Sahara Group Champions Inclusive Digital Learning to Strengthen Education, Energy Security Across Africa

Kola Adesina, Executive Director at Sahara Group, has called for stronger collaboration among African nations to prioritize inclusive digital learning as a catalyst for building robust educational systems and securing the continent’s energy future.

Adesina, who spoke at the 4th International Colloquium of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Distance Learning Institute, said the continent’s development is inextricably linked to its ability to equip its population with 21st-century skills, “leaving no one behind”.

Commenting on the theme,  “Future-Proofing Open, Flexible and Distance Learning: Balancing Innovation, Inclusion and Sustainability,” Adesina said: “Africa’s journey to sustainable energy security is a complex challenge that requires a highly skilled workforce. We can only build this army of engineers, data analysts, policy makers, and technicians by enabling access to quality education through digital platforms. Innovation can only be fully harnessed when it is inclusive.”

Photo Caption (L-R): Keynote Speaker, Prof. Chukunoye Ochonogor, Professor Extraordinaire, Tshwane University of Technology, (TUT), Pretoria,  South Africa, Kola Adesina, Group Managing Director, Sahara Power Group, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos, and Prof. Risikat Dauda, Director, Distance Learning Institute, University of Lagos at the 4th International Colloquium of the University of Lagos Distance Learning Institute

World Bank Data shows that only about 28% of Africa’s population has access to fixed broadband. Adesina argued that the “critical digital gap” is robbing the continent of potential talent that could help discover solutions to Africa’s numerous challenges, including energy poverty.

Describing learning as a continuous process, Adesina said the process would only serve Africa sustainably if “we collaboratively work towards ensuring that as many people as possible are carried along in the process.”

According to him, innovation, inclusion, and sustainability hold the key to helping Africa harness new frontiers of development. While commending digital technology for expanding access to education, he, however, warned that inclusion remained a critical component in determining how Africa can be transformed across the continent’s value chain.

“Innovation without inclusion is progress without justice. Every innovation must answer one question: does it bring more people in, or shut people out, he said, adding, “sustainability is not just about costs. It is about authentic learning. Today, AI can generate essays, but true learning is more than convenience. It is critical thinking, originality, and genuine engagement.”

Adesina stated that the principles of sustainability and inclusion continue to drive Sahara Group’s core operational philosophy.

“At Sahara, our approach to energy access is rooted in creating sustainable value that is inclusive and innovative. This is evident in our various initiatives, from power infrastructure projects that light up communities to capacity-building programs that empower young entrepreneurs and creatives to make a difference responsibly,” he said.

Sahara Leaders Named in African Energy Chamber’s ‘20 Under 40’ Rising Stars List

Sahara Group, a leading international energy and infrastructure conglomerate, is celebrating the recognition of two of its business leaders on the African Energy Chamber’s 2025 “20 Under 40 Energy Women Rising Stars” list, a landmark that reinforces the company’s role in shaping the next generation of global energy leadership.

Mariah Lucciano-Gabriel, Head of Integrated Gas Ventures at Asharami Energy, and Yetunde Sorinola, Chief Financial Officer of Egbin Power Plc, were named among the continent’s rising stars for their outstanding contributions to Africa’s energy sector. Their recognition reflects a wider global shift as the energy industry navigates the twin imperatives of expanding access to power and advancing a just energy transition.

The “20 Under 40” list shines an international spotlight on women who are redefining Africa’s oil, gas, and renewable industries, at a time when the continent’s leadership in innovation and resilience is increasingly shaping global conversations.

Moroti Adedoyin-Adeyinka, Executive Director at Sahara Group, described the recognition as evidence of Sahara’s long-standing commitment to empowering leaders who drive impact across Africa and beyond. “Mariah and Yetunde embody the Sahara spirit of resilience, innovation, and excellence. Their achievements demonstrate our commitment to Making A Difference by nurturing talent that can thrive on the global stage while bringing energy to life responsibly for communities across the continent and the globe,” she said.

Speaking also on the feat, Bethel Obioma, Head, Corporate Communications at Sahara Group, said the recognition also reflects Sahara’s people-focused strategy across the energy value chain. “At Sahara, our people strategy is centered on growing expertise and giving our employees platforms to express their abilities maximally, both within and outside the workplace. Our core values of being disruptively creative and ambidextrous empower every member of our team to harness their potential, drive innovation, and deliver impact that transcends borders,” Obioma noted.

As Head of Integrated Gas Ventures, Lucciano-Gabriel has been a driving force behind Sahara’s midstream gas business, accelerating revenue growth and expanding access to cleaner energy. “Being named among such a dynamic cohort of women is a powerful reminder that Africa has the talent and vision to lead global energy conversations,” she said. “This recognition inspires me to keep pushing boundaries, driving innovative gas solutions that can fuel inclusive growth,” Lucciano-Gabriel added.

Sorinola, who leads the finance operations of Egbin Power Plc, Africa’s largest privately owned thermal power plant, has built a reputation for strong governance, compliance, and financial stewardship of capital-intensive projects. “This honor belongs to the entire Egbin and Sahara team whose collective drive makes our work possible,” Sorinola noted. “We know that reliable power is the bedrock of economic progress and community empowerment, and our focus at Sahara remains on championing financial governance, sustainability, and mentoring the next generation of leaders who will power Africa’s future.”

NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber, added, “These women are not only recognized for their amazing careers, but for their work and commitment across their respective communities. This is what happens when women are given opportunities to lead in the industry; going beyond executing their jobs to championing communities and mentoring others to become part of the larger African energy family.”

With operations in over 42 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, Sahara Group continues to drive equitable career growth across an inimitably diverse and growing workforce of more than 5,000 irrepressible people committed to Making A Difference, bringing energy to life responsibly.

 

Asharami Synergy Kenya debate competition promotes generational sustainability

First place winners, Upper Hill Boys High School, receive their award excitedly

Asharami Synergy Kenya believes the future of the planet we call home rests on the engagement and involvement of all stakeholders, especially, the youths as we work towards protecting our environment. The debate platform is our contribution to ensuring students know and understand these issues to enable them proffer possible solutions

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Re: Tonye Cole moves on to public service

Our attention has been drawn to enquiries regarding the relationship between Sahara Group and Mr. Tonye Cole, following his resignation from Sahara in 2018 to pursue a career in public service.

In line with Sahara Group’s Corporate Governance Charter, Mr. Tonye Cole, on August 30, 2018, resigned all his Board appointments and day-to-day responsibilities for the Sahara Group companies and its affiliates with immediate effect post his announcement to pursue partisan politics.

The Charter prohibits key Management or Board members from partaking in active politics, promoting or supporting any political organization or ideology as Sahara Group is as a non-political and non-partisan organization, and is not affiliated to any political party in any of the countries we operate across Africa, Asia, Americas, Europe, or the Middle East.

Mr Tonye Cole no longer holds any position in the company in either an executive or non-executive capacity nor does he have any visibility over any of the affairs of the company since his resignation on the 30th of August 2018.

Mr Tonye Cole is a private citizen and as stated above, has no current affiliations to Sahara. Consequently, we are unfortunately not able to provide any information on his behalf.

It is pertinent to note that resignation of partners, directors, and employees in management positions to forestall cases of conflicts of interest is not new. It is an established global governance practice that promotes transparency, accountability, independence, and sustainability in organisations all over the world.

Recent examples of this include, Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima who resigned from his position of General Manager at Zenith Bank in 2007 to become Commissioner for Finance in Borno State.

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki who was Chair of the Board of Directors of Afrinvest, a firm he founded in 1995, resigned in September 2016, to contest the gubernatorial election in Edo State.

Taiwo Oyedele, former Fiscal Policy Partner and Africa Tax leader at PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC) resigned following his appointment as Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms by Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Sahara Group continues to strengthen its corporate governance and compliance systems through period reviews and global alliances and partnerships with organisations like the African Refiners Association and Distributors Association (ARDA), the world’s leading Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) research organisation, CO2CRC, the World Economic Forum’s – Partnering Against Corruption Initiative (PACI) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Group, among others.

Please see important links below:

Sahara Group’s original announcement in 2018:

TONYE COLE MOVES ON TO PUBLIC SERVICE – Sahara Group (sahara-group.com) (Published September 1, 2018)

Several Media reports on Mr. Tonye Cole’s resignation:

Tonye Cole resigns from Sahara Group, moves to public service, politics – Vanguard News (vanguardngr.com) (Published September 2, 2018)

Tonye Cole resigns from Sahara Energy to join politics (thecable.ng) (Published September 3, 2018)

Tonye Cole Resigns from Sahara Group, Goes into Active Politics – THISDAYLIVE (Published September 2, 2018)

Asharami Energy Senegal solar solution saves Daaray Orphanage 200,000 CFA monthly power bills

“Asharami Energy Senegal is delighted to have been given the privilege to bring energy to life responsibly to the orphanage to ensure seamless operations to drive uninterrupted learning, fun and laughter for the children. Through this project we are saving the orphanage more than 200,000FCFA ($333) in monthly electricity bills and we are excited to be making a difference in the lives of the wonderful children at the orphanage,”

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