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A Rise in Female Leadership Will Trigger Newfound Economic Growth and Inclusion (By Kelly-Ann Mealia)

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2 years ago

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Female Leadership

While women’s participation in leadership roles globally has been minimal for centuries, a new wave of female leaders promise change, inclusion and overall equality

DAKAR, Senegal, August 12, 2022/APO Group/ — 

By Kelly-Ann Mealia, Chairperson, Energy Capital & Power (www.EnergyCapitalPower.com)

The election of Her Excellency Francia Márquez as Colombia’s first Black Vice President is a testament to the increasing role women play in leadership positions globally, and both the international and African community should support her as she tackles her new role with drive, innovation and a people-centric approach.

While women’s participation in leadership roles globally has been minimal for centuries, a new wave of female leaders promise change, inclusion and overall equality. In June 2022, Colombia elected its first Black Female Vice President, H.E. Francia Márquez, an environmental activist who has emerged as a powerful spokesperson for black Colombians and various marginalized communities. With H.E. Márquez’ election, a new era of equality and inclusion awaits the country, and the African continent and diaspora as well as the international community needs to rally their support, both of her and other female leaders around the world. (https://nbcnews.to/3Ag0avE)    

Driving Equality

For her part, H.E. Márquez has and continues to be a representative of the people of Colombia and her election is considered a historic step towards strengthening equality both in Colombia and globally. As Andes bureau chief for The New York Times (https://nyti.ms/3zKKFu8) Julie Turkewitz stated in an article “the rise of Ms Márquez is significant not only because she is black in a nation where Afro-Colombians are regularly subject to racism and must contend with structural barriers, but because she comes from poverty in a country where economic class so often defines a person’s place in society.” A strong advocate for tackling social disparities, environmental challenges and ineffective policies, H.E. Márquez is an example of what female leaders are capable of, representing an important figurehead both in Colombia and worldwide. Just as H.E. Márquez has done, a number of female leaders around the world are taking up their rightful place at the leadership table.

H.E. Márquez represents someone who has seized opportunities and fought for her role in society

The Rise in African Female Leaders

Africa itself is a global leader in women’s public leadership, with five African countries in the top 20 nations for women’s parliamentary representation, four of which have 45% women representation in cabinets. Like H.E. Márquez will in the coming years, these women have been trailblazers, leading their respective countries through economic, social and health crises, driving socioeconomic growth and development and pioneering initiatives to improve the participation of women economically. Notable examples (https://bit.ly/3dsvr5B) include H.E. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Former President of the Republic of Liberia and Founder of the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center for Women and Development; H.E. Sahle-Work Zewde, the fifth President and first woman President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia; Aja Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang, Former Vice President of The Gambia; Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, Prime Minister of Namibia; and H.E. Joyce Banda, Former President of Malawi, among many others.

https://bit.ly/3CjansL

Despite the continent’s progress towards equality in leadership, disparity continues to exist in a number of economic sectors. The energy industry, for example, a sector recognized as the backbone of every economy, shows women accounting for merely 22% of oil and gas employees, with 17% represented in senior and executive roles and only 1% in CEO positions. Therefore, despite progress made, a lot more needs to be done to support women in leadership.

Rallying Global Support

As H.E. Márquez takes on her new position it has become even more prevalent for the African and global community to support her, as well as other women taking on leadership positions. For the African diaspora, H.E. Márquez represents someone who has seized opportunities and fought for her role in society, while for the global African community, she represents the future of leadership. As such, in a world where women have had to and continue to fight for their rightful place at the leadership table, leaders such as H.E. Márquez serve as instrumental figures. However, such support must transcend Colombia’s borders, as women increase their presence in leadership on a global basis.

As the leading investment platform for the African energy sector, Energy Capital & Power (ECP) www.EnergyCapitalPower.com centers each and every one of its large-scale events around rallying support for women in energy and leadership. Dedicated women in energy seminars, networking events and forums emphasize the critical role women continue to play in improving energy access, driving innovative solutions and positioning the African continent as a globally leading energy market. Women led and founded, ECP is focused on helping increase the participation and leadership of women in African energy, thereby rallying the support current and emerging female stakeholders need to thrive.

Despite being Africa-focused, ECP is committed to driving investment in energy on a global basis, and South America is not exempt in this regard. Over the years, South American companies, including Latin American oil and gas company Pluspetrol, have participated in ECP events, driving dialogue and strengthening Africa-global energy relations. In 2022, ECP is eager to improve relations further, inviting South American stakeholders to participate in the company’s 2022 event lineup, https://bit.ly/3SMJXVL and help drive the discussion on women in energy and strengthening female leadership. For both Africa’s and the global economy to thrive, women need to be at the forefront of decision-making, and while H.E. Márquez is not the first female in political leadership worldwide, she most certainly will not be the last.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

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Ministers among hundreds of energy-sector leaders to attend AOW event

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1 day ago

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October 4, 2024

By

Sinclair

The event kicks off with an invitation-only ministerial symposium focused on the theme of “Fostering innovation, attracting investment, and promoting sustainable growth in the oil, gas, and energy sectors”

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, October 4, 2024/APO Group/ — 

AOW: Investing in African Energy (https://AOWEnergy.com) – Africa’s leading oil, gas and energy event – has confirmed attendance for more than 80 ministers and senior officials, representing African governments, energy departments and regulators at next month’s event.

These influential stakeholders will be among the more than 1 600 senior delegates and industry leaders who will be attending the event to develop policy, share discoveries, secure investment, and shape Africa’s energy future.

The event kicks off with an invitation-only ministerial symposium focused on the theme of “Fostering innovation, attracting investment, and promoting sustainable growth in the oil, gas, and energy sectors.”

Given the recent major oil-and-gas discoveries across Africa, the energy transition and major geopolitical events, it is clear that the energy sector needs positive intervention

Among the officials and government ministers attending will be energy leaders from South Africa, Nigeria, Namibia, Cote d’Ivoire, Mozambique, DRC, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Eswatini, Uganda, CAR, Guinea Conakry, Guinea Bissau, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Gabon, Malawi, Morocco, Zanzibar, Liberia, Senegal, Congo Brazzaville and Sierra Leone.

In addition, the event will feature high-level delegations from numerous national oil companies, as well as multilateral bodies including the African Union, (AU), African Energy Commission (AFREC), African Petroleum Producers’ Organization (APPO) and the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP).

AOW will see these energy leaders networking with C-suite executives and decision-makers from more than 760 top energy companies at daily networking events, to discuss insights, forge new relationships, and negotiate major energy deals.

“We are so excited to see the calibre of delegates at this year’s AOW event,” says Chief Executive Officer of Sankofa Events, Paul Sinclair. “Given the recent major oil-and-gas discoveries across Africa, the energy transition and major geopolitical events, it is clear that the energy sector needs positive intervention. The high-powered attendance proves AOW is a key platform to enable this intervention.”

Key themes to be discussed at this year’s AOW will be sustainable upstream development; expanding gas value chains; renewables and new energies; adoption of best-in-class technologies; and access to finance.

AOW: Investing in African Energy will culminate in a special anniversary party at Groot Constantia Vineyard to celebrate 30 years of the AOW event.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of AOW: Investing in African Energy.

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Afreximbank approves US$20.8 million for Starlink Global’s cashew factory project in Lagos

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1 day ago

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October 4, 2024

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PAPSS

The facility is expected to promote value addition which will guarantee increased earnings to the company while also fostering the creation of about 400 new jobs

CAIRO, Egypt, October 4, 2024/APO Group/ — 

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) has approved a US$20.8 million financing facility for Nigeria-based Starlink Global & Ideal Limited to enable the company construct and operate a 30,000-metric tonne per annum cashew processing factory in Lagos.

We are delighted at this partnership which promises to deliver significant impact on employment in Nigeria

According to the facility agreement signed in on July 22, 2024, Afreximbank will provide the funds in two tranches with the first tranche of US$7.48M going toward capital expenditure for the construction of the factory and the second, totalling US$13.25M to be deployed as working capital for the operations of the factory.

The facility is expected to promote value addition which will guarantee increased earnings to the company while also fostering the creation of about 400 new jobs once the factory becomes operational. It is also expected to support about 40 small and medium-sized enterprises.

Commenting on the transaction, Mrs. Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President, Intra Africa Trade and Export Development, Afreximbank, said that by supporting Starlink Global to establish a modern processing facility, Afreximbank is making it possible for Africa to add value to its agro-commodities, thereby facilitating exports and subsequent inflow of much-needed foreign exchange into the continent.

“We are delighted at this partnership which promises to deliver significant impact on employment in Nigeria. It will contribute to value creation and to the development of the local community while also improving the lots of smallholder farmers and small business suppliers that will work with Starlink across the value chain,” Mrs. Awani added.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

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Sonangol to Lead Decarbonized Oil & Gas (O&G) Development, Says Angolan National Oil Company (NOC) Head

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October 4, 2024

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Sonangol

Participating in an on-stage interview at Angola Oil & Gas 2024, Sonangol CEO Sebastião Gaspar Martins emphasized that oil and gas remains a core focus for the national oil company

LUANDA, Angola, October 3, 2024/APO Group/ — 

Angola’s national oil company Sonangol reiterated its commitment to driving sustainable hydrocarbon development during the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) conference this week. Speaking during an “In-Conversation with” session, Sonangol CEO Sebastião Gaspar Martins stated that the company will not abandon oil and gas, but rather advance decarbonized oil and gas development.

We are looking at opportunities in the gas sector and have identified the right partner to develop non-associated gas

By investing in upstream oil and gas production while prioritizing low-carbon projects, Sonangol aims to boost national crude output, while diversifying and decarbonizing the industry. The NOC is focusing efforts on non-associated gas development, as well as alternative energy sources such as solar.

“We are looking at opportunities in the gas sector and have identified the right partner to develop non-associated gas. Gas produced from Angola LNG will be used for the production of fertilizer and we are evaluating the utilization of gas in the south of the country, linking gas with steel industries. We also have a blue carbon project, linked to the reduction of carbon through the plantation of mangroves. We have one area in Luanda and have identified four additional areas for this,” stated Gaspar Martins.

Sonangol has undergone transformation in recent years: following the creation of the National Oil, Gas & Biofuels Agency (ANPG) in 2019, Sonangol transferred its role as national concessionaire and regulator. This transformation has aimed to make Sonangol more competitive and strengthen its capacity as an upstream operator. Concurrently, the government is partially privatizing the NOC, with privatization set to be complete in 2026. This process will enhance financial capacity, allowing Sonangol to drive new upstream projects forward.

“The transformation of Sonangol started several years ago, when we passed the regulatory, concessionaire role to the ANPG. At the time, we transferred almost 600 employees to the ANPG. After that, Sonangol underwent a restructuring program where we created five core business units from 36 different entities – starting with exploration and production. We want to go public, but we want to do it properly. So, we are currently going through all the processes to do this,” stated Gaspar Martins.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

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