Business
H.E Ibrahim Yacoubou to Promote Investment Opportunities within Niger’s Energy Sector
The participation of H.E Yacoubou at Africa’s leading investment platform for the energy sector will be critical for highlighting Niger’s energy sector perspectives, challenges and opportunities
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, August 12, 2022/APO Group/ —
The Secretariat General confirms participation at African Energy Week 2022 (www.AECWeek.com) where he will promote investment opportunities within Niger’s expanding energy landscape while providing an update of current and planned energy developments.
H.E Ibrahim Yacoubou, Secretariat General of the Ministry of Energy and Renewable Energies, Republic of Niger, has confirmed his participation at the African Energy Week (AEW) conference and exhibition, Africa’s premier event for the energy sector, which will be taking place from 18 – 21 October 2022, in Cape Town. The participation of H.E Yacoubou at Africa’s leading investment platform for the energy sector will be critical for highlighting Niger’s energy sector perspectives, challenges and opportunities as the country seeks to boost foreign direct investment to maximize the exploitation of domestic energy resources.
Despite Niger having significant energy potential – including solar, hydro, natural gas, coal, uranium and oil – energy access in west Africa’s largest country remains low with only 16% of the population, or one in seven, having access to modern electricity services. With the country targeting to alleviate energy poverty and drive socioeconomic development by enhancing energy access through maximizing the exploitation of domestic energy resources including an estimated 24 billion cubic meters of recoverable natural gas reserves and vast hydro, solar and wind energy potential, AEW 2022 provides the best platform for Niger to meet, discuss and negotiate investment deals with regional, continental and international energy companies and investors.
Despite having abundant and varied energy resources, energy access in Niger remains limited
Already, significant progress has been recorded in speeding up the country’s electrification progress driven by the government’s commitment to ensure universal access to electricity by 2035. Various programs, partnerships with private sector initiatives and companies, and policy reforms including the Master Plan for Power Generation and Transmission – a renewables law aimed at electrifying 100 villages per annum – are already underway and driving change across Niger’s energy landscape, with the Ministry of Energy and Renewable Energies spearheading the developments.
In March, 2022, British energy company Savannah Energy signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Niger for the development of the country’s first wind energy farm – a 250 MW facility that will power the national grid and help accelerate the diversification of the energy mix. Meanwhile, in the hydrocarbons sector, Niger is also pushing ahead to become both a continental and international energy hub while meeting domestic supply, with massive upstream, midstream and downstream projects currently underway. Companies such as the China National Petroleum Corporation, Sonatrach and Savannah Energy are already boosting oil and gas operations with projects such as the $4.5 billion Niger-Benin Export Pipeline – Africa’s longest pipeline – and the 4,128km Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline Project, promising a positive energy outlook for Niger.
In this regard, H.E Minister Yacoubou is well positioned to shape discussions around Niger’s energy sector prospects and investment opportunities at AEW 2022. Under the theme, ‘Exploring and Investing in Africa’s Energy Future while Driving an Enabling Environment,’ AEW 2022 will host H.E Yacoubou in discussions around how both Niger and Africa can boost investments and accelerate the development of domestic energy resources including natural gas, solar, wind and oil to make energy poverty history across the African continent by 2030.
“Despite having abundant and varied energy resources, energy access in Niger remains limited. However, with leaders such as H.E Yacoubou committed to changing that, the country’s energy landscape and economic growth is set for greater heights. The Chamber is honored to be hosting H.E Yacoubou at AEW 2022 to discuss the future of Niger’s energy sector and the role the country plays in ensuring energy security at both continental and international level,” states Tomás C. Gerbasio, Strategy and Business Development Director of the African Energy Chamber (AEC).
At AEW 2022, H.E Yacoubou will participate in high-level meetings and panel discussions, providing an update on developments within Niger’s energy sector while promoting business and investment opportunities across the west African country’s growing energy landscape.
AEW 2022 unites African energy stakeholders with investors and international partners to drive industry growth and development and promote Africa as the destination for energy investments. Key organizations such as the African Petroleum Producers Organization, as well as African heavyweights including Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria, have partnered with AEW, strengthening the role the event will play in Africa’s energy future.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Week (AEW).
Business
Africa Launches the First Pan-African Pact for Insurance Inclusion
400 decision-makers gathered in Cotonou to accelerate access to insurance and contribute to doubling insurance penetration by 2040
From July 6 to 8, 2026, the Federation of African National Insurance Companies (FANAF) will organize the General Assembly on Insurance for All at the Sofitel Hotel in Cotonou, Benin, a major pan-African gathering dedicated to inclusive insurance.
The event will bring together nearly 400 African decision-makers from governments, regulatory and supervisory authorities, insurance and reinsurance companies, financial institutions, development banks, technical and financial partners, as well as professional organizations from across the continent.
The ambition is clear: to foster a shared vision and concrete commitments aimed at accelerating access to insurance for African populations while strengthening the sector’s contribution to the continent’s economic and social development priorities.
The discussions will culminate in the adoption of the Pan-African Pact for Insurance Inclusion and a 2026–2030 Strategic Action Plan, designed to structure collective action around an ambitious objective: contributing to the doubling of insurance penetration across the FANAF region by 2040.
An Economic, Social and Development Imperative
Within the CIMA zone, insurance penetration remains below 1% of GDP, compared to more than 6% globally.
As a result, millions of households, farmers, entrepreneurs, SMEs and informal sector actors remain deprived of essential protection mechanisms against health, climate, economic and social risks.
For FANAF, this reality now constitutes a major development challenge.
Africa cannot build sustainable growth without strengthening protection mechanisms for its populations, businesses and investments
“Africa cannot build sustainable growth without strengthening protection mechanisms for its populations, businesses and investments. The Cotonou General Assembly must mark the starting point of a new continental ambition for African insurance and its role in the continent’s economic transformation,” said Mamadou Koné, President of FANAF.
Beyond Insurance: A Driver of Continental Transformation
For FANAF, insurance is no longer merely a risk coverage mechanism. It is also a strategic lever for economic resilience, savings mobilization, investment security, SME financing, support for climate transitions and the strengthening of financial inclusion.
Through this General Assembly, FANAF seeks to reposition insurance as a key stakeholder in Africa’s economic, social and financial transformation.
A Pact to Accelerate Action
The conclusions of the General Assembly will lead to the adoption of the Pan-African Pact for Insurance Inclusion, a reference framework intended to mobilize governments, regulators, market players, financial institutions and development partners around shared objectives.
The Pact will be accompanied by a 2026–2030 Strategic Action Plan defining priority intervention areas, coordination mechanisms and monitoring arrangements for the commitments undertaken.
A broad mobilization of public, private and financial partners will support its implementation in order to translate commitments into tangible results for African populations and economies.
Cotonou 2026: Building a Shared Vision
Beyond the insurance sector, the General Assembly aims to create an unprecedented platform for dialogue between governments, regulators, investors, financial institutions, technical partners and market actors in order to identify the levers needed to accelerate insurance inclusion across the continent.
Holding this event in Benin reflects the country’s broader economic and financial transformation momentum and illustrates the collective determination of African stakeholders to develop solutions tailored to the continent’s realities.
Through this initiative, FANAF intends to make Cotonou 2026 a defining moment for the future of African insurance and the starting point of a lasting continental mobilization in favor of insurance inclusion.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Fédération des Sociétés d’Assurances de Droit National Africaines (FANAF).
Business
Flat6Labs and International Finance Corporation (IFC) Launch StartAlgeria, a Capacity-Building Program Designed to Empower the Organizations Progressing Algeria’s Startup Ecosystem
Business
Hong Kong unlocks new opportunities with Central Asia
-
Events5 days ago2026 Hainan Cultural and Tourism Promotion Events Held in Hong Kong
-
Business5 days agoHong Kong universities scale global heights, cementing education hub status
-
Business5 days agoHong Kong rises to No.2 globally in competitiveness
-
Business2 days agoAfrican Electric Vehicle (EV) platform Spiro secures $55M additional backing from Chinese investor NewTrails Capital to boost electric mobility and energy infrastructure in Africa
-
Business2 days ago5th Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group Startups & Innovation Pitch Competition 2026 Concludes in Baku, Recognizing Nine Outstanding Startup Winners
-
Business2 days agoICIEC and Arab Trade Financing Program (ATFP) Deepen Strategic Partnership through Comprehensive Islamic Finance Insurance Framework
-
Business2 days ago2025 Annual Report: ITFC oversaw US$9.35 billion in trade finance approvals and US$7.53 billion in disbursements
-
Business2 days agoICIEC and the National Bank of Bahrain Sign Trade Finance Insurance Policies to Support Trade Across Member States