In a room filled with the hum of bold ideas and the urgency of a continent at the crossroads of energy transition, Sahara Group hosted the second edition of its thought leadership forum, Asharami Square 2.0, with a powerful message: Africa must unlock its gas potential, and it must do so now.
Energy experts, government leaders, media professionals, and private sector stakeholders gathered in Lagos to confront one of the most persistent paradoxes in Africa’s development story: a continent rich in energy resources yet starved of energy access.
Africa’s Energy Paradox: The Urgent Case for Natural Gas
Delivering a speech on behalf of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, senior technical adviser Mr. Abel Nsa laid bare the reality:
“Africa holds over 7% of the world’s natural gas reserves. Yet, we consume less than 5% of global output. This mismatch between potential and utilisation is a crisis we must solve—with urgency and vision.”
For Africa to power its industries, cities, and homes while transitioning to cleaner energy, the solution may be hiding in plain sight: natural gas.
Not just a “bridge fuel,” natural gas is a transformational fuel, speakers agreed. It can lift millions out of energy poverty, reduce carbon-heavy fuel dependence, and catalyse inclusive industrialisation.
But achieving this will require at least $100 billion in annual investments in energy infrastructure, from pipelines and processing hubs to financing instruments that incentivise private sector participation.
Gas, Growth, and the Power of the Media
In one of the day’s most striking remarks, Dr. Adeola Yusuf, a leading energy communication expert, called for greater media participation in energy conversations:
“The media must not just report—it must be at the table. Accurate storytelling is key to driving sustainability, dispelling misinformation, and pushing back against greenwashing.”
To reinforce this, Sahara Group presented the Asharami Awards for Outstanding Sustainability Reporting to Vanguard Online, Punch Newspapers, Nigeria Info 99.3FM, and Arise News—celebrating their role in shaping authentic energy narratives and holding institutions accountable.
Sahara Group’s Commitment: Investing in Africa’s Energy Future
Ejiro Gray, director of Governance and Sustainability at Sahara Group, reminded the audience that Africa’s energy transition cannot copy-paste the West’s climate playbook.
“While the world talks net-zero, Africa must also talk access, equity, and inclusion. Gas gives us the opportunity to address these while building a sustainable future.”
Gray shared Sahara Group’s growing footprint in Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, and Tanzania, where the energy giant is investing in infrastructure that promotes intra-African trade and energy access.
A Multi-Stakeholder Push for Real Impact
From the public sector to private investors, the event featured leading voices including:
- Frank Mmamelu (NNPC NUIMS), who emphasized gas’s role in addressing gender inequality, indoor pollution, and agricultural sustainability.
- Ijeoma Isichei, Sahara Group’s Head of Business Development (Gas), who spoke on demand forecasting and pricing models.
- Mariah Lucciano-Gabriel, of Asharami Energy, who shared insights on unlocking investment through data transparency.
- Olurotimi Famoroti (FIPL) and Mobolaji Sunmoni, who explored innovative funding mechanisms like blended finance and creative public-private frameworks.
Looking Ahead: Asharami Square 3.0 and Sahara’s 30-Year Legacy
As Sahara Group approaches 30 years of delivering responsible energy solutions across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, Asharami Square is becoming more than a forum—it’s a movement. A platform where finance meets policy, where energy meets equity, and where Africa’s story is told, not by outsiders, but by its own.
“We are not just shaping public discourse,” said Bethel Obioma, head of Corporate Communications at Sahara Group. “We are helping define a future where Africa’s energy narrative is not an afterthought—but a front-page story.”
Asharami Square 3.0 is already in the works, promising deeper conversations, bolder collaborations, and a renewed commitment to making energy access a birthright, not a privilege, for all Africans.
