The African Energy Chamber (AEC) has called for an industry‑wide boycott of the upcoming Africa Energies Summit in London, accusing organisers of promoting an Africa‑focused event while excluding black African professionals from leadership and decision‑making roles.
The summit, hosted by Frontier Energy Network and scheduled for 12–14 May, markets itself as “Africa’s Premier Global Upstream Conference.”
But AEC executive chairman NJ Ayuk said on Thursday that the company behind the event, led by Daniel Davidson, has no black Africans in its leadership despite positioning itself as a platform for Africa’s oil and gas sector.
“We will not accept being ‘blacked-out’ the oil and gas industry. We want an industry that is welcoming and open, that is inclusive and supportive,” Ayuk said.
He said the situation reflects a broader pattern in which African expertise is sidelined even as African professionals drive policy advocacy, licensing reforms and the push for a just energy transition on the continent.
He accused the organisers of using Africa’s name for profit while shutting Africans out of meaningful participation.
Ayuk said the industry cannot continue treating local content as a slogan for conference stages while failing to reflect it in hiring, leadership development and supplier opportunities.
He warned that an “Africa‑first” business model without African professionals at its centre risks losing credibility.
He said Africa’s energy future must be shaped with Africans at the forefront and urged stakeholders across the sector to boycott the London summit.
Observers, however, said boycotting the event could work against those African countries seeking markets for their oil and gas projects since the upcoming summit will be a platform for upstream energy players and, therefore, provides an opportunity for them to meet potential buyers.
JN/APA