African Energy Chamber Backs Kigali Africa CEO Forum as Key Investment Platform
The African Energy Chamber (AEC) has endorsed the upcoming Africa CEO Forum in Kigali, describing the May 2026 event as a strategic platform for driving investment, partnerships and policy dialogue across the continent.
The forum, scheduled for May 14–15 in Kigali, is expected to attract about 2,800 chief executives, heads of state, ministers and business leaders. Organisers say it remains the largest annual gathering of Africa’s private sector, drawing participants from more than 90 countries.
According to the AEC, the Kigali meeting offers a rare opportunity for African policymakers, global investors and industry leaders to align around solutions to one of the continent’s most pressing challenges: expanding energy access while accelerating economic growth.
Despite abundant natural resources, more than 600 million people in Africa lack reliable electricity, and around 900 million lack access to clean cooking solutions. The Chamber argues that overcoming this deficit will require sustained investment across oil, gas, power generation and emerging low-carbon technologies, backed by stable regulatory frameworks and stronger African financial participation.
NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber, said platforms such as the Africa CEO Forum are critical to ensuring that Africa shapes its own energy future. He noted that direct engagement between governments, investors and industry players can help mobilize capital and translate discussions into bankable projects and long-term partnerships.
The forum’s broader agenda focuses on the role of the private sector in Africa’s development, offering networking opportunities, deal-making sessions and policy discussions aimed at strengthening public-private collaboration.
The AEC also pointed to Kigali’s growing profile as a hub for high-level continental dialogue, citing Rwanda’s investment-friendly policies and stable governance as factors that have positioned the city at the center of Africa’s business conversations.
As preparations intensify ahead of the May summit, the Chamber is urging stakeholders across the energy value chain to participate actively, bringing forward projects, financing proposals and long-term commitments aimed at reducing energy poverty and supporting industrial growth.
For the AEC, ensuring that Africa’s energy and economic strategies are designed and financed on the continent itself will be central to achieving lasting prosperity.