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Africa Energies Summit faces boycott over inclusivity concerns
Ziggy Ojiegbe
The African Energy Chamber has called for an industry-wide boycott of the upcoming Africa Energies Summit, citing concerns over the lack of Black African representation in the leadership of the event’s organizing company.
The summit, organized by Frontier Energy Network, is scheduled to take place in London from May 12–14 and is promoted as “Africa’s Premier Global Upstream Conference.” The chamber said the company’s leadership structure does not include Black African professionals, raising concerns about inclusivity in an event focused on the continent’s oil and gas sector.
In a statement, the chamber said African professionals have played a central role in building and advocating for the continent’s oil and gas industry, including pushing for improved fiscal terms, stronger policy environments and a just energy transition aligned with Africa’s development needs.
“We will not accept being ‘blacked-out’ of the oil and gas industry,” said NJ Ayuk, executive chairman of the African Energy Chamber. He accused Daniel Davidson, head of Frontier Energy Network, of failing to prioritize African inclusion in the organization and the summit.
The chamber argued that commitments to local content and inclusion must extend beyond conference discussions to hiring practices, leadership development and broader participation across the energy value chain.
Ayuk pointed to companies operating in Africa that prioritize local employment as examples the industry should follow, including Africa Fortesa Corporation, which operates the Gadiaga onshore gas field in Senegal and is led by Rogers Beall. He said such companies demonstrate that strong operational performance can go hand in hand with employing and developing African professionals.
The chamber also warned that perceptions of exclusion in the oil and gas sector could strengthen criticism from environmental campaigners who argue that the industry fails to support African communities.
The organization said the future of Africa’s oil and gas industry should place African professionals at the center of decision-making and industry development.
