African Journalists Must Spotlight Energy Solutions, Says Asharami Fellowship Lead Assessor

Professor Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika has called on journalists across Africa to elevate energy reporting by focusing greater attention on practical solutions shaping the continent’s future.

She said Africa’s energy transition requires journalism that goes beyond documenting challenges to highlighting the innovations, policies and interventions helping expand access to reliable and sustainable energy.

Ogwezzy-Ndisika noted that journalism has a unique role to play in connecting communities, policymakers and investors around evidence-based conversations on energy. By highlighting what works, she said reporters can help accelerate progress and encourage greater accountability.

“Pointing out the darkness without illuminating the pathways to light leaves our communities paralysed by despair rather than empowered to act,” she noted.

She explained that the Fellowship was created to inspire a new generation of journalists capable of producing reporting that informs policy debates and contributes meaningfully to Africa’s development journey.

“We are looking for stories that inform public discourse, influence legislative action and hold power accountable. Journalists must not settle for shallow headlines. They should trace the funding, critique the technology, interrogate the policies and highlight the responses transforming Africa’s energy landscape.”

Open to journalists working across print, broadcast, digital and multimedia platforms, the Fellowship provides participants with expert-led training, mentorship, facility visits and direct engagement with leading voices in the energy sector.

Speaking on behalf of Sahara Group, Bethel Obioma said the Fellowship recognises the influence of quality journalism in shaping Africa’s energy future.

“Africa’s energy story requires more than reporting challenges. It requires journalism that interrogates responses, highlights practical solutions and deepens public understanding of the realities shaping the continent’s energy landscape,” he said.

Applications for the Fellowship close on November 30, 2026.