At the second edition of Sahara Group’s thought leadership forum, Asharami Square, held in Lagos, stakeholders across the energy sector, media, and government unanimously agreed that natural gas holds the key to unlocking Africa’s energy security and industrial growth.
Themed around natural gas as a “transformational fuel,” the event spotlighted its potential to bridge the continent’s energy access gap and support a smooth transition toward renewables. Experts at the forum called for over $100 billion in annual investment to develop Africa’s energy infrastructure and urged stronger collaboration with the media to shape accurate narratives about energy transition on the continent.
Delivering a keynote on behalf of Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, Senior Technical Adviser Abel Nsa highlighted what he described as “Africa’s energy paradox.”
“Despite holding over 7% of global natural gas reserves, Africa consumes less than 5% of global gas output,” Ekpo noted. “This mismatch must be urgently addressed. Natural gas is more than a bridge fuel—it’s a transformational fuel that can power industries, reduce pollution, and drive inclusive economic growth.”
He applauded Sahara Group for creating Asharami Square as a platform to foster meaningful discourse and push for action-oriented solutions in the sector.
Other key speakers echoed similar sentiments. Frank Mmamelu of NNPC’s NUIMS division, representing keynote speaker Dr. Justice Derefaka, underscored the socio-economic impact of gas. He emphasized its role in lifting millions out of poverty, improving agricultural productivity, and enhancing access to clean energy.
Energy communications expert Dr. Adeola Yusuf stressed the need for the media to be active participants in sustainability discussions, not just observers. He called for easier access to reliable data and transparency from both public and private institutions to combat misinformation and greenwashing.
Ejiro Gray, Director of Governance and Sustainability at Sahara Group, contextualized Africa’s sustainability challenges, pointing out that while global conversations often focus on net-zero targets, African countries are still struggling with energy access, economic inclusion, and infrastructure gaps.
“Gas offers a realistic solution to bridge these challenges,” Gray said, while highlighting Sahara Group’s gas infrastructure projects across Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, and Tanzania aimed at expanding regional energy trade.
Sahara Group’s Head of Corporate Communications reiterated that Asharami Square aims to improve understanding of sustainability issues and empower the African narrative within the global energy conversation.
Other contributors included Ijeoma Isichei (Head, Business Development, Gas, Sahara Group), Mariah Lucciano-Gabriel (Head, Integrated Gas Ventures, Asharami Energy), Olurotimi Famoroti (CEO, First Independent Power Limited), and Mobolaji Sunmoni (Senior Infrastructure Finance Professional), who offered diverse perspectives on policy, finance, and implementation strategies to unlock the continent’s gas potential.
The event concluded with a look ahead to Asharami Square 3.0, scheduled for next year, as Sahara Group approaches three decades of delivering energy responsibly across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
