Asharami Square 2.0: Dr. Adeola Yusuf, Derefaka, and Experts Shape Sahara Group’s Media Dialogue on Gas and Africa’s Energy Transition

Top energy experts gather in Lagos for Sahara Group’s flagship forum to explore gas as a catalyst for sustainable development and the media’s role in driving Africa’s energy narrative.

 

Sahara Group is once again setting the stage for transformative conversations on energy and sustainability with the second edition of its flagship thought leadership forum — Asharami Square 2.0, scheduled to take place on Friday, July 11, 2025, at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

With the theme “Harnessing Gas for Africa’s Sustainable Future,” this year’s forum brings together experts from the energy, media, and finance sectors to spotlight the immense opportunities gas holds for Africa’s energy transition — and the critical role media must play in shaping the continent’s energy narrative.

Dr. Adeola Yusuf to Headline the Event

Renowned energy journalist, Vice chairman of the Association of Energy Correspondents of Nigeria (NAEC), and Team Lead of Platforms Africa, Dr. Adeola Yusuf, is scheduled to headline the forum; anchoring an impactful conversation on the role of media in shaping awareness, influencing policy, combatting misinformation and greenwashing in energy discourse.

Emphasizing the importance of empowering journalists with the tools and insight needed to report accurately and impactfully on complex energy topics, Sahara Group in a statement noted “The media should be equipped to play an active role in policy formulation and execution,”.

“Asharami Square gives participants access to subject-matter experts, facilitating meaningful conversations that will ultimately help improve reporting and foster better understanding,” added Bethel Obioma, Head of Corporate Communications at Sahara Group.

The event will feature a dynamic panel session moderated by Omobolanle Adesulu, Head of Management Information Systems at Sahara Group.

Key speakers include:

• Dr. Justice Derefaka, Group Asset Manager at NNPC’s NUIMS, delivering the keynote on unlocking Africa’s gas potential through innovation and collaboration.
• Ijeoma Isichei, Commercial Manager, Sahara Group, on gas as a bridge fuel for market integration and regional cooperation.
• Olurotimi Famoroti, CEO, First Independent Power Limited (FIPL), addressing gas for poverty alleviation, SME growth, and electricity access.
• Mariah Lucciano-Gabriel, Head, Integrated Gas Ventures, Asharami Energy, discussing long-term gas strategies for a sustainable energy mix.
• Mobolaji Sunmoni, Lead, Midstream and Power at Fidelity Bank Plc, speaking on financing models for scalable gas infrastructure in emerging markets.

Together, these experts will dissect practical pathways to optimize Africa’s natural gas resources, from policy frameworks to financing, technology, and local content.

According to Ejiro Gray, Director of Governance and Sustainability at Sahara Group, the focus on gas is both strategic and timely:

“At Sahara Group, we see gas as a tool for long-term impact. Platforms like Asharami Square help us translate technical possibilities into shared understanding and collaborative action,” she said.

The forum will also assess how the continent can deploy gas as a cleaner energy alternative while preparing for a future shaped by renewables, economic development, and equitable energy access.

Launched as part of Sahara Group’s corporate sustainability agenda, Asharami Square is a media empowerment initiative created to promote holistic understanding of energy and sustainability issues. It focuses on strengthening journalistic capacity across print, digital, and broadcast platforms — ensuring that reporting on energy and climate is factual, balanced, and forward-thinking.

With the second edition set to deepen partnerships between the energy and media sectors, Asharami Square 2.0 reaffirms Sahara Group’s commitment to responsible energy development, climate advocacy, and impactful storytelling for Africa’s sustainable future.