The 2024 Youth in Energy Conference, hosted by TotalEnergies EP Uganda alongside other key industry players, recently concluded at the Makerere University School of Public Health Auditorium. This pivotal event spotlighted the crucial role of youth in Uganda’s burgeoning oil and gas industry, urging them to capitalize on the sector’s abundant opportunities.
Under the theme “Involving Youth in Africa’s Energy Transition,” the conference aimed to place young Ugandans at the forefront of discussions on energy exploration. Ali Ssekatawa, the Legal and Corporate Affairs Director at the Petroleum Authority Uganda (PAU), delivered a keynote address emphasizing the significant involvement of youth in the sector. “Since 2012, we have had about 14,000 people working in the industry, most of whom are young people, with less than 5% being older. We also have a national tool called the oil and gas talent register, now with 9,245 individuals. I encourage you all to visit and register,” Ssekatawa stated.
Marc-Antoine Eyl-Mazzega, Director of the IFR Center for Energy and Climate, encouraged the youth to explore the mining sector, highlighting the transferable skills between mining and hydrocarbons. “Africa is endowed with some of the best resources globally. Mining is equally promising, offering numerous job opportunities similar to those in hydrocarbons,” he noted.
NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the Africa Energy Chamber, pointed out the economic prospects within the oil and gas industry, urging young people to pursue educational and professional development. He stressed the importance of youth engagement on social media to transform the energy sector into an appealing field and to drive meaningful conversations around the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP). “Africa’s energy sector is ripe with potential. The key is for young people to engage, learn, and innovate to tap into these opportunities,” Ayuk remarked.
Rahma Nantongo, a recent graduate in Petroleum, Geoscience, and Production from Makerere University, underscored the need for more information-sharing initiatives. She called for collaboration between key stakeholders in Uganda’s energy sector and student associations to ensure successful dissemination of information. “It’s essential to work together with student associations and societies to facilitate grassroots-level information sharing,” Nantongo said.
The 2024 Youth in Energy Conference highlighted the critical role of youth in shaping Uganda’s energy future, urging them to harness the opportunities within the oil, gas, and mining sectors for sustainable development and economic growth.