Nigeria has reinforced its leadership role in shaping Africa’s energy trajectory, as Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu led a high-level delegation to the 2025 Africa Energy Forum (AEF) in Cape Town, South Africa, unveiling investment-ready reforms and a coherent policy direction to global investors and development partners.

At the forum, Adelabu noted that Nigeria is not only aligning its energy transition strategy with economic growth but is also seeking partnerships to unlock infrastructure financing across the electricity value chain.

The minister engaged in a series of strategic closed-door and public sessions aimed at attracting capital, strengthening bilateral ties, and pushing Africa’s collective energy agenda to the forefront of global conversations.

During a closed-door Ministerial Roundtable, Adelabu articulated Nigeria’s multi-pronged approach to reform, focusing on aligning policy, regulation, and financing to drive efficiency and accelerate energy infrastructure delivery. The roundtable, which gathered key public and private sector decision-makers, sought to fast-track project implementation while harmonising private capital with national energy priorities.

Participating in a high-level panel session on energy transition, the minister reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to a balanced and pragmatic shift to cleaner energy sources, without neglecting the country’s abundant hydrocarbon endowment.

“While committed to decarbonisation, the country’s vast hydrocarbon resources remain vital for economic and energy security,” Adelabu noted, emphasising alignment with President Bola Tinubu’s vision of energy-driven economic transformation.

He maintained that no transition agenda can succeed without a well-structured policy framework, positioning Nigeria’s newly approved National Integrated Electricity Policy as the foundation for ongoing reforms across generation, transmission, and distribution. The policy also accommodates gas-to-power expansion and renewable energy integration.

“Nigeria is open for business across the entire energy spectrum from hydrocarbons to clean energy,” Adelabu declared, encouraging global investors to engage across segments, including solar, mini-grids, and utility-scale projects.

The minister’s investment pitch included grid modernisation, increased renewable energy penetration, and support for decentralised energy systems like mini-grids and solar home kits. These priorities, he said, align with Nigeria’s broader ambition to bridge its electricity access gap and reduce reliance on diesel-based self-generation.