Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Nigeria has made a compelling case for global equity in financing Africa’s energy transition at the just-concluded World Economic Forum, WEF 2025, urging world leaders to back the continent’s development agenda with concrete financial commitments.
In an address during the session “G20 and Africa’s Just Energy Transition,” the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, highlighted Africa’s negligible contribution of 3% to global carbon emissions and called for greater international support to ensure the continent’s energy transition aligns with its unique developmental needs.
Lokpobiri called for increased international support and strategic funding to harness Africa’s vast mineral resources and address energy deficiencies.
He also pointed to the establishment of the Africa Energy Bank, headquartered in Nigeria, as a game-changing step toward bridging Africa’s energy funding gap.
“Africa has the potential to be a global leader in the energy transition, but this requires the world to move beyond dialogue and commit to action,” Lokpobiri stated, emphasizing the urgency of addressing energy poverty while advancing sustainable solutions.
In the session “Africa’s Momentum,” Lokpobiri called for targeted funding to unlock Nigeria’s and Africa’s vast mineral resources, ensuring the continent is adequately equipped to meet global energy demands while fostering sustainable growth.
Another key highlight was his advocacy for partnerships between Africa and international stakeholders during the “Leaders for a Sustainable MENA” session.
The Minster emphasized that climate action, AI innovation, and financing must prioritize Africa, not as a bystander, but as a strategic player in global sustainability frameworks.
At the session on “Powering Progress: Financing the Energy Transition,” the Minister called for actionable solutions to mobilize public and private capital, stressing that Africa’s energy transition must create opportunities for investment and growth.
“Africa’s transition must align with its development priorities, and mobilizing public and private capital is key to achieving this,” he stated.
Lokpobiri further called on global leaders to ensure measurable progress by WEF 2026.
“The time for talk is over. Africa’s energy future depends on immediate, strategic actions that deliver tangible results for our people and the world. By WEF 2026, the focus should shift to reviewing executed actions that have driven tangible growth for Nigeria, Africa, and the global community. The foundation has been laid; now is the time to build,” he said.
