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Accessible Energy Remains Vital for Advancing Human Progress, Says Eghosa Ebube

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3 years ago

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African Energy Chamber

Eghosa Ebube is the Portfolio Analyst at Chevron Nigeria

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, August 24, 2023/APO Group/ — 

Innovative solutions and technologies are required for Africa to meet dual goals of facilitating continent-wide energy security while transitioning to a cleaner energy future. Individuals such as Eghosa Ebube, Portfolio Analyst at Chevron Nigeria, are spearheading efforts to meet these goals, serving as a role model for aspiring women in the field of engineering. Ebube is featured on the African Energy Chamber’s (http://www.EnergyChamber.org) list of 25 Under 40 Energy Women Rising Stars.

Please share a brief overview of your journey in the energy industry that led to your current role? What are some key achievements or milestones that you are particularly proud of?

I joined the energy industry through Chevron Nigeria in 2012, working briefly as a Project Engineer on a Major Capital project before moving to an Onshore Construction Engineer role in 2014, supporting construction planning activities in Deepwater operations. My technical interests led me to take an Electrical & Instrumentation Project Engineer position in 2016 where I ended up completing a couple of Small Capital projects that projected me for my first influencer role in 2018. My new role as the departmental Organizational Capability coordinator required me to work closely with leadership in shaping and deploying competency and training plans, strengthening engineering practice locally and promoting human capacity development across several platforms. I combined the role with a nomination in 2019 to lead the organization’s Agile transformation initiative as a BU Iterative coach. The experience of working in uncharted territory, developing, and implementing change management strategies emboldened me to apply for a Portfolio Analyst position in 2021 which I hold till date. In my current job, I analyze business performance metrics and have significant interaction with Senior Executives as I develop my professional, business, and financial skills. Some key achievements over the span of my career include:

  • Establishing a hub in the organization to promote adoption of agile practices in the industry.
  • Coaching the first fully Iterative team in the organization, using agile frameworks, to build and deploy in 18 months, a fit-for-purpose factory process which has been adopted to drive efficiencies, cost savings and schedule predictability in well maturation processes.
  • Completing multiple successful pilots to demonstrate the business case for Agile methodologies and “Minimum Functional Objectives” approach (a bottom-up, incremental, value driven approach) in Project framing and alternatives assessments.
  • Revitalizing engineering practice by catalyzing technical employee networks, initiating novel guided experience programs, promoting participation in the Nigerian Society of Engineers community, and mentoring the younger generation through enriched, structured Internship and human capacity development programs.

The energy industry is known for its complexities. What were some significant challenges you faced along the way, and how did you navigate through them to achieve your goals?

Accessible and affordable energy remains vital to continue to accelerate and advance human progress

Navigating a vast, cross-functional industry: There are so many facets to the industry especially in integrated energy companies which requires teaming across functions and disciplines to achieve a common goal; you must make it your business to know a little bit of everything to team effectively. I had to acquire knowledge beyond my subject matter expertise by accessing training resources and technical mentors accessible to me and step out of my comfort zone, I continued to push beyond mentally imposed limits and maintained faith in my abilities to surmount any new challenges.

Innovating in high-risk, legacy infrastructure environments: Working in a high-risk industry which has operated for decades can slow down creativity and the pace of adopting innovation. To overcome these barriers, I strived to understand the cultural barriers to change, stayed curious and alert for trial opportunities to advance innovation, remained optimistic while relying on my personal conviction to recruit others to my cause, and influenced outcomes through servant-leadership and advocacy.

Managing complex stakeholder relationships: The expression “it takes a village” comes to mind; there are complex interdependencies that comes with the terrain due to the massive scale of energy development projects. This makes it an engagement and collaboration intensive industry requiring painstaking management for successful outcomes. Building my collaborative and engagement skills, understanding the different behaviors, interest, and drivers for both internal and external stakeholders’ and, building strong relationships based on trust, partnership and integrity have helped me with managing such complexities.

What advice would you give to young females aspiring to excel in the energy sector? Are there any specific strategies or mindsets that helped you overcome obstacles and reach your current position?

My advice will be to see your career as a marathon, know that it is shaped by little decisions you make each day, even before any job offers. Be intentional about your decisions, cultivate life-long learning and communication skills to accelerate your growth, always remember that your work ethics remains your best advocate. Do not be afraid to forge your unique path, stay true to who you are, but stay flexible on what path to take to achieve your career aspirations; the energy industry has many rewarding paths you can explore to reach your career aspirations as you contribute to shaping the future of energy.

Strategies and approaches which helped me thrive in my career include an agile and growth mindset towards new challenges, exercising mental resilience to bounce back from career disappointments and “playing the long game” as it eventually pays off.

A career in energy can be demanding. Could you describe a typical day in your life?

The pace ebbs and flows depending on the role, staying organized and flexible helps with the changing levels of intensity. A routine day for me as a Portfolio Analysts involves data gathering, analyzing inputs with some number crunching, holding collaboration meetings and teaming to arrive at finished products which inform key performance metrics and business priorities used in reports, industry updates, stakeholder messaging and decision making; schedule coordination is essential as timing is a key aspect of the job hence, self-management is a good skill to have. In addition, understanding the business value chain, what the key drivers are and how they impact the bottom line and what activities lineup with key business objectives are vital for accurately interpreting the trends. There are occasional peak days that stretch beyond work hours, but in all, it is a rewarding experience in terms of unlocking potential, career exposure and personal growth.

Looking ahead, what changes or advancements do you hope to see in the energy sector, and how do you envision your role in shaping that future?

Accessible and affordable energy remains vital to continue to accelerate and advance human progress. I believe the energy industry will play a leading role in the transition to a sustainable energy future. To do this, we need to rapidly reinvent how we deliver on our commitment to continue to meet the world’s growing energy needs through accelerated innovation and technology adoption. The skills and competencies I have, and continue to develop, will enable me lay an enduring foundation of processes, people and projects that are crucial to realizing a sustainable energy future for all.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber

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Africa and Caribbean trade potential could reach $1.65 billion annually by 2030: International Trade Centre (ITC)-Afreximbank report

Published

4 hours ago

on

November 4, 2026

By

Afreximbank

The report finds that around 80% of Africa’s annual goods export potential to the Caribbean remains untapped

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua and Barbuda, November 3, 2026/APO Group/ –Annual trade in goods and services between Africa and the Caribbean could reach up to $1.65 billion by 2030, excluding mineral fuels, according to a new report launched today by the International Trade Centre (ITC) and African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda.

 




  

The report, Reshaping Africa-Caribbean Trade: Opportunities for Economic Transformation, (https://apo-opa.co/4eiz62u) finds that while Africa and the Caribbean share deep historical and cultural links, trade between the two regions continues to represent only a small share of each region’s overall trade, despite complementarities across sectors ranging from agribusiness and manufacturing to services and the creative economy.

A look at the numbers

The report finds that around 80% of Africa’s annual goods export potential to the Caribbean remains untapped, with are significant opportunities for export growth if trade and investment is actively promoted and facilitated.

Africa and the Caribbean must transform a shared history into shared prosperity

Caribbean export potential lies in the services sector, reaching $481 million. The report identifies business opportunities across several priority sectors, including processed food and animal feed, chemicals, minerals and metals, apparel and textiles, leather and footwear, tourism, transport services and creative industries.

These findings – and more – are based on trade and export potential analysis, detailed sector assessments and a survey of 1,175 businesses and business support organizations across Africa and the Caribbean.

Tapping into priority sectors

ITC Executive Director Pamela Coke-Hamilton (https://apo-opa.co/3WHHZMU), in launching the report, said: ‘At a time of major shifts in global trade, countries need to strengthen regional ties and invest in value addition, to build resilience. We know the major trade opportunities between Africa and the Caribbean – and now we can focus on helping businesses take advantage of those opportunities through better market intelligence, improved logistics and greater access to finance.’

Commenting on the report, Denys Denya, Senior Executive Vice President at Afreximbank, said: ‘Africa and the Caribbean must transform a shared history into shared prosperity. With our CARICOM office in Barbados, about $1 billion in approved transactions and a $5 billion regional financing commitment, Afreximbank is advancing this vision through financing, deposit mobilization under CENDEP, business links through the annual Afri-Caribbean Trade and Investment Forum, local-currency payments through CAPSS and creative-industry collaboration through CANEX. This report offers a practical roadmap to turn untapped potential into bankable opportunities across agribusiness, manufacturing, tourism and the creative economy. Through targeted financing, stronger transport and logistics links and strategic partnerships, we can build a Global Africa connected by heritage, trade, investment and shared opportunity.’

The report finds that businesses continue to face significant challenges, including high transport costs, limited direct shipping links, regulatory barriers, limited access to finance and difficulties in identifying trusted commercial partners. It highlights that future economic cooperation should extend beyond traditional trade in goods, including through joint investment ventures, digital services, creative industries and tourism. It also calls for targeted action to improve market intelligence and business matchmaking; expand access to trade finance and payment solutions; strengthen transport and logistics connectivity; support sector-specific value chain development; improve regulatory cooperation and market access; and foster stronger partnerships among business support organizations.

Read the full report HERE (https://apo-opa.co/4exHBH9)

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

 




 

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MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2026 Investment Track to Spotlight New Capital Opportunities

Published

4 hours ago

on

November 4, 2026

By

Etu Energias

A high-level ministerial roundtable, a project development clinic and matchmaking sessions are set to drive partnerships across the MSGBC region

DAKAR, Senegal, November 3, 2026/APO Group/ –The MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2026 conference and exhibition, taking place from December 1–3 in Dakar, will introduce a dedicated Investment Track designed to deepen capital engagement across West Africa’s energy landscape. Building on the region’s expanding upstream activity, infrastructure development and cross-border integration, the track will serve as a platform where governments, investors and project developers can align on investment pathways across the MSGBC basin.

 




  

At the core of the Investment Track will be the Ministerial Leadership & Global Capital Roundtable, where energy ministers will convene to examine how enhanced regional cooperation, regulatory alignment and coordinated infrastructure development can accelerate capital flows into the sector. The session is expected to focus on the policy and financing frameworks required to unlock large-scale projects, including investment codes such as Mauritania’s 2025 reform, as well as strengthening fiscal incentives and improving regulatory clarity to attract capital into the energy sector.

The Investment Track is designed to move beyond dialogue and into deal facilitation, bringing together decision-makers who can directly shape the next phase of energy investment

For the first time at the MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power event, the Project Development Clinic will introduce a more technical format. In this small-group advisory setting, project developers, government representatives and investors will engage directly on project challenges. The clinic aims to improve project structuring, address financing bottlenecks and identify practical solutions to accelerate development timelines and move projects closer to final investment decisions.

The Investment Track will also feature structured Business-to-Business Matchmaking sessions designed to connect stakeholders across the energy value chain. These targeted engagements will facilitate discussions between investors, operators, service companies and public-sector institutions, enabling participants to explore partnerships and co-investment opportunities.

Together, these sessions reflect the MSGBC region’s broader shift toward investment-led growth. In Senegal, this momentum is already visible through the partnership between state-owned agencies APIX and COS-PETROGAZ to improve the business environment for energy projects and streamline investment processes. With PETROSEN advancing development work on the Yakaar-Teranga gas project and targeting a final investment decision in December 2026, alongside new exploration opportunities emerging onshore, the Investment Track will provide a platform to connect the region’s resource potential with investors and project developers.

“The Investment Track is designed to move beyond dialogue and into deal facilitation, bringing together decision-makers who can directly shape the next phase of energy investment across the region. By creating a space for investors, project developers and public-sector stakeholders to engage directly, the track will help turn investment priorities into concrete partnerships and project opportunities,” states Sandra Jeque, Events and Project Director, Energy Capital & Power.

Explore opportunities, foster partnerships and stay at the forefront of the MSGBC region’s oil, gas and power sector. Visit www.MSGBCOilGasAndPower.com to secure your participation at the MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2026 conference. To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.

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

 




 

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Afreximbank and partners bring together investors and industrialists in Benin to Accelerate local processing and investment in Special Economic Zones

Published

4 hours ago

on

November 4, 2026

By

Afreximbank

Held under the theme “Investing in Local Processing and Industrialisation”, the forum brought together international investors, industrialists, buyers and development finance institutions to explore the vast opportunities for local processing and strategic partnerships offered by the GDIZ

COTONOU, Benin, November 3, 2026/APO Group/ –African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com), in partnership with the Société d’Investissement et de Promotion de l’Industrie (SIPI-BENIN S.A), the entity responsible for developing the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ), and Panafritex, hosted the Special Economic Zones Investment Forum (FocusSEZ 2026) on 21 and 22 October 2026 at the Sofitel Cotonou Marina Hotel and the GDIZ.

 




  

Held under the theme “Investing in Local Processing and Industrialisation”, the forum brought together international investors, industrialists, buyers and development finance institutions to explore the vast opportunities for local processing and strategic partnerships offered by the GDIZ.

Local processing at the heart of discussions

In his address, Mr Jean Arsene Yemina, Regional Director of Operations for Francophone West Africa at Afreximbank, speaking on behalf of Ms Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President, Intra-African Trade and Export Development, Afreximbank, highlighted the role of financing and industrial partnerships in transforming Africa’s raw materials into finished products:

“Here in Benin, textiles have become the driving force behind this transformation. The Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone was established through a partnership between the Government of Benin and ARISE IIP, with Afreximbank proud to have contributed to financing its development.

“Here in Benin, the textile industry has become the driving force behind this transformation. The Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone was created through a partnership between the Government of Benin and ARISE IIP, and Afreximbank is proud to have helped finance its establishment. Today, the zone is home to West Africa’s first fully integrated cotton-to-garment manufacturing platform, operated by Benin Textile (BTEX). The entire value chain, from ginning and spinning to weaving and finished garments, is carried out on African soil by African hands. Before the creation of the GDIZ, less than 1% of Benin’s cotton was processed locally. In just three years, the zone has come to process approximately 40,000 metric tons of cotton—nearly 12% of national production—and to produce millions of “Made in Benin” garments for major international brands such as US Polo, Kiabi, and H&M.”

He also highlighted similar efforts underway at the GDIZ to develop local processing in the cashew, soybean and shea value chains.

Mr Létondji Beheton, Director General of SIPI-BENIN S.A., emphasised the need to strengthen value addition across the continent:

“Our ambition can no longer be limited to producing and exporting raw materials. We must go further by processing more of these resources on our continent, developing competitive industries, strengthening our value chains and retaining a greater share of the wealth generated from our natural resources.”

He added: “It is against this backdrop that the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ) was established, as the outcome of a public-private partnership between the Republic of Benin and ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms (ARISE IIP). This integrated industrial platform embodies a shared commitment to making local processing a driver of economic growth, job creation and industrial development.

“By attracting manufacturing facilities and developing integrated value chains, the GDIZ is helping transform raw materials into higher-value-added products, strengthen Benin’s industrial capacity and enhance its competitiveness in regional and international markets. In doing so, it is contributing to the development of a more diversified economy that generates wealth and creates sustainable opportunities for the country.”

Africa has significant potential to strengthen its position in the global textile industry

Mr Arvind Mathur, CEO of PANAFRITEX, highlighted the role of ARISE IIP’s textile platform in developing an integrated textile industry in Africa, capable of transforming the continent’s cotton into finished, high-value-added products.

“Africa has significant potential to strengthen its position in the global textile industry. Realising this ambition will require the development of integrated industrial capacities that can transform cotton grown on the continent into higher-value-added finished products, while enhancing the competitiveness of the sector and expanding its access to international markets.

“At PANAFRITEX, we are contributing to this momentum by developing a model that brings together industrial processing, business development and the promotion of finished products. Our own brands, Obalé and SúSú, are part of this approach, connecting Africa’s manufacturing capabilities with consumer markets.

“The commissioning of our first industrial facilities at the GDIZ in Benin marks a major milestone in the rollout of this model. At the same time, the development of new facilities in Cameroon, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana and Tanzania reflects our ambition to progressively expand our industrial footprint across the continent.

“Through this expansion, we aim to contribute to strengthening Africa’s textile value chains, creating skilled jobs and ensuring that a greater share of the value generated is retained locally.”

Financing, Market Access and Business Networking

Discussions focused on the development of a new generation of African industrial hubs, the cotton value chain, financing for the textile industry, as well as logistics and integrated supply chains. The programme also featured business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-government (B2G) meetings with targeted public-sector institutions, aimed at identifying investment opportunities, financing solutions and potential business partnerships.

Afreximbank presented the range of financial instruments and support facilities it offers investors and businesses to facilitate the establishment and expansion of their industrial operations. These include long-term financing and equipment financing, trade finance and working capital facilities, guarantees and risk-sharing mechanisms, as well as project preparation support and equity investment through the Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA).

The Bank also highlighted its Africa Buyers Programme, which connects African buyers with manufacturers operating in industrial zones across the continent. The initiative aims to complement access to finance with market opportunities for products manufactured in Africa.

A full day was dedicated to a visit to the GDIZ, during which participants toured its infrastructure and industrial facilities and took part in business matchmaking sessions bringing together investors, manufacturers and buyers. These activities were designed to facilitate the establishment of new manufacturing facilities and expand sourcing opportunities for “Made in Benin” products, particularly in agribusiness, textiles, plastics, packaging and industrial equipment.

Across sectors ranging from agro-processing and textiles to plastics, packaging and industrial equipment, the overarching objective is to accelerate the establishment of new production facilities and strengthen the supply of quality-certified “Made in Benin” products.

An Integrated Model for Advancing Industrial Sovereignty

Covering 1,640 hectares, the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ) is the result of a strategic partnership between the Republic of Benin and ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms. Designed as a comprehensive, integrated ecosystem, it supports investors across the entire value chain, from securing supplies of locally sourced agricultural and mineral raw materials to industrial processing and the export of finished products, leveraging its direct connectivity to the country’s logistics infrastructure and the Port of Cotonou.

By hosting this international forum, Benin is once again demonstrating its ability to offer an attractive business environment, an enabling regulatory framework and world-class infrastructure to help build the future of African industry.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

 




 

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