Latest news with #AfricaEnergiesSummit
Zawya
06-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
South Sudan's Former Petroleum Minister Calls for Africa Energies Summit to be Held in Africa
South Sudan's former-Minister of Petroleum Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth has called on Frontier to move the annual Africa Energies Summit to Africa, highlighting the critical value of hosting an Africa-focused event on African soil. As the voice of the African energy sector, the African Energy Chamber (AEC) ( strongly agrees with the calls of Gatkuoth. At a time when investing in African energy has become a critical topic, hosting an international energy conference on the continent has become even more imperative. More than ever, Africa requires significant levels of global investment. At present, over 600 million people currently lack access to electricity in Africa while over 900 million people live without access to clean cooking solutions. Global oil and gas investment has been on the decline in recent years, presenting major implications for African countries that rely on these resources. While renewable energy investment continues to grow worldwide, Africa only receives 2% of this investment. To close the energy access gap in Africa, the continent requires $25 billion in annual investment by 2030, according to the International Energy Agency. As such, the need to promote African energy interests has become increasingly more important. It is within this picture that it becomes key to bringing the conversation about African energy to Africa. Hosting an event such as Africa Energies Summit in Western Europe does not make sense when Africa has the perfect platform of its own to host these types of events. Taking place from May 13-15 in London, Africa Energies Summit has dubbed itself Africa's premier global upstream conference, bringing together Africa's energy industry. The event is the only African energy conference hosted by Frontier. But the question remains: why can an African energy conference not be hosted in Africa? Instead of taking Africa to the world, the world should come to Africa. By taking place in London every year, Africa Energies Summit is stating that Africa is not suitable to host its own international energy conference, a misunderstanding that will have significant impacts on the continent's sector. 'We cannot keep taking the conversation about Africa outside of the continent. Just like it would not make sense for an event focused on Europe to be hosted in Africa, we should not be hosting an event about Africa in Europe. It is time to prioritize Africa. By hosting an African energy conference on the continent, we bring significant benefits to local communities and industries,' stated Gatkuoth. Beyond the energy sector, bringing the Africa Energies Summit to Africa brings a range of benefits to the continent. AEW: Invest in African Energies, for example, has created significant value addition for local markets and industries by prioritizing local businesses, supporting business tourism and creating local employment opportunities. By bringing international events to Africa, conferences ensure that local hotels, venues, workforces and more benefit. As such, the significance of hosting large-scale events in African cannot be overstated and should be considered by organizers such as Frontier. As an industry, we need to prioritize local communities' voices and create employment opportunities in Africa's energy sector. It's time to showcase Africa's capabilities and host investment forums on our own continent. We've seen misrepresentations repeated by events like Africa Oil Week in Dubai; but it's time to break this trend. Africa is capable of hosting its own energy conferences, and we should lead the narrative. 'We have seen the same misinterpretations by groups such as Africa Oil Week when it went to Dubai and it needs to end. Africa is fully capable of hosting an international energy conference. We do not need to go abroad to discuss our own energy matters. By bringing the conversation to Africa, we prioritize African interests and narratives. The AEC wholeheartedly agrees with Gatkuoth, that the Africa Energies Summit must be brought to Africa,' stated NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.
Zawya
05-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Africa Energies Summit in London Must Prioritize Hiring Black Africans
In the evolving and competitive energy landscape of Africa, the Frontier and Africa Energies Summit in London holds a critical position, drawing substantial revenue from the continent's thriving markets. However, there is a glaring issue that the organization cannot afford to ignore: the lack of Black Africans in its workforce. This absence raises serious concerns about the company's commitment to diversity and inclusion, and it's time for Africa Energies Summit to address this inequality. The African Energy Chamber ( has issued a direct call for action, urging the summit to rectify this imbalance by hiring Black Africans. It is deeply disappointing that, despite reaping significant benefits from Africa's economic contributions, Frontier and Africa Energies Summit in London has failed to reflect the continent's rich diversity by hiring Black employees. The company continues to prioritize personal networks in its hiring practices, which perpetuates exclusionary systems. As a result, many highly qualified Black Africans, with the necessary skills and experience, are left outside the company's inner circle. This issue becomes even more perplexing when we consider that Black Africans are not merely passive participants in the success of the Africa Energies Summit; they are active sponsors and contributors to its events and programs. This contradiction calls into question the sincerity of the company's commitment to inclusivity and raises concerns about the integrity of its diversity policies. NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber, has highlighted the remarkable progress of the Oil and Gas industry in promoting Africans, especially women, into leadership positions. He praises the industry for fostering entrepreneurship and providing opportunities for Africans to rise to the top. This success serves as a stark reminder that Africans, especially African women, are not only capable but essential to the success of organizations operating within the continent. The African Energy Chamber believes firmly that Black Africans possess the expertise, leadership qualities, and vision required for positions at the highest levels within the Africa Energies Summit. Inclusion is not just a matter of social justice—it is a strategic necessity for a company that depends heavily on Africa's energy market for its revenue. It is time for Frontier and Africa Energies Summit in London to move beyond lip service and show real, meaningful commitment to diversity by empowering Africans within its workforce. The issue at hand goes beyond tokenism; it speaks to the very principles of fairness and equal opportunity. The idea that Africans can contribute to the financial success of the company through large exhibitions, yet are denied equal representation within the organization, is both unacceptable and unsustainable. The time to act is now, and this imbalance must be addressed without delay. While it may be uncomfortable to raise these concerns, the African Energy Chamber is committed to shining a light on uncomfortable truths within the industry. The progress made in the Oil and Gas sector—particularly in the hiring, training, and promotion of Africans—demonstrates that genuine diversity efforts lead to entrepreneurial success and organizational growth. The African Energy Chamber urges Africa Energies Summit in London to adopt similar practices and take lessons from the success stories in the Oil and Gas industry. Countries such as South Africa, Nigeria, Angola, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Kenya, Ghana, Namibia, and Tanzania—along with others that actively support the summit and participate in its events—deserve to see their talent represented at the highest levels of the organization. Africa Energies Summit must step up and ensure that the diversity it benefits from in its African markets is reflected in the diversity of its workforce. "Frontier makes a huge part of its revenue from Africa, yet no Black people are hired within the company. They hire people they know, trust, and like, but we are not part of that circle. I am deeply disappointed. Black Africans are major participants and sponsors of their programs. I believe we are more than capable of doing the job, but there has been no true commitment to hiring or promoting us. We also need to have a serious conversation about why Africa Energies Summit in London isn't hosted in Africa," said NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber. The African Energy Chamber calls on Africa Energies Summit in London to recognize the urgent need to address the underrepresentation of Black Africans in leadership roles within its organization. This is a critical opportunity for the summit to prove its commitment to true diversity and inclusivity by embracing the talents, skills, and potential of Africa's brightest minds. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.
