Genesis1000 Initiative Will Drive Energy Access Impact in Africa, One Community at a Time with Ezeocha Amudo, CEO, REEnergy Africa
There's a little boy of about seven years, living in an IDP camp in a West African country, let's call him Are. He lost his parents during an attack in his remote village by a terror group. A humanitarian group brought old children's books to the IDP camp for kids like Are and during the day, a teacher from a neighboring village comes to volunteer to teach Are and other kids, but when it gets dark, he cannot read or look at pictures from the books as there is no light at his IDP camp.
Nia is the five-year-old adoptive daughter of an elderly couple in an Eastern African country. She has never had access to electricity all her life. She lives in a small village with her adoptive parents. She plays all day with her friends but when it is nightfall, she cannot play.
Maureen is a 10-year-old student of a local school in a Southern African country. She can study when it is daytime but when it gets dark, she has to go to bed even when she needs to study.
Maame is a great mum to five children in Central Africa, she does her best to make meals using firewood. She has been inhaling smoke for the better part of 15 years. Now, she battles respiratory infections and has to rely on her first daughter, to cook family meals using the same source that got her sick in the first place.
These people are a part of a larger group of Africans battling one issue or the other when it comes to energy poverty. Africa has a lot to do to close energy access gaps across the continent, even as the world transitions to cleaner energy sources.
Stakeholders need to come together to plan and execute and one way to do this is through meetings, conferences, and the like. The African energy industry is not lacking in conferences, symposia, summits, and expos, but one thing is different about the upcoming ReEnergy Africa Summit to be held in Kigali, the Rwandan capital in October 2022. Energy! had a conversation with Ezeocha Amudo, the chief executive officer at ReEnergy Africa, to understand why the third ReEnergy summit is different from others.
About the ReEnergy Africa Summit
Look at the numbers coming out of sub-Saharan Africa in terms of electricity access, clean cooking, and overall energy access - these numbers are not encouraging and it is our duty to make sure that we do something about it. Everyone has a stake in ensuring that Africa goes from being energy poor to being energy secure - citizens of countries, investors, global institutions, and the government.
From October 26 to 27 2022, we will be in Kigali for the third annual ReEnergy Africa summit. The event will be centered on Powering Business in Africa: Renewables Beyond Subsidies and Emerging Markets (using the Middle East as a case study). We are partnering with various organizations and individuals who will drive the discussions at the summit. The summit will be held both in-person and online and is open to all energy stakeholders.
It is a great platform for fostering collaborations which will help develop more energy access projects across Africa. We are in Rwanda in 2022, but our long-term plan is to be in a different African city every year, so we can be all-inclusive in our quest to engage, develop and sustain energy access projects.
The ReEnergy Africa summit is not just a platform to speak and listen, it is also a platform for engaging communities and developing projects that will help increase energy access for those who need it the most. When we increase energy access rates, then Africa can compete economically and businesses on the continent can thrive and our schools and hospitals can be electrified while benefitting our children in the long term.
How will these local projects be developed?
Alongside the summit where stakeholders will take stock of progress made, showcase success, and identify solutions to achieve broader gains towards sustainable and affordable energy for all, we also have the Genesis1000 Energy Impact project. Genesis1000 is a non-for-profit Corporate Social Responsibility initiative that is geared toward Energy Access, Education, and Empowerment of women, youths, and children in the rural communities of the host country.
These communities can be households, small businesses, and internally displaced person's camps. At ReEnergy Africa, we believe that empowering these people, one community at a time will help increase energy access. We are very intentional about this and when we are done with Rwanda, we will move on to another African country, targeting communities that are the most vulnerable to energy poverty and bring in several partners to contribute to developing viable energy projects - clean cookstoves, solar home systems or solar mini-grids. It is our belief that with the right partners, we can make this goal a success in Rwanda and other countries we will visit in the coming years.
Access to reliable energy is an indispensable investment for our future - the future of our children and that of our continent. We cannot and should not fail them - ReEnergy Africa
领英推荐
What stakeholders can expect from the summit
We urge all energy stakeholders to join us in Kigali, Rwanda for this landmark event that will venture into the renewable energy market and provide an international business and partnerships platform by highlighting attractive technology and investment opportunities.
The ReEnergy Africa summit has a space for everyone - public and private sector players, investors/financiers, key business leaders, senior-level energy professionals, influential decision makers, youths/students, and the local community representatives.
Attendees can expect to forge strong connections with potential business partners, identify technology solutions from leading providers, engage with financiers and investors with an interest in the African renewable energy market, and exchange know-how with counterparts.
The summit will also have exhibitions for those who want to develop new customer bases and gain unique access to international renewable energy industries. You do not want to miss this event if you are an energy stakeholder in any capacity.
The ReEnergy Africa two-day summit is a full event with panel sessions, mentorship programs, masterclass training, cocktail events, exhibitions, B2B matchmaking, Gala Dinner, Award ceremony, and of course the unveiling of our Genesis1000 energy impact initiative for a selected Rwandan community.
Why Rwanda?
At ReEnergy Africa, we believe that increasing energy access rates on the continent cannot be executed successfully unless every country is involved. We also know that every African country/city has something unique to offer.
Rwanda is our first choice, but we will be going to other African countries annually. Aside from this, Rwanda has been ranked by the World Bank as one of the easiest places to do business in Africa.
Rwanda has also been awarded for its leadership in tourism and economic competitiveness by the World Travel and Tourism Council and the World Economic Forum. Rwanda has become one of the top tourism destinations for business events, meetings, and conferences on the continent. Attendees will get a chance to explore the rich cultural activities that Rwanda has to offer during the summit.
However, ReEnergy Africa looks forward to hosting the summit in other African cities from 2023.
How to get involved in the Genesis1000 Initiative
As we look forward to hosting the global energy industry in Rwanda, come October 26 to 27, we also welcome those who are yet to get involved, to do so because energy poverty in any part of the world, will always affect energy security in other parts of the world.
This is an appeal to energy stakeholders everywhere, to get involved in the process of developing energy access projects in Africa, one community at a time. This is not just about Rwandan communities, but underserved communities across Africa. The Genesis1000 energy impact initiative is a long-term project for us at ReEnergy Africa and we look forward to receiving your support in any way you can.
Visit www.reenergyafrica.com
You can also email [email protected] cc [email protected]