By Chidi Ugwu
Sahara Group Tuesday joined policymakers, regulators, operators, and global partners at the Opening Ceremony of the 2026 Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES) in Abuja, reinforcing its commitment to shaping a sustainable, innovative, and globally competitive energy sector across Africa.
Speaking to journalists at the event, Wale Ajibade, Executive Director, Sahara Group, described Africa as “the new frontier for an energy renaissance poised to redefine global energy balance.” Ajibade emphasized that the continent’s potential can only be fully unlocked through bold investments, strategic collaboration, and regulatory harmony.
He noted that Sahara Group’s successes as a foremost African energy and infrastructure conglomerate with over three decades of operations have been anchored on driving competitiveness, innovation and sustainability on the continent.
According to him, “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.”
Ajibade noted that Africa’s energy transition must be responsible, inclusive, and anchored on its developmental context.
He stressed the need for the continent to maximize the use of its resources, especially transition fuels, in a manner that supports accelerated economic growth, industrial expansion, and improved living standards.
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“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 Federal Government of Nigeria for its continuing transformation programs within the energy sector, describing them as necessary catalysts for long-term sectoral reform.
He further 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 will 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.
