Summit to Address Africa’s Energy Needs
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu arrived in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Saturday evening to participate in the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit, a two-day event focusing on achieving universal energy access across the continent. The summit, which begins on January 27, 2025, is hosted by the Tanzanian government in collaboration with the African Union (AU), the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), and the World Bank Group.
Warm Welcome Upon Arrival
The President touched down at 10:20 p.m. (8:20 p.m. Nigerian time) and was warmly received by Tanzanian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Thabit Kombo and Nigeria’s Chargé d’Affaires to Tanzania, Ambassador Salisu Suleiman.
Summit Highlights
- Day One (Ministerial Level):
- Participating nations, including Nigeria, will present their national energy strategies or “compacts,” which detail their plans to achieve universal energy access within five years.
- Day Two (Heads of State Level):
- African leaders will adopt the Dar es Salaam Energy Declaration, a unified strategy to advance the goals of Mission 300, which seeks to deliver reliable energy solutions to 300 million Africans.
Delegation Accompanying President Tinubu
The Nigerian delegation includes prominent government officials such as:
- Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, member of the delegation.
- Mr. Adebayo Adelabu, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
- Mr. Olu Verheijen, Special Adviser to the President on Energy.
- Minister of Power, along with other senior officials.
Nigeria’s Role and Objectives
At the summit, Nigeria will showcase its national energy compact, highlighting strategies to improve electricity generation, renewable energy adoption, and sustainable energy access. The country’s participation underscores its commitment to tackling energy poverty and driving economic growth through improved energy infrastructure.
Importance of Mission 300
The Mission 300 initiative aims to address Africa’s energy deficit by prioritizing investments in renewable energy, modernizing power grids, and fostering regional collaboration. The summit is expected to foster innovative partnerships and mobilize significant investments toward achieving these goals.
Further updates on the summit and Nigeria’s contributions will be shared as the event progresses.
