Author: Opinion

African oil and gas producers should also seek to maximize their own capacities as they develop their own subsurface resources. Countries need to build gas-fired plants that can provide cleaner power than existing coal- and petroleum product-burning plants; liquid petroleum gas (LPG) plants that can replace traditional biomass fuels such as wood and charcoal, which contribute to health problems and deforestation; and compressed natural gas (CNG) plants that can produce fuel for vehicles. At ADIPEC this year, I was skeptical about participating in COP 30. African nations are heading to Brazil for COP 30 in Belem.  The United States, under…

Globally, content piracy costs the media and entertainment industry over $75 billion annually, with projections pushing that number to $125 billion by 2028. More than 229 billion visits to piracy websites were recorded in 2023 alone, with Gen Z and millennials contributing to over 70 per cent of those visits. This isn’t just a global problem—it’s a generational one. In Kenya today, media isn’t just entertainment—it’s the heartbeat of youth culture. It’s the Gengetone beat pulsing through TikTok dances, the graffiti on matatus turning public transport into a gallery, the viral YouTube skits that echo our humour, and the Showmax…

Africa’s energy future remains a tough question for policymakers to answer. Can Africa genuinely fulfil the promise of eradicating energy poverty by 2030? Optimism should not stem from wishful thinking but from tangible evidence that Africans can seize control of their destiny. As we move forward, it is imperative that we harness our collective potential and take ownership of our energy future. As Africa Energy Week wraps up in Cape Town, we are faced with a pressing question: Can we genuinely fulfil the promise of eradicating energy poverty by 2030? The answer hinges not on foreign investment or external solutions, but…

For Kenya’s fast-scaling enterprises, data disorganisation is an existential threat  that leads to Massive Inefficiency where for instance ales teams waste hours, finance teams struggle to report accurately, and customer service lacks complete client visibility. It also sees firms waste tech investment since sophisticated technology becomes more “expensive, complex, and ultimately futile” when applied to a chaotic data foundation. What’s more, rapid growth in dynamic markets like fintech or agritech exposes every weakness, forcing companies to choose between slowing down or scaling with massive operational overhead. Walk into any boardroom across Nairobi, Mombasa or Kisumu cities in Kenya today, and…

·       Public-private partnerships (PPPs) have a critical role in Africa, providing not only the systems but also the security frameworks that keep information safe while still enabling smarter, faster trade. ·        The real challenge is not only to bridge the divide but to design a model of trade that reflect’s Africa’s own realities and ambitions. ·         PPPs, when built on trust and shared responsibility, can play a decisive role in that transformation. Africa stands at a turning point. Home to nearly a fifth of the world’s population but responsible for less than 3 per cent of global trade, the…

Africa’s energy transition must be designed in Africa, for Africa, balancing three urgent imperatives: expanding energy access, driving industrial growth, and prioritising energy security for the continent. That means shaping policies, financing mechanisms, and partnerships that work for Africa rather than copying models that do not. External expectations have framed Africa’s role in the energy transition for years. Despite facing different realities, such as limited infrastructure, restricted access to capital, and less influence in global energy policy, it has been assumed that Africa will follow the same decarbonisation path as developed economies. This way of thinking is misaligned with today’s…

Africa is more than next frontier, its already setting the pace, through innovation born out of necessity, creativity rooted in culture, and progress driven by community, writes Yi He, Co-Founder of Binance.  Innovation in Africa is tested daily against the pressures of currency instability, unreliable power, and low-trust systems. These are the conditions where bold ideas are stress-tested, and where blockchain technology has found meaningful, everyday applications.  Each year, Africa Day serves as a celebration of the continent’s culture, history, and progress. But in 2025, Africa is doing more than celebrating — it’s leading. For too long, Africa has been…

African countries need to tap the power of the grid and every resource available to them in order to achieve what the West takes for granted every day. The big question, of course, is how do we get there? Who bears what burdens, and how? Africa deserves the chance to improve the quality of life for its people, and it has the resources to solve its own problems if given the chance. As the hottest year ever recorded draws to a close, climate change is passing from theory to reality and gaining ever-increasing urgency in statehouses around the world. The…

Now is the time for Namibia’s leadership to show it respects the billions of dollars companies spend on oil and gas production. One of the most practical ways for Namibia to do that is to update its petroleum contracts: They need language that protects oil and gas companies’ investments. Namibia’s contracts should include what’s known as a fiscal stability clause, which would clearly state that if Namibia were to make legislative or regulatory changes—such as new tax requirements—the energy companies signing the contract would be protected from negative economic impacts. The world is watching Namibia. To be more specific, the…

Alignment with Trump’s energy-first ethos would mean that Africa could unlock significant funding for wide-ranging fossil fuel projects, and not just the offshore oil and gas ventures that dominate the headlines. The continent should capitalize on all opportunities in onshore projects, wildcat wells (exploratory drilling in unproven areas), and the proliferation of numerous small operators. These avenues lead the way to diversity in Africa’s energy portfolio, job creation, and massively strengthened energy security. Donald Trump’s return to the White House in 2025 represents a pivotal moment for Africa’s fossil fuel industry. His administration’s swift reapproval of a US$4.7 billion loan…