Sahara Group has reaffirmed its commitment to driving Africa’s energy renaissance as it joined policymakers, regulators, industry leaders and global partners at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES) in Abuja.
Speaking at the summit, Executive Director of Sahara Group, Wale Ajibade, described Africa as the next global energy frontier, stressing that unlocking its vast potential requires bold investments, deep collaboration and harmonised regulatory frameworks across the continent.
Ajibade said Sahara Group’s over three decades of success as a leading African energy and infrastructure conglomerate is rooted in competitiveness, innovation and sustainability, noting that Africa must act decisively to secure its place in the evolving global energy balance.
He urged energy operators to scale collaboration, drive innovation across the value chain and commit to long-term investments that expand capacity sustainably, while calling on regulators to fast-track policy alignment to create a predictable, integrated and investor-friendly energy market.
Ajibade emphasised that Africa’s energy transition must be responsible, inclusive and tailored to its developmental realities, adding that the continent must fully leverage its resources, particularly transition fuels, to accelerate economic growth, industrialisation and improved living standards.
He commended the Federal Government of Nigeria for ongoing energy sector reforms, describing them as critical enablers of long-term transformation, and praised the leadership of NNPCL, NMDPRA, NUPRC and other regulators for their roles in repositioning Nigeria’s energy landscape.
Ajibade reaffirmed Sahara Group’s commitment to investing in technology, human capital and strategic partnerships, stressing that the company will continue to champion sustainable development, energy security and inclusive growth as Africa advances its energy evolution.
