By Bassey Udo
Africa can fully unlock the potentials of its energy sector through bold investments, strategic collaborations, and regulatory harmony, Sahara Group said on Tuesday.
Speaking to journalists at the event,
The Executive Director, Sahara Group, Wale Ajibade, told reporters on the sidelines of the 2026 Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES) in Abuja that Africa was “the new frontier for an energy renaissance poised to redefine global energy balance.”
Ajibade was part of a powerful delegation from the energy and infrastructure conglomerate to join policymakers, regulators, operators, and global partners at the opening session of the international conference
He said the participation of the Sahara Group reinforces its commitment to shaping a sustainable, innovative, and globally competitive energy sector across Africa.
The Director highlighted Sahara Group’s successes as a foremost African energy and infrastructure conglomerate with over three decades of operations, which he said were anchored on driving competitiveness, innovation and sustainability on the continent.
“Africa must seize this moment. Our continent holds immense resources, a growing market, and an increasingly skilled population. Operators need to deepen collaboration, innovate across their value chains, and make the long-term investments required to expand capacity sustainably. At the same time, regulators across Africa must accelerate policy harmonization to create a predictable, integrated, and investor-friendly environment,” he said.
Noting that Africa’s energy transition must be responsible, inclusive, and anchored on its developmental context, Ajibade stressed the need for the continent to maximize the use of its resources, especially transition fuels, in a manner that supported accelerated economic growth, industrial expansion, and improved living standards.
“Our transition journey must reflect Africa’s realities. We must use our resources responsibly to drive growth, while investing in technologies, talent, and systems that will ensure we transition sustainably. The world is watching Africa, and we must rise to the occasion,” he said.
Ajibade also commended the efforts of the Nigerian government for its continuing transformation programmes within the energy sector, describing them as necessary catalysts for long-term sectoral reform.
He applauded the leadership and commitment of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and other regulators and stakeholders for their tireless work in repositioning Nigeria’s energy landscape.
He reiterated Sahara Group’s unwavering commitment to investing in new technologies, developing human capital, and forging strategic partnerships that would strengthen Africa’s energy security and competitiveness.
He stressed that Sahara Group would continue wto champion initiatives that support sustainable development, energy transition, and inclusive growth across the continent, reaffirming its role as a leading partner in Africa’s energy evolution.
