Oando Clean Energy (OCEL), the renewable energy subsidiary of Oando PLC, has called for an Africa-led approach to the continent’s just energy transition, urging governments, policymakers, and private-sector players to prioritise energy security, industrialisation and human capital development as the foundation for sustainable economic growth.
The call was made by the President & Chief Executive Officer of OCEL, Ademola Ogunbanjo, during the Africa CEO Forum Webinar Series on Fair Energy Transition. The session brought together leading energy executives, including Marieme-Sav Sow, Vice President, Engagement & Advocacy, TotalEnergies, and Zilper Abong’o, General Manager, Strategy & Commercial Services, Kenya Pipeline Company Limited, and was moderated by Georja Calvin-Smith, Presenter & Senior Producer at France 24.
Speaking during the discussion, Ogunbanjo emphasised that Africa’s energy transition must be shaped by the continent’s own development priorities, balancing climate ambitions with the urgent need to expand energy access, strengthen energy security, and accelerate industrialisation. He noted that while Africa contributes only around four per cent of global carbon emissions, it continues to bear a disproportionate share of the effects of climate change, underscoring the need for a pragmatic and inclusive transition that leverages the continent’s diverse energy resources to drive economic transformation.
According to him, Africa’s transition should be built on an integrated energy mix that combines renewable energy with conventional energy sources to address the continent’s significant electricity deficit while supporting long-term economic development. “It is important that Africa curates Africa’s energy transition. Energy on the African continent is a function of security. It is the bedrock upon which industrialisation will sit. There is no way we can optimise the continent’s vast natural resources and population without providing energy for the continent,” Ogunbanjo said.
Highlighting Oando Clean Energy’s contribution to advancing Africa’s clean energy agenda, Ogunbanjo outlined several strategic initiatives being developed by the company, including a 1.2GW solar module assembly plant in Nigeria, the deployment of electric vehicles for mass transportation, and the publication of Nigeria’s first wind resource capacity report. He noted that these initiatives are designed to strengthen local manufacturing, deepen technical capabilities, and expand access to cleaner energy solutions across the continent.
He also stressed that unlocking Africa’s clean energy potential will require stronger public-private collaboration, stable and predictable policy frameworks, regional integration, and deliberate investment in education and skills development to build the workforce the sector needs. “What we need to figure out is how to fund these projects and change our curriculum… to begin to teach the kind of skills that are required to help this sector grow,” he said.
The discussion also reflected broad consensus on the enabling conditions required to accelerate Africa's energy transition. Marieme-Sav Sow, Vice President, Engagement & Advocacy at TotalEnergies, observed that, "Resources alone are not enough. What matters is how the government will arbitrate, how they will translate sustained political commitment into tangible outcomes." Echoing this sentiment, Zilper Abong'o, General Manager, Strategy & Commercial Services at Kenya Pipeline Company Limited, highlighted the importance of embedding local skills development and training into project implementation to build long-term capacity across the continent.
Ogunbanjo further called for greater value addition across Africa’s critical minerals sector, urging governments to encourage domestic manufacturing of products such as batteries and solar panels rather than exporting raw materials.
As it advances its ambition of building Africa's largest integrated green energy company, Oando Clean Energy remains committed to investing in scalable, commercially viable clean energy solutions that strengthen energy security, accelerate industrial development and support the continent's transition to a more resilient and sustainable energy future.
