By William Emmanuel Ukpoju
The African Energy Chamber (AEC) hosted a highly anticipated Roadshow in Lagos, Nigeria, bringing together key stakeholders in the energy industry to explore investment opportunities and discuss the future of Nigeria’s energy landscape.
As the cornerstone of Nigeria’s economy, the oil and gas industry has experienced significant growth in recent years, presenting lucrative opportunities for exploration and production companies. The AEC roadshow provided a platform for industry leaders to connect, share insights, and forge partnerships in Nigeria’s vibrant energy market.
The event featured keynote addresses from renowned experts, including Verner Ayukegba, Senior Vice President of AEC, and Grace Orife, CEO of Adelaar Energy and AEC Advisory Board Member. Attendees also had the chance to network and engage in meaningful discussions about the Nigerian energy sector.
The keynote speakers, Verner Ayukegba and Grace Orife, shared their expertise, sparking meaningful discussions and networking opportunities among stakeholders in Nigeria’s thriving energy market. The Roadshow is a precursor to the African Energy Week (AEW) conference, scheduled for November in Cape Town, South Africa later this year. AEW is Africa’s premier energy event, bringing together industry leaders, investors, and policymakers to shape the future of the continent’s energy landscape.
Verner Ayukegba emphasized the importance of African entrepreneurs taking advantage of energy opportunities across the continent. “If you’re not at the table when decisions are being made, you’re on the menu…we need to get ourselves on the table to make money and drive development.
“Oil and gas is going to be with us for a couple of years, it is not time for us to run away from it and so we are saying if you’re looking at oil and gas opportunities in other places, let us be your partner, let us help you, let us be able to support you.
“We are here to answer questions… you don’t have to wait till November. If at all you’re looking at Angola, if at all you’re looking at other established markets like Gabon, Congo DRC, we are a maximum of two degrees away from a lot of the people and a lot of the stakeholders that you need to reach out to for help. It doesn’t cost you anything, we’re not going to charge you.
“The whole idea of the African Energy Chamber roadshow ladies and gentlemen, is centred on how to attract investment in the oil and gas and energy sectors across the entire value chain in Africa. Because that’s the only way we’re going to drive investments and development for our people,” Verner said.
He therefore encouraged Nigerian entrepreneurs to explore opportunities in other African countries, such as Namibia, Senegal, and Cote d’Ivoire. He highlighted the need for collaboration to drive investment and development in the energy sector.
Similarly, Grace Orife stressed the importance of collaboration and empowerment of women in the energy sector. “We need the skills in Nigeria to go out there…collaboration is key.” She encouraged women to register with the Chamber to access opportunities and exploit them together.
In an interview with Valuechain Energy Magazine on the sidelines of the event, Ayukegba emphasized the need to attract investment across the entire value chain in Africa, promoting affordable and reliable energy to develop the continent. He shared optimism that Nigerian entrepreneurs have the capacity to export their know-how and explore energy opportunities across Africa.
“The reason why we are in Lagos is that we do believe that Nigerian entrepreneurs have the capacity and the ability to be able to export the know-how in terms of exploring and exploiting energy across the entire value chain, and the entire continent and that is important to promote, that is why we’re in Nigeria.” While commenting on energy transition, Verner reaffirmed that “Nigeria needs to industrialize, and the West of course needs to decarbonize; so when we are talking about energy transition, we at the African Energy Chamber are saying Africans need to be allowed to industrialize and that means using gas, it means using our resources to the fullest potential. We contribute only 3% of carbon emissions in Africa, so if you want to really decarbonize this world, then you need to start somewhere else, certainly not in Africa.”
The AEC event facilitated networking, knowledge sharing, and partnership-building among stakeholders in Nigeria’s thriving energy market. The AEC roadshow aimed to unlock new investment opportunities by fostering dialogue and cooperation, driving growth and development in Nigeria’s energy sector.
As the country continues to navigate the global energy transition, events like the AEC roadshow play a critical role in shaping the future of Nigeria’s energy industry.
The African Energy Chamber’s Roadshow in Lagos marked a significant step forward for Nigeria’s energy sector. With a focus on collaboration, empowerment, and investment, the industry is poised for growth and development. As the continent’s premier energy event, African Energy Week, approaches, the momentum is building. Stakeholders share the enthusiasm that, it is time for Nigeria and Africa to take their rightful place at the table, driving economic progress and development through sustainable and reliable energy solutions. They affirm that the future is bright, and the energy sector in Africa is ready to shine.
