…as Stakeholders unveil $100m funding network
By Barth Ndubuwah, Port Harcourt
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume; Senate President, Godswill Akpabio; and renowned Pan-Africanist, Prof. PLO Lumumba, have issued a unified call for African nations to aggressively adopt emerging technologies or risk being left behind in the global energy transition.
The leaders spoke at the 9th Session of the Solewant Group Africa Energy Summit, which concluded over the weekend at the Solewant Industrial Park, Alode-Onne, Rivers State.
Themed “Emerging Technologies and the Future of Sustainable Development in Africa,” the 2025 summit brought together global energy executives, Development Financial Institutions (DFIs), and policymakers to chart a new path for the continent’s energy security.
Africa Cannot Stand on the Sidelines
Delivering the keynote address, Senator George Akume, represented by his Special Adviser on Technical Operations, Prof. Benard Bolaji Babatunde, warned that with rapid urbanization and demographic expansion, technological adoption is no longer optional but a survival strategy.
“Our continent is experiencing rapid demographic expansion and rising energy demand. Meeting these needs sustainably requires new thinking and new models,” Akume stated.
“Artificial intelligence, advanced robotics, digital monitoring systems, and renewable energy innovations are already transforming global energy ecosystems. Africa must not remain on the sidelines. We must be at the centre of developing, deploying, and scaling these technologies.”
The SGF commended the Solewant Group for its “remarkable consistency,” noting that the summit has become one of the most credible platforms for shaping energy policy in Nigeria and across the continent.
A major climax of the summit was the launch of the Africa Energy Innovative Funding Network (AEIFN), a strategic multi-stakeholder initiative designed to bridge the financing gap for energy innovators.
The network launched with a pledge to unlock $100 million in funding to support energy sector businesses across the continent. The initiative aims to leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework to increase cross-border investment and trade in key sectors.
Lumumba, Akpabio on Legislative & Strategic Support.
Also speaking, Prof. PLO Lumumba charged participants to move beyond rhetoric and escalate the summit’s deliberations into actionable policies.
He argued that Africa is strategically positioned to harness new technologies to leapfrog development stages, rather than playing catch-up.
Corroborating this stance, Senate President Godswill Akpabio (represented by Senator Osita Ngwu) pledged legislative support, hinting at possible amendments to the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to further streamline operations and improve the ease of doing business for indigenous firms like Solewant.
The Host and Group Managing Director/CEO of Solewant Group, Mr. Solomon Ewanehi, stated that the company is committed to building bridges between policy, investment, and technology.
“We have over the past ten years developed a roadmap, and today Solewant Group has become a conglomerate. Our vision is to be the first-rate, world-class steel pipe and coating service provider for the oil, gas, and water industry in Africa,” Ewanehi said.
He highlighted the company’s recent milestones, including the commissioning of a state-of-the-art pipe bend and pipe fitting multi-layer coating factory in June 2025, developed in partnership with Euro-American OEMs. This addition complements the existing multi-layer pipe coating plant, concrete weight coating plant, and steel fabrication facilities at the Solewant Industrial Park.
The summit, attended by major industry players including representatives from Union Bank and First Bank, featured technical paper presentations, capacity-building workshops, and an exhibition of intelligent energy solutions.
A communique issued at the end of the event recommended the deepening of local content participation and the strengthening of indigenous technology deployment. The summit also facilitated business matchmaking sessions to foster joint ventures under the AfCFTA framework.