Sahara Group is strategically positioning itself at the 9th Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES) 2026 to reinforce critical elements of energy security, collaboration, and innovation as foundations for Africa’s energy sector growth. The summit, convened in Abuja from February 2 to 5, unites policymakers, industry executives, investors, and regulators to engage on energy policy, investment frameworks, and cross-border cooperation aimed at strengthening the continent’s energy ecosystem.
With more than three decades of operational experience spanning upstream, midstream, downstream, power, trading, and infrastructure markets, Sahara Group’s presence reflects its intent to anchor Africa’s energy development on efficiency, reliability, and competitiveness. The company’s leadership said the summit is an opportunity to accelerate coordinated action that addresses structural gaps in regulatory regimes, local capacity, and investment flows.
Bethel Obioma, Head of Corporate Communications at Sahara Group, stated that “Africa can utilise platforms such as the NIES to accelerate dialogue and coordinated actions aimed at transforming and guiding the continent’s energy sector towards global competitiveness, sustainability, and shared prosperity.” This underscores Sahara’s emphasis on leveraging stakeholder engagement to advance sector reforms and broaden energy access.
Sahara’s delegation includes senior technical and commercial executives from Asharami Energy, its upstream subsidiary, speaking on high-level panels. Leste Aihevba, Chief Technical Officer of Asharami Energy, participates in the discussion on “Empowering Local Services, African Entrepreneurs & Multinational Partnerships,” where he will highlight the importance of scaling indigenous capacity, reinforcing service ecosystems, and deepening strategic partnerships that address operational bottlenecks.
Dr. Tosin Etomi, Head of Commercial & Planning at Asharami Energy, will engage on “One Africa, One Regulatory Voice: Aligning Policies for Continental Prosperity and Investment.” His contribution focuses on promoting regulatory coherence and predictable fiscal frameworks that can attract capital and enable sustained cross-border energy growth. Panel deliberations aim to identify regulatory alignments that reduce uncertainty for investors and energy service providers.
Mariah Lucciano-Gabriel, Head of Integrated Gas Ventures at Asharami Energy, will address “Gas for Growth: Milestones, Momentum and the Road Ahead,” framing natural gas as a strategic enabler of industrialisation, expanded energy access, and pragmatic energy transitions across African markets. This aligns with broader continental goals to diversify energy sources while supporting economic expansion.
Economic landscape considerations are central to the discussions at NIES. Energy security underpins production stability, cost management, and investor confidence. Markets with reliable energy frameworks tend to attract long-term capital, reduce supply chain disruptions, and enable firms to plan expansions with greater certainty, all of which can enhance GDP growth and job creation across sectors.
The summit’s overarching theme, “Energy for Peace and Prosperity: Securing Our Shared Future,” reflects both national and regional objectives to mobilise investments and formulate cohesive policy strategies that address energy deficits, improve infrastructure, and strengthen resilience in the face of global market volatility. Sahara’s engagement is calibrated to bridge private sector insights with public policy directions, fostering an environment conducive to sustainable economic outcomes.
Sahara Group’s participation at NIES 2026 also signals its commitment to Africa-centric solutions that balance commercial viability with developmental impact. By advocating for coordinated regulatory frameworks, investment in human capital, and collaboration across sectors, the company aims to influence outcomes that contribute to more predictable energy markets.
In practical terms, Sahara’s role at the summit is expected to stimulate dialogue on policy harmonisation, local content enhancement, and the integration of regional energy markets. These elements are seen as essential to reducing barriers to investment, strengthening domestic industries, and enabling energy projects that generate scalable economic benefits.
Overall, Sahara Group’s agenda at NIES 2026 reflects an analytical focus on structural enablers of energy sector performance and their implications for economic stability and growth. The company’s contributions to panel discussions emphasise the strategic interplay between regulatory certainty, local capacity, and investment mobilisation, priorities that are critical if Africa is to realise robust energy security and sustained economic development.
