Ghana Tipped as Blueprint for Youth-Led Energy Innovation at Cape Town Summit
By Youth TV News Desk
Cape Town, 23 June 2025 – Youth Energy Summit (YES!)
At the Youth Energy Summit, held alongside the Africa Energy Forum at Cape Town International Convention Centre from 18–20 June, Osman Ayariga, CEO of Ghana’s National Youth Authority, delivered one of the most compelling messages of the event.
In a headline panel on Youth Innovation in Future Energy Technologies, Mr Ayariga told delegates that “Ghana has created the enabling environment for youth innovators and entrepreneurs to thrive, the rest of the continent should emulate the success story of Ghana.”
The summit – the world’s largest youth-focused energy gathering – drew over 6,000 young professionals, graduates and entrepreneurs It featured a host of interactive elements, including:
- A high-powered agenda of keynotes, interactive training and CV workshops, all targeting skills‑building in project finance, critical minerals and green-career pathways
- An Entrepreneurs Arena offering live pitch competitions and grant opportunities for young energy start-ups
- “Ask the CEO” sessions, presenter spotlights and employer networking zones featuring global players such as Siemens Energy, Nedbank CIB, IFC and more.
The summit was backed by headline sponsor the Independent Power Producers (IPP) Office, with over 3,000 delegates supported—alongside more than £400,000 in travel grants for African youth
Key takeaways included:
- The importance of just energy transition, emphasising equitable youth participation and job growth.
- Mentorship from rising energy leaders, including a finance-sector session where Layton Nenzinane of Seriti Green shared pivotal career insights
Against this backdrop, Mr Ayariga used his platform to spotlight Ghana’s youth-focused policies, innovation hubs, and public–private energy programmes that are driving youth entrepreneurship – urging the rest of Africa to follow suit.
Why it matters:
Despite over 600 million people in sub‑Saharan Africa lacking electricity, this Summit illustrated how targeted youth engagement can be a powerful catalyst for change Ghana’s model of youth empowerment in energy innovation stood out as a tangible blueprint for national replication.
As YES! wraps up its Cape Town edition, organisers unveiled plans for YES! On the Road, a series of regional roadshows set to amplify this momentum across the continent. With growing investment in youth-driven energy projects, it appears the future of African energy is being shaped—and led—by its young people.
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