Former Nigerian Vice President Yemi Osinbajo joins Elizabeth Wangeci Chege and Anant Wadhwa on Let’s Talk About Energy to explore Africa’s role in shaping the future of energy. The conversation covers pathways for climate-positive development, the role of youth in driving change, and the global impact of Africa’s energy strategy.

In this episode:

• Why Africa doesn't need to follow the same carbon-heavy development path as other regions
• How untapped renewable resources could support green growth across the continent
• Why involving Africa’s young population in energy planning is key to long-term success

Africa’s approach to energy will shape global sustainability efforts. Listen in to understand the stakes and the opportunities.

Elizabeth Wangeci Chege and Anant Wadhwa sit down with Helen Watts, the Executive Director of Student Energy, to explore the power of community and youth innovation in the transition towards clean energy. They discuss the role of Student Energy in empowering young leaders and look at the inventive methods young people all over the world are using to tackle energy challenges.

Recorded at SEforALL’s Global Forum in Barbados, Helen, Elizabeth and Anant discuss:

• The importance of young people finding and engaging with communities both online and offline to amplify impact.
• How Student Energy facilitates youth leadership in clean energy through education and global networks.
• The barriers to funding for youth-led initiatives and how organizations like Student Energy are addressing this.

Hosts Elizabeth Wangeci Chege and Anant Wadhwa sit down with Emmanuel Aziebor, Senior Director for Africa at CLASP, to explore the urgency of achieving universal energy access, and why we can’t afford to leave this challenge to the next generation.

Speaking at the SEforALL Global Forum in Barbados, Emmanuel shares his early memories of growing up in rural Ghana without electricity and how that sparked his passion for energy equity. We discuss innovations in energy-efficient appliances, clean cooking technologies, and the role of policy and finance in driving real change. Emmanuel also reflects on the role of Africa’s youth in shaping energy policy and implementation - and the importance of building solutions from the ground up.

From net-zero heroes to grassroots innovation, this is a powerful reminder that solving the energy access crisis is not just technical, it’s personal, and political.

Elizabeth Wangeci Chege sits down with Souleymane Ba, an impact investment leader at Leapfrog Investments. Souleymane brings extensive experience in driving prosperity and resilience in emerging markets.

They talk through the crucial role of investment in the transition to clean energy, the opportunities and challenges in emerging markets, and the importance of sustainable development for a healthy planet. “This is the biggest opportunity of our lifetime”, says Souleymane. Where is the money coming from and where does it need to go?

This episode was recorded at the SEforALL Global Forum in Barbados, March 2025.

Elizabeth Wangeci Chege hosts two visionaries in sustainable energy, Gonzalo Bravo and Yasmeen Oraby, who explore the pivotal role of the energy transition in reshaping the future.

Recorded at the the SEforALL Forum in Barbados, they discuss the transformative strategies and stories from the Global South that are driven by solid data.

Gonzalo Bravo is Head of Energy Department at the Bariloche Foundation. His work involves developing long-term energy strategies in alignment with national commitments for sustainable development. He advocates for financial solutions to scale renewable energy and address energy access deficits, particularly in Africa, highlighting his commitment to advancing development in regions with the highest need. Yasmeen Oraby is Program Manager at the Economic Research Forum, and she works to deliver economic research to regional areas and empower youth and women in energy.

"Investment in affordable renewable energy and improving access to affordable energy is something that the world is focused on," said Lilia Burunciuc, Director of the World Bank for the Caribbean, to host Elizabeth Wangeci Chege in this episode of Let’s Talk About Energy. It’s a global issue, but there are plenty of success stories from the Caribbean.

Lilia and Elizabeth talk about global efforts to transition towards clean energy, highlighting some of the World Bank's most successful projects in the Caribbean: improving energy efficiency in public buildings and a St. Lucia initiative that cut government energy bills by 80%.

Elizabeth also discusses the importance of energy efficiency in buildings. They call for global collaboration and a more inclusive sector, working to provide everyone with a dignified life powered by sustainable energy.

This episode was recorded at the SEforALL Global Forum in Barbados, March 2025.

Host Elizabeth Wangeci Chege talks with Jessica Lough, Executive Climate Strategy and Operations Leader at GE Vernova. Jessica discusses the company mission to electrify and decarbonise, with a focus on new technologies in carbon capture, direct air capture, hydrogen, and small modular reactors.

Jessica talks through GE Vernova's sustainability framework which is built around four pillars: conserve, decarbonise, electrify, and thrive. GE Vernova is pioneering renewable energy projects, informed by ongoing research and development. Hear how one of the most innovative energy companies is managing decarbonisation goals with rising energy demand.

This episode was recorded at the SEforALL Global Forum in Barbados, March 2025.

Anant Wadhwa and Elizabeth Wangeci Chege talk with Dr Harikumar, Director of the Energy Management Center in Kerala, India, to explore the rapid developments in energy technology in the region, particularly in hydrogen and electric vehicles. In this episode, he discusses his 35 years in the energy sector, and his insights from the past few years of energy innovation.

Despite improved efficiency, energy consumption and emissions are both rising. It’s a global issue, so what can be done in India where demand is soaring? Dr Harikumar highlights Kerala's policies and training programmes aimed at improving energy efficiency, with a particular focus on buildings. He stresses the importance of sustainable practices and respecting environmental resources, urging action towards greener energy use. Learn how he and his team are spearheading projects that are making Kerala’s buildings greener and cheaper.

This episode was recorded at the SEforALL Global Forum in Barbados, March 2025.