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Sahara Group urges Young Africans to transform energy challenges into enterprise

by Press Release

March 9, 2026

L-R: Prof. Sunday Adebisi,  Director, Entrepreneurship and Skills Development Centre, University of Lagos; Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos; Ejiro Gray, Director, Governance and Sustainability, Sahara Group; Lauretta Eguabor, Governance and Sustainability Executive, Tejumade Tejuoso; Governance and Sustainability Manager; and Bashir Umar, Sustainability Analyst at the 2026 edition of the Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Business Incubation Certification (EIBIC) Programme hosted by the University of Lagos

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Sahara Group has reinforced its Beyond Energy philosophy at the 2026 Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Business Certification (EIBIC) Programme hosted by the University of Lagos (UNILAG), calling on young Africans to move beyond conventional entrepreneurship and actively design solutions to the continent’s most pressing energy and development challenges.

Now in its third year, the EIBIC Programme is a learning platform designed to help students begin their academic journey with a strong entrepreneurial mindset.

Sahara Group delivered a thought leadership session titled “Becoming a M.A.D Entrepreneur: Powering Africa’s Energy Future,” framing entrepreneurship as a mindset anchored in Making A Difference. Sahara Group was honoured with the EIBIC Champion Award in recognition of the energy conglomerate’s outstanding support and partnership with UNILAG.

Folasade Ogunsola, Vice Chancellor, UNILAG, said Sahara has demonstrated strong leadership with its commitment to driving entrepreneurship and innovation among young Africans. “We are delighted to have Sahara Group as a trusted partner on different projects as we continue to transform academic excellence in UNILAG.”

Speaking on the engagement, Bethel Obioma, Head, Corporate Communications, Sahara Group said Sahara’s collaboration with UNILAG is in line with its commitment to embedding a mindset in young Africans that goes “beyond energy”.

“Beyond Energy is about recognising that Africa’s future will be built by people who are equipped to think differently, collaborate boldly and act responsibly. Through EIBIC, we are deliberately shaping mindsets that see energy poverty and sustainability challenges as opportunities to create lasting value,” Obioma said.

Ejiro Gray, Director, Governance & Sustainability, emphasised the importance of responsible innovation in closing Africa’s energy access gap.

“Africa faces the widest energy access gap globally. Closing it will require solutions that are inclusive, sustainable, and designed for long term impact. The M.A.D Entrepreneur framework encourages young people to build resilience, embrace sustainability and collaborate across disciplines to deliver solutions that truly make a difference,” Gray said.

Emphasizing that youths need no permission to “act now”, Gray added that “energy access cuts across policy, finance, law, insurance, healthcare delivery, behavioural science, construction and communications, requiring multidisciplinary solutions.”

Students were introduced to pay as you go solar models that have proven that low income does not mean low potential, enabling households and micro enterprises to access power, grow productivity and participate in the formal economy.

The session also highlighted solar powered cold storage and cooling solutions, which address Africa’s cooling crisis by reducing food waste, protecting farmer livelihoods and stabilising food supply chains. In addition, circular bioenergy models that convert agricultural waste into electricity and clean cooking fuel were presented as pathways to expanding rural energy access while unlocking local economic vale.

The post Sahara Group Tasks Youth on Innovative Solutions to Africa’s Energy Challenges appeared first on Business Today NG.

Bethel Obioma, Head, Corporate Communications, Sahara Group, said the energy conglomerate’s GMT program open to young graduates with excellent grades has an impressive track record of producing exceptional business leaders who embody the “unique and Irrepressible Sahara DNA”.

“The program epitomizes our dedication to making a difference responsibly through creatively deployed human capital transformation strategies,” he said.

Emilomo Arorote, Group Head HR, Sahara Group and a product of the GMT Class of 2009 said as an equal opportunity employer, the Sahara GMT Program is open to individuals desirous of giving their career dreams the “perfect start”.

“Sahara is a place where dreams are realized, and endless possibilities abound. Our GMT Program is peerless, giving successful candidates platforms for growth across the entire energy sector value chain. All you need to do head to www.saharagmt.com or check our social media channels to apply. We are excited to welcome the next generation of global talents into the Sahara family,” she added.

Successful candidates will enjoy several learning and development benefits, including mentorship and buddy support, engagement in impactful business and CSR projects, and coaching from strategic leaders within Sahara.

“We seek individuals who see themselves as globally competitive. Participants will tackle challenging business scenarios, receive invaluable mentorship, and experience our multicultural work environment across Africa. Asia, Europe and the Middle East,” Arorote emphasized.

The Program has since become a key part of Sahara Group’s talent pipeline, producing leaders in Sahara’s upstream, midstream, downstream, power, infrastructure, and technology businesses.

Ejiro Gray, Director, Governance and Sustainability, a member of GMT class of 2007 said; “Every Sahara Group GMT is a potential world business leader. The GMT Program allows you to discover yourself and gives you the opportunity to make a difference.”

Reflecting on the Program’s transformative impact, Nomnso Dike, a member of the 2010 GMT set and current CEO of Asharami Synergy, remarked, “The GMT experience laid the foundation for my career and has propelled many GMTs into leadership roles in Sahara.”

Ivie Temitayo-Ibitoye, Head, Employee Relations and Coordinator, Sahara GMT Program, advised applicants to follow the progress of the Program on Sahara Group’s social media channels, adding that candidates will receive seamless support, including a session on “The Sahara GMT” on Asharami Radio, Sahara Group’s unique radio platform.

The post Sahara Group To Begin Its Graduate Management Trainee For 2025 Oct 24 appeared first on Business Today NG.

Leading energy and infrastructure conglomerate, Sahara Group, has partnered with Air France-KLM to promote clean travel through its recent investment of global business travel miles into Air France-KLM’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) program.

This investment by Sahara Group will result in the offset of 20 tons of CO2, contributing to the global fight against climate change.

Facilitated by Sahara’s affiliate in Geneva, Sahara Energy International, the gesture has earned Sahara an official partner certification in the Air France-KLM corporate SAF program, reinforcing Sahara Group’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and its proactive decarbonization efforts.

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is derived from renewable sources such as waste oils, agricultural residues, and non-fossil CO2. As a cleaner substitute for conventional jet fuel, SAF reduces emissions by at least 75% compared to fossil fuel, enabling airlines to significantly cut their carbon footprint.

Speaking at the Air France-KLM Office in Geneva, Kola Motajo, Director at Sahara Group, highlighted that investing in SAF helps reduce aviation-related emissions, thereby contributing to the global effort to combat climate change.

According to Motajo, SAF fosters innovation in renewable energy and supports the transition to more sustainable aviation practices. “Our partnership with Air France-KLM is a testament to how we are making a difference by flying sustainably. Investing in SAF is not just a move towards reducing our carbon footprint but also an investment in the future of aviation. We are excited about the positive impact this will have on the environment and the aviation industry,” he said.

Commending Sahara Group for the investment, Yanis Yazbek, Account Manager at Air France-KLM, stated, “This is a significant step forward from Sahara Group. As a key and trusted partner for Air France-KLM, they are a pioneer in the decarbonization of aviation. Today, SAF is the most realistic and concrete solution for reducing aviation CO2 emissions. This investment underscores the importance of supporting innovation and new technologies to make travel greener. With partners like Sahara Group, Air France-KLM can continue to invest in research, development, and production while securing our SAF supply for the years to come.”

Reinforcing the uniqueness of the partnership, Ejiro Gray, Director of Governance and Sustainability, remarked, “Sustainability is at the core of our operations, and this initiative aligns with our quest to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2060. By supporting the SAF program, we are taking a significant step towards achieving a cleaner and greener future.”

Foluso Sobanjo, Head of Downstream, Africa at Sahara Group, added, “Sahara’s track record of sustainable operations is evidenced by several International Organization for Standardization certifications. As a market leader in aviation fuel business, we are delighted to be recognized as an official partner of the Air France-KLM corporate SAF program. This collaboration is an exciting opportunity to contribute more meaningfully towards a cleaner and safer aviation sector.”

Globally, the aviation industry is responsible for approximately 2.5% of total CO2 emissions. The adoption of SAF is a critical step towards achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, a goal supported by many airlines and industry stakeholders. It is estimated that with increased investment, 500 million metric tons of SAF could be produced annually from advanced and waste feedstock by 2030.

The post Sahara Group Offsets 20 Tons CO2 Emission, Partners Air France-KLM On Sustainable Aviation Fuel appeared first on Business Today NG.