Asharami Square 3.0: Sahara Group Calls for New Thinking on Energy, Investment and Journalism

<em>L-R: Bethel Obioma, Head, Corporate Communications, Sahara Group; Sadiq Wanka, Special Assistant to the President on Power Infrastructure; Ejiro Gray, Director, Governance and Sustainability, Sahara Group; and Nomnso Dike, CEO, Asharami Synergy (a Sahara Downstream Company) at the event</em>

Sahara Group has urged stakeholders to rethink how Africa approaches energy transition, infrastructure financing, and energy reporting, calling for solutions tailored to the continent’s realities and stronger partnerships to drive long-term development.

The call was the central theme of the third edition of Asharami Square, the company’s thought leadership platform, held under the theme “Energising Africa’s Future: Legacy, Impact and Transformation.”

Opening the discussions, Ejiro Gray, Director, Governance and Sustainability at Sahara Group, said the company’s “Beyond XXX” vision is focused on the future rather than past achievements.

Gray noted that Africa’s energy future must reflect local contexts and stressed the need for balanced, evidence-based journalism to explain the complexities of energy transition, development, and sustainability.

“Effective journalism should not only tell us what happened; it should help us understand why it matters, whose interests are affected and what perspectives are missing from the conversation,” she said.

Delivering the keynote address, Sadiq Wanka, Special Adviser to the President on Power Infrastructure, highlighted opportunities emerging in Nigeria’s electricity sector as ongoing reforms create new avenues for investment.

“The issue is no longer technology. The real challenge is mobilising capital at scale, structuring bankable opportunities and creating an ecosystem that attracts long-term financing,” Wanka said.

He noted that reforms are opening opportunities in embedded generation, mini-grids, renewable energy, transmission infrastructure, and industrial power solutions.

He also urged journalists to provide deeper coverage of policy reforms, investment opportunities, and implementation outcomes.

A panel moderated by Adebiyi Olusolape, Associate Editor, Africa, Argus Media, examined financing pathways for the continent.

Panelists included: Prof. Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika, Director, Institute of Continuing Education, University of Lagos; Temitope George, CEO, Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission, LASERC; and Kemi Awodein, Managing Director, Investment Banking, Chapel Hill Denham.

The panelists agreed that Africa has significant capital pools to support infrastructure, but unlocking investment requires stronger governance, investor confidence, and better project preparation.

On journalism and accountability, Prof. Ogwezzy-Ndisika called for more rigorous, solutions-focused reporting.

“Energy reporting must go beyond headline events and announcements. Journalists need to ask deeper questions, examine the evidence and connect policy decisions to their impact on communities and everyday lives,” she said.

George emphasized investment readiness, noting that well-structured projects are more likely to attract funding.

Awodein highlighted the role of governance in mobilizing capital.

“Nigeria has demonstrated that domestic capital can finance transformational infrastructure at scale. The real differentiator is governance, transparency and a clear pathway to value creation.”

The event also featured the unveiling of the Asharami Square Energy Reporting Fellowship Judging Panel.

Bethel Obioma, Head, Corporate Communications, Sahara Group, said the Fellowship is designed to deepen journalists’ understanding of the technical, commercial, environmental, and policy issues shaping the energy sector.

“Through the Asharami Square Energy Reporting Fellowship, we are investing in the capacity of journalists to tell more solutions and evidence-based stories that reflect the realities, opportunities and challenges of Africa’s energy transition,” Obioma said.

He added that the programme aligns with Sahara Group’s “Beyond XXX” vision of investing in people and platforms that will shape Africa’s future, with Prof. Ogwezzy-Ndisika serving as lead assessor for the programme.

Since its launch in 2024, Asharami Square has convened policymakers, industry leaders, and media to advance dialogue and practical solutions for Africa’s evolving energy landscape.