Asharami Square 2.0 has  spotlighted Africa’s gas potential as a gateway to dignity, prosperity, and sustainability.

The second edition of Asharami Square, themed “Harnessing Gas for Africa’s Sustainable Future,” hosted by Sahara Group held in Lagos amidst grandeur and panache.

This year, it evolved into a powerful convergence of thought leaders, energy experts, and passionate advocates, calling on Africa to rise boldly to take ownership of its resources.

Also, it called to  ignite a gas-powered future that will light up the continent literally and figuratively.

The event was a heartfelt and urgent response to a reality that can no longer be ignored.

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These leaders called for a bold gas revolution to power the continent’s Future.

In other words, it  is to champion one cause using Africa’s abundant gas resources to drive inclusive growth, sustainable development, and energy independence across the continent.

The keynote speaker,Dr. Justice Derefaka, Group Asset Manager, PSC Asset Group B at  NUIMS), represented by Frank Mmamelu, Asset Manager PSC, NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS), who delivered  Derefaka’s stirring reflection, which deeply resonated with the audience.

He challenged Africa to own its story and chart its destiny.

“There has been this expectation that help must come from outside from international oil companies.

But the truth is, they are private investors.

They come here, they make their money, and they ship it out,” he declared passionately.

“We need indigenous players who understand the landscape, who believe in Africa and will stay to develop it.”

Dr. Derefaka, through Mmamelu’s powerful voice, described Africa as a small but promising village.

“There is an African proverb that says, the song does not forget a village because it is small.

Africa is that small village rich in natural gas, full of promise, but often overlooked.”

With poetic imagery, he likened Africa’s natural gas to a rising sun waiting to light up the continent.

“Even the sun needs someone to open the window.

Sahara is opening that window,” he said, drawing applause from the hall.

In the same breath, Dr. Derefaka spoke about the fierce urgency of now.

“Africa cannot afford another decade of exporting raw materials while importing its dignity. Let us write our own story with gas.

Let us light up homes, fuel our agriculture, create dignified jobs, and stop the death of our mothers and daughters from cooking with smoke.”

“Gas can free our women from five-hour firewood treks,” Dr. Derefaka emphasised.

“It can reduce indoor air pollution by over 90 percent.

Furthermore, it  can restore children’s health, spark industries, modernize communities, and break cycles of poverty.”

“If the gas beneath our feet could speak,” Dr. Derefaka reflected, “it would ask us, why do you let me waste?

Why are your children in the dark? Why do you wait while others run?

We must not let history say that we stood on a mountain of gold and chose to beg for crumbs.”

Ejiro Gray addressed the audience with firm clarityas she echoed this sentiment.

She challenged the Western-driven climate narratives that often disregard Africa’s peculiar development needs.

“Until the lion learns to write, every story will glorify the hunter,” she said, quoting Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. “We must be the lion.

We must write our own story.”

Gray made it clear that Africa is halfway through its so-called Decade of Gas.

The promises were made, she noted. The goals were set.

But now is the time to measure progress. “Gas must be our clean energy launchpad,” she urged.

“It is not about rejecting renewables. It is about embracing a just transition where Africa can walk with dignity, not crawl in energy poverty.”

While acknowledging the global complexities of geopolitical rivalry and shifting energy policies, Gray stressed that Africa must insulate itself from shocks by looking inward.

“What do we have? What can we leverage? Gas is our answer.”

Highlighting Sahara Group’s proactive steps, Gray shared initiatives such as gas-to-power projects in host communities, the diversion of flared gas from OML 148 to power entire villages, and their LPG storage and transportation network across Africa.

“Our strategy rests on three pillars gas to power communities, gas to power plants, and gas for trading and storage. We have invested in infrastructure and vessels. We are walking the talk.”

She lamented at the stage at which the continent is currently in when compared with its contemporaries in other climes.

“Over 600 million Africans live without electricity.

More than 900 million still depend on firewood and charcoal for cooking.

And nearly 600,000 lives are lost annually to respiratory illnesses tied to indoor air pollution most of them women and children.

This is not just an energy crisis. This is a crisis of equity, health, dignity, and hope.”

Bethel Obioma drew the audience into the vision behind Asharami Square.

Obioma explained the core philosophy. “Sustainability is not a buzzword for us. It is our way of life.

And it is also our commitment to existing now without robbing the future.

It is the synergy between doing good, being good, and doing well.”

He explained that Asharami Square was born out of a desire to empower the media with knowledge to become effective advocates of sustainability.

“If the storytellers do not understand sustainability, how will the story be told right?

The media must become the right horse for this message, or we risk having a sustainability agenda without impact.”

Obioma called on journalists to embrace their agenda-setting role.

“Africa needs reporters who can break down the complex themes energy transition, climate justice, biodiversity and bring the people along.

Because to leave no one behind, we must inform everyone clearly.”

To truly harness this potential, the experts agreed that regional gas infrastructure must be prioritised, pipelines, LNG terminals as well as storage facilities.

That Africa must stop being a raw material depot and become a processing, producing, and prospering continent.

The high point of the event was the special Asharami Awards for Outstanding Sustainability Reporting media houses.

These include Vanguard Online, Punch, Nigeria Info 99.3FM and Arise News, amongst others.

The event featured an insightful and inspiring panel session with an array of celebral professionals.

These include: Dr. Adeola Yusuf, Energy Communications Expert, Ijeoma Isichei, Head of Business Development (Gas) at Sahara Group; Mariah Lucciano-Gabriel, Head of Integrated Gas Ventures at Asharami Energy; Olurotimi Famoroti, CEO, First Independent Power Limited (FIPL); and Mobolaji Sunmoni, Senior Infrastructure Finance Professional.

 

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