African leaders will descend on Abuja in May for the Nigeria-Africa Natural Resource and Energy Summit (NAFNIS).
The event, which takes place bewteen May 30 and June 2, has been initiated by the federal government of Nigeria to help promote sustainable energy deals across Africa.
As part of NAFNIS, Nigeria seeks to work in league with other African countries to elevate the development of the continent’s natural resources through knowledge sharing, investment and trade.
The organisers of the event said that the forum was initiated to encourage the development and financing of sustainable energy projects in Africa in response to the world’s focus on phasing out the use of fossil fuels and reduce carbon emissions.
The focus of the summit is on the development and financing of renewable energy projects in Africa, including natural gas projects, which have significantly lower carbon emissions and could be used to power industries in Africa.
It also aims to bolster green metal mining projects that produce raw materials that will be used to power a ‘green world’.
A spokesperson added: ‘This platform operates as a multi-stakeholder, multi-disciplinary platform dedicated to marketing bankable projects within the African natural resource and energy sector, raising capital for such projects, sharing knowledge, and developing policy to accelerate the development of the natural resources and energy of every African nation sustainably.'
The theme of the 2022 summit is ‘Towards A Greener Africa?’.
It was deliberately phrased this way to give the summit a focus on developing green projects in Africa, according to the organisers.
They added: 'As the world moves towards a green economic recovery post Covid-19, this edition seeks to ensure that Africa is taking steps to utilise new technology to cut carbon emissions within the sector and that the African natural resources sector is being developed to take advantage of the fast-developing green metals international market and thus attracting investment for their development.'
Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari is among several African leaders, ministers, ambassadors, captains of industry and representatives of multilateral institutions expected at the event.
More than 60 carefully selected speakers are due to address delegates.
Their speeches will focus on three core objectives: the financing of energy projects, promotion of trade and knowledge sharing between African nations, and policy and strategy development for the sector.
The speakers include Yemi Osinbajo, Vice President of Nigeria, Olamilekan Adegbite, Minister of Mines and Steel, Abubakar Aliyu, Minister of Power, Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, Minister of Finance, Budget and Planning, Amina J Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General and Chair of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG).
Other speakers include Babagana Umara Zulum, Governor of Borno State, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, Minister of Trade and Investment, Timipre Sylva, Minister of State, Ministry of Petroleum, Sharon Ikeazor, Minister of State, Ministry of Environment, Uche Ogah, Minister of State, Ministry of Mines and Steel, Godwin Emefiele, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Ambassador Zubairu Dada, Minister of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Honere Sayi, Minister of Energy and Hydraulics, Republic of Congo.
Officially hosted by the federal government of Nigeria and President Buhari, NAFNIS 2022 will also feature more than 50 African governments, which makes it the ideal platform for doing business in Africa, inter-African trade, inter-African investment, and African mining and energy policy development.
Other attractions of the summit include cultural shows, presidential dinners, golf tournaments and the opportunity to enjoy the social and cultural side of Abuja.
Crucially, though, NAFNIS will provide industry actors with exhibition spaces to showcase services, products, and investment opportunities to the world.
This, they say, will provide exhibitors with an opportunity for a lasting presence that will lead development over the course of the summit.
There is also a digital platform and knowledge hub which is sponsored by i-MINE that provides each country participating at the summit with a marketing page where projects seeking financing and partnership at the summit will be uploaded.
The platform will provide summit participants with the opportunity to learn and understand the most up-to-date country and state specific information at the summit. The platform is also used to track and facilitate deal making during the summit using data and analytics.
Other benefits of attending the event include the opportunity to understand the current climate and learn about new investment opportunities, trends, and the economic climate facing Africa, connect with industry heavyweights such as leading multinationals and critical stakeholders within the continent’s energy and mining space, and showcase new technologies and products through exhibition space.
For more information, see nigeriaafricasummit.com.
