Sahara Group Calls for Bold Human Capital Strategies in Africa’s Energy Sector

 Sahara Group, a leading energy and infrastructure conglomerate, has emphasized that deliberate and innovative human capital strategies are pivotal to positioning Africa’s energy sector for sustainable growth and competitiveness amid evolving global energy security challenges and emerging opportunities.

Speaking at the 2025 Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) Annual International Conference & Exhibition, Emilomo Arorote, Group Head of Human Resources at Sahara Group, noted that energy professionals’ curiosity, competence, and courage to act remain the most powerful levers for transformation in a transitioning world.

Held under the theme “Revitalizing the Nigerian Petroleum Exploration and Production Strategies for Energy Security and Sustainable Development,” this year’s NAPE Conference convened industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators to explore pathways toward achieving long-term energy security across Africa.

Highlighting the indispensable role of human ingenuity in shaping the industry’s future, she said, “Innovation in our industry has never been about systems alone; it always begins with people.” She said Sahara remained committed to driving transformative human capital development as a cornerstone for Africa’s energy sustainability.

Photo Caption (L-R): Felix Oluyemi, Exploration Manager, Asharami Energy (A Sahara Group Upstream Company); Maureen Fashina, Treasury Accountant, Asharami Energy; Anna Aribatise, Reservoir Engineer, Asharami Energy; Emilomo Arorote, Group Head, Human Resources, Sahara Group; Adaora Emenike, HR Analyst, Sahara Group; and Francis Ejeke, Senior Geomodeller, Asharami Energy at the 2025 NAPE in Lagos, Nigeria

 

“At Sahara, we have seen how curiosity transforms into capability when young professionals start asking the right questions. A remarkable portion of our breakthroughs, including the landmark OKOS-04L well intervention in OML-148, were driven by young teams who dared to challenge convention and applied fresh thinking to complex problems.”

Arorote said the next frontier of the industry will depend not only on technology but also on the mindset of the people driving it.

“As we navigate the energy transition from gas-to-power integration to automation and data-driven operations, the future will belong to those who combine curiosity with patience and precision. The young professionals who will redefine Africa’s energy story are those who are willing to learn deeply, think differently, and act decisively,” she said.

Arorote said Africa’s energy sector needs to build sustainable systems that support mentorship and knowledge transfer to younger professionals to achieve robust and globally competitive energy operations and impact. “Mentorship is a two-way bridge that allows both emerging and seasoned professionals to learn, adapt, and grow together, blending the wisdom of experience with the ingenuity of youth.”

Sahara Group’s participation at NAPE 2025 reinforces its long-standing commitment to investing in human capital, advancing digitalization, and leveraging gas as a transition fuel for Africa’s sustainable growth.

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.