The African Energy Chamber (AEC) has called on global energy event organisers to host Africa-focused conferences on the continent and prioritise the hiring and promotion of African professionals, warning that current practices risk sidelining local voices and undermining local content efforts, according to a release distributed by APO Group.
In the statement issued Thursday, the Chamber said that while global interest in Africa’s energy resources continues to grow, some conferences marketed as Africa-focused are increasingly being held outside the continent and organised with limited African participation in leadership or operational roles.
The AEC said this trend runs counter to the push by African governments to deepen local content policies, strengthen domestic capacity and ensure that Africans are at the centre of decisions affecting the continent’s resources and energy future.
“At a time when African nations are improving investment environments and positioning themselves as reliable partners for global energy companies, platforms shaping Africa’s energy narrative must reflect the same commitment by hiring Africans and anchoring events in Africa,” the Chamber said.
The organisation noted that it has long supported international investors and advocated for fair treatment of foreign energy companies operating on the continent. However, it stressed that partnerships must be reciprocal, arguing that organisations benefiting from Africa’s energy sector should also invest in African talent and leadership.
The Chamber cited DMG Events as an example of organisers that successfully host major conferences within Africa while building local teams and prioritising African participation. It pointed to events such as the Egypt Energy Show in Cairo and the West Africa Infrastructure Expo in Nigeria as models demonstrating that world-class industry gatherings can be organised on the continent while strengthening local capacity.
The AEC also highlighted African Energy Week in Cape Town and the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali as examples of globally relevant platforms that maintain strong African ownership and leadership. According to the Chamber, these events demonstrate that international reach and African control are not mutually exclusive but can reinforce each other.
In contrast, the AEC criticised some organisers, including Frontier Energy Network, alleging that certain events branded as Africa-focused are held abroad with limited African representation in senior organisational roles. The Chamber argued that removing Africa-focused discussions from the continent weakens local ecosystems and contradicts the objectives of local content frameworks promoted by African governments.
Reuters could not independently verify the allegations contained in the press release, and Frontier Energy Network was not immediately available for comment.
NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC, said energy conferences play a significant role in shaping investment flows, industry priorities and policy discussions, and therefore must reflect Africa’s realities and interests.
“As Africans, we cannot continue to accept a model where decisions about our resources are made without us in the room,” Ayuk said in the statement. He added that local content should extend beyond extraction activities to include hiring practices, leadership representation and participation in industry platforms.
The Chamber warned that excluding Africans from leadership roles in energy events risks weakening long-term sector development and limiting opportunities for professionals across the continent. It said that while international partnerships remain important, Africa’s voice should not be outsourced or marginalised in conversations about its own resources.
The AEC concluded by urging event organisers and energy companies to align their operations with the continent’s development goals by hosting conferences in Africa, employing African professionals and placing African priorities at the centre of discussions. It said that failure to do so could undermine trust between global investors and African stakeholders and weaken ongoing efforts to promote inclusive growth in the energy sector.
