In this exclusive interview, the team at EnergyNet, organisers of the Youth Energy Summit (YES!) speak on the opportunities the event offers to young entrepreneurs in the African energy industry.
Can you tell us the inspiration behind organizing this Africa-focused Youth Energy Summit and why it is important for the continent?
Youth Energy Summit, YES! was launched last year in Brussels. The inspiration behind it was the desire to help boost the skills, connections and the business readiness of future energy leaders in the continent.
Hosted by EnergyNet in conjunction with the Africa Energy Forum, the inaugural Youth Energy Summit, YES! gathering in 2022 emphasized the significance of early career professionals, entrepreneurs, students and educators in accelerating access to reliable energy across Africa.
This year, thanks to a growing list of key partnerships across corporates, foundations, NGOs, universities and sector initiatives, YES! has a chance to showcase its credentials on home soil between 20-23 June in Nairobi.
We have been bringing together the private and public sectors in the energy sector for 25 years through the African Energy Forum.
Working closely with our partners, we have developed an understanding of the sector’s assets, opportunities, drivers and needs.
What are the main objectives of this summit, and how do you hope it will contribute to the energy sector in Africa?
YES! aims to create a link between current players and future leaders in the energy sector. By bringing together initiatives, partners and stakeholders from across the continent in one place, YES! creates an excellent opportunity for students, entrepreneurs and early-career professionals to find the right networks and opportunities to succeed.
Early career professionals will ultimately take Africa forward. YES! offers a forum to build relationships with peers, to learn from global technology designers, and to be inspired by those shaping the future of energy in Africa.
Among them are an ever-growing list of partner organisations supporting YES! as the event continues to scale. A new and exciting addition to the list this year is the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), who join in 2023 as the event’s first foundational partner.
Our partnerships reflect our long-term plan to promote the electrification of Africa by recognizing its different communities and perspectives. From the African Trade Assurance Agency to Meta, YES! is working with national and international minds to collaborate in creating a common intelligence.
How does this summit aim to engage and empower young people in the energy sector, and what opportunities will it provide for them?
Through YES! we want to develop Africa’s most valuable asset: its youth. For example, in Nigeria, 60% of young people are under 25 (NBS, 2022). At the same time, more than half of young people are unemployed. What’s more, 92 million of the country’s 200 million inhabitants have no access to energy. YES! aims to involve young people in accelerating the process of building tomorrow’s world.
From the National Youth Caucus in Kenya and Nigeria to IEEE, YES! is working in partnership with both local and international student organizations, institutions and universities – from the National Youth Caucus in Kenya and Nigeria through to IEEE and Berkeley. We want to put people in touch with recruiters, organizations and companies in the energy sector so they leave the event with real opportunities. In this way we can help promote job prosperity.
In your opinion, what role can young people play in driving sustainable energy solutions in Africa, and how does this summit encourage their involvement?
90% of start-ups fail because of a poor business plan. In response, YES! will provide entrepreneurs with sessions that train and teach the right skills – including a crash course on how to sell your start up to investors, and guidance on business plans. Attending YES! can be a career-changing experience.
Finally, YES! is launching its free-to-access digital platform, Beyond Privilege.
Members will be able to access year-round industry news, discover job opportunities, engage with regular courses and workshops and network with hundreds of other students, entrepreneurs and young professionals.
To build tomorrow’s world, the youth need to be at the same table as the decision-makers in energy. This way, the stakeholders are able to learn from each other and go in hand to build a better future.