, mini-grids, renewable energy, transmission infrastructure and industrial power solutions. He urge journalists to delve deeper into policy reforms, investment opportunities and implementation outcomes.
Panel session wey feature Prof. Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika, Director of Institute of Continuing Education for University of Lagos, Temitope George, CEO of Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission (LASERC), and Kemi Awodein, Managing Director of Investment Banking for Chapel Hill Denham, wey Adebiyi Olusolape, Associate Editor Africa for Argus Media moderate, explore di question: Who dey finance Africa energy future?
Di panelists agree say Africa get significant pools of capital wey fit support infrastructure development, but say to unlock investment require stronger governance, investor confidence and better project preparation.
Speaking on journalism and accountability, Prof Ogwezzy-Ndisika call for more rigorous and solutions-focused reporting. She say energy reporting must go beyond headline events and announcements. Temitope George emphasise di importance of investment readiness, noting say well-structured and thoroughly prepared projects dey more likely to attract funding.
Drawing from her experience for infrastructure finance, Kemi Awodein underscore di role of governance for unlocking capital. She say Nigeria don demonstrate say domestic capital fit finance transformational infrastructure at scale.
Di event also feature di unveiling of di Asharami Square Energy Reporting Fellowship Judging Panel, wey dey reinforce Sahara Group commitment to strengthen energy journalism and foster more informed reporting on Africa energy future.
Bethel Obioma, Head of Corporate Communications for Sahara Group, say di Fellowship na to deepen journalists understanding of di technical, commercial, environmental and policy issues wey dey shape di energy sector. Obioma say di Fellowship align with Sahara Group Beyond XXX vision of investing for people and platforms wey go help shape Africa future, and add say Prof Ogwezzy-Ndisika go serve as lead assessor for di programme.
Since dem launch am for 2024, Asharami Square don continue to advance informed dialogue, strategic partnerships and practical solutions wey dey support Africa evolving energy landscape and reinforce Sahara Group commitment to deliver impact beyond im first three decades.
