ASIS 2026: Seplat Energy gives road map to Africa’s educational advancement

By Everest Ezihe, Owerri

In line with the 21st global vision for education and as part of her strategies to ensure the accelerated growth of education in Nigeria and African continent at large, Seplat Energy Plc, has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing education and developing Africa’s future workforce, by emphasising the need for stronger collaboration between government, the private sector and development partners in building sustainable learning systems across the continent.

The company which is one of the foremost Nigerian indigenous energy company, restated its position at the just concluded 2026 Africa Social Impact Summit (ASIS), held at a prestigious hotel in Lagos, Nigeria.

The multi national company sponsored the plenary session, with the theme; Powering Africa’s Future: Private Sector Leadership in Education Transformation.

It’s pertinent to recall that, the well attended plenary session brought together policymakers, business leaders, publishers, development partners, academics and education stakeholders to explore how strategic partnerships, digital innovation and investment in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) can prepare young Africans for the future of work.

The Chief Executive Officer of Seplat Energy Plc, Mr. Roger Brown, represented by Chioma Afe, Director, External Affairs and Social Performance, said the company’s partnership with ASIS reflects its commitment to driving meaningful impact through collaboration.

“Our partnership with the Africa Social Impact Summit provides an opportunity to collaborate with organisations that share our vision of transforming education on a national scale. This goes beyond conversations to action,” he said.

Brown informed that Seplat Energy continues to invest in educational development across its host communities in Edo, Delta and Imo states, with plans to extend its interventions to Akwa Ibom State.

He pointed out that these investments span basic and secondary education, tertiary scholarships, teacher empowerment programmes, STEAM education through the company’s Access to Energy initiative and STEAM laboratories, as well as the Seplat Innovation Programme, which encourages secondary school students to develop innovative clean energy solutions in partnership with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company limited (NNPCL).

The Chief Executive Officer also reiterated that addressing Africa’s education challenges requires stronger partnerships among governments, the private sector and development organisations.

“No one country, industry or institution can do it alone. Through collaboration, sound policies and sustained private sector investment, we can equip young people with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world and advance education for all across the African continent,” he said.

Responding, the Minister of State for Education, Prof Suwaiba Ahmad, described education as “the most strategic investment any nation can make” and commended Seplat Energy for its longstanding contributions to the sector.

“I would like to commend Seplat Energy for its longstanding investment in education through scholarships, teacher development programmes, school infrastructure initiatives, STEAM initiatives and other educational projects,” she said.

The Minister noted that education remains the foundation for economic growth, innovation and national competitiveness, adding that digital transformation is central to building a future-ready education system.

She added that the scale of progress required cannot be achieved by government alone and called for greater private sector investment in school connectivity, digital infrastructure, educational technology, teacher capacity development, artificial intelligence, and technical and vocational education.

Adding his voice, the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwolu represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, stressed the importance of partnerships in financing Africa’s development across critical sectors, including education, healthcare, infrastructure and technology.

He noted that investing in young people remains essential to building resilient economies and unlocking Africa’s long-term growth potential.

Discussions during the plenary highlighted the growing importance of digital literacy, artificial intelligence, teacher development and strategic investment in preparing Africa’s next generation for emerging opportunities. Participants agreed that stronger public-private partnerships will be critical to building inclusive and resilient education systems capable of meeting the demands of a rapidly changing global economy.

Seplat Energy continues to place education at the heart of its sustainability agenda through initiatives that expand access to quality learning, strengthen teacher capacity and nurture innovation among young people.

Through sustained investment and strategic partnerships, the company remains committed to developing the skilled workforce needed to power Africa’s future.