Lagos: Stakeholders from the public and private sectors have emphasised the need for stronger collaboration on energy security and decarbonisation to accelerate Africa’s transition to clean energy and sustainable growth. They said that the transition would deliver economic resilience, create jobs and promote sustainable industrialisation across the continent.

According to News Agency of Nigeria, they spoke at the Private Sector Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) forum with the theme: ‘Energy Security and Decarbonisation: Bridging the Gap for a Sustainable Future’. The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by Mrs. Titilayo Oshodi, his Special Adviser on Climate Change and Circular Economy, said that climate action and economic growth must go hand-in-hand. Sanwo-Olu noted that in Lagos and by extension Nigeria and Africa, the conversation on ESG could not be well established without addressing its economic benefits.

The governor highlighted that issues pertaining to environment, renewable energy, waste, and water management were crucial to Lagos as an aquatic and coastal city. He added that the event’s theme captured a vision that was both urgent and necessary as nations, industries, and cities continued to navigate the complex transition toward a low-carbon economy without compromising growth and energy access. Sanwo-Olu described the private sector as not just a stakeholder but a key driver of the transformation and expressed hope that the ESG forum would spark collaborations that turn policy into practice.

Mr. Biodun Ogunleye, Lagos State Commissioner for Energy and Natural Resources, affirmed that the state was charting energy independence. He said Lagos had an integrated energy policy and aimed to become a leader for Africa by powering itself sustainably. Ogunleye added that Lagos had been promoting responsible energy use across public buildings and facilitating the adoption of compressed natural gas. He noted that by next year, a new master plan supporting e-mobility and cleaner energy use for transportation would be laid out across the city.

Mr. Yarub Al-Bahrani, Managing Director, British American Tobacco (BAT), West and Central Africa, highlighted the need for balance in powering growing industries and homes while nurturing the planet. He pointed out that energy consumption and production contributed approximately two-thirds of global emissions, with 81 per cent of the world’s energy still based on fossil fuels. Al-Bahrani emphasized the importance of the private sector stepping forward with action rather than rhetoric.

Mrs. Tenioye Majekodunmi, Director-General, National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), noted the pivotal role of the private sector in shaping Africa’s sustainable future. She stated that Africa stood at the intersection of two urgent imperatives – expanding energy access and reducing carbon emissions. Majekodunmi stressed the council’s commitment to operationalising the Climate Change Act, which provides the legal and institutional framework for climate governance in Nigeria.

Mr. Segun Ajayi-Kadri, Director-General, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, discussed the challenges faced by the manufacturing sector in accessing affordable and reliable energy, which impacts competitiveness and productivity. He called for collaborative efforts, knowledge sharing, and co-developed solutions to bridge the gap between private sector needs and sustainable energy transition, ensuring that energy transition efforts deliver economic resilience and promote sustainable industrialisation across the continent.