By Abiola Olawale
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has issued a powerful call for African leaders and stakeholders to champion a technological revolution to secure a sustainable and resilient energy future for the continent.
Akume delivered this charge at the 9th Annual Africa Energy Summit organised by the Solewant Group under the leadership of the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Solewant Group, Mr Solomon Ewanehi.
The New Diplomat reports that this year’s summit, the 9th in the series, took place from November 27–28, 2025, at the Solewant Industrial Park, Alode-Onne, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The summit, themed “Emerging Technologies and the Future of Sustainable Energy Development in Africa,” brought together policymakers, energy executives, financiers, and development partners in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Represented by his Special Adviser (Technical Operations), Prof. Babatunde Bolaji Benard, the SGF emphasized that Africa can no longer afford to remain on the sidelines of global technological advancement.
He identified emerging technologies as “indispensable tools” in the continent’s quest to tackle poverty, reduce energy costs, enhance efficiency, and create new jobs for its youthful population.
“Artificial intelligence, robotics, digital monitoring, and smart infrastructure are already transforming global energy ecosystems. Africa must not remain on the sidelines,” he declared.
He added that the continent must not only deploy these technologies but also actively participate in developing and scaling them to secure long-term economic resilience.
Akume highlighted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ongoing reforms, focused on achieving a modern, competitive energy economy, as potent signals of Nigeria’s readiness to embrace a technologically driven energy future.
He cited key interventions including:
• The Presidential CNG Initiative, expanding alternative fuel use across transport and industry;
• The Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund, unlocking financing for strategic gas and energy infrastructure;
• The Energy Transition Plan, guiding a shift to cleaner, resilient energy sources;
• Strengthened local content policies and incentives for indigenous innovation, and;
• Expanded participation of Nigerian firms in refining, gas processing, pipelines, and renewable energy.
“These actions reflect our determination to build a diversified, technologically advanced, and globally competitive energy economy,” he said.
Akume also applauded the Solewani Group for sustaining what he called “one of Africa’s most credible and influential platforms” for shaping energy policy and industry collaboration.
“For nearly a decade, Solewani has anticipated industry transitions, connected policymakers with innovators and inspired practical solutions,” he said.
The New Diplomat reports that during the two-day event policymakers, energy executives, financiers, development partners, and researchers gathered from across the continent to discuss strategies for building a sustainable and technologically advanced energy future for Africa.
Key highlights of the summit include key paper presentations from industry leaders and government representatives, strategic panel discussions on technology and energy integration, technical presentations, emerging research, and keynote messages from NNPC, IOCs, and EPC companies.
Other key highlights include: exhibitions of intelligent energy solutions; case studies from across Africa and beyond; capacity-building workshops and networking opportunities
Recall also that Solewant Group – an industry leader in pipe manufacturing and coating services – has not only sustained leadership in pipeline coating, fabrication, and asset integrity management across Nigeria, but it continues to pioneer new frontiers in industrial and energy infrastructure development. Its industrial park at Alode-Onne now includes one of Africa’s most advanced multi-layer pipe coating plants, a dedicated pipe bend multi-layer coating plant (commissioned in mid-2025) developed in partnership with Euro-American OEMs, and full steel pipe milling capabilities.
At major global platforms such as OTC Houston and the IATF 2025 in Algiers, Solewant has showcased integrated solutions- spanning coating systems, fabrication, specialized coatings, and energy sector training and certifications- reinforcing its role as an African industrial innovator.
For more than two decades, Solewant Group, has retained its position as Nigeria’s foremost pipe production, coating, and energy sector industrial solutions provider, showcasing technologies to the global oil and gas industry.
From the 2025 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) held in Houston, Texas, United States of America (USA), to the Nigerian Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair (NOGOF) 2025, held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State; from the Namibia Oil and Gas Conference in Windhoek to the 4th edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF 2025) convened by Afreximbank at SAFEX Building in Algiers, Solewant Group has continued to showcase innovative technological solutions and enormous technological breakthroughs in its state-of-the-art industrial area in Nigeria.
At the OTC, Solewant Group showcased its leadership position in technological innovation in the global oil and gas industry, in a powerful presentation before international and Nigerian audiences.
At the IATF 2025 in Algiers, Solewant Group presented its diversified portfolio: Solewant Nigeria Limited (SNL) – Africa’s largest multi-layer pipe coating plant, delivering 3LPE, 3LPP, 5LPP, FBE, and Concrete Weight Coating solutions; Field Joint Coatings Ltd. (FJCL) – Onshore and offshore field joint coating and rehabilitation services; and SSPC – Specialty protective paints and coatings.
Others include: Pipe and Metals Industries Ltd. (PMI) – Steel pipe and metal fabrication; and SETI – Industry-focused energy training and certification.
