As Africa pushes
toward energy reform and innovation, we’re confronted with a paradox: how can a
continent so rich in renewable resources still be home to over 600 million
people without reliable access to electricity?
I recently engaged with the work of Chinenye Ajayi, a seasoned energy lawyer and co-founder of Solfa Power Limited, whose thought-provoking insights highlight a crucial truth: technological innovation alone is not enough. Her voice is one I believe more of us must listen to.
In her article, Rethinking Africa’s Energy Future: Why Innovation Alone Isn’t Enough, Chinenye makes a compelling case for the urgent need to complement energy innovation with ethical leadership, faith-driven purpose, and deep community accountability. She writes:
“If innovation is the vehicle, leadership is the steering wheel.”
And I couldn’t agree more.
A Sector of Promise—and Pain
With its abundance of solar, hydro, and wind resources, Africa has enormous energy potential. However, the industry is enmeshed in systemic dysfunction, as Chinenye explains. Over-reliance on dirty diesel generators, a lack of faith in public institutions, and reforms that hardly ever take hold are the results of everything from utility financial insolvency to disjointed policies and lax enforcement.
This is more than just a technical problem. It is a human one.
Why Values Matter More Than Voltage
We are reminded of a fundamental reality by Chinenye's reflections: people, not projects, are where transformation starts. The energy industry requires problem-solvers with conviction, not just engineers and financiers. leaders who work for people, not for financial gain. professionals who view energy as a calling to serve humanity with excellence, purpose, and integrity rather than as a business transaction.
I was drawn to Chinenye's work because of this values-based perspective. Her strategy is very similar to my own views on purpose-driven leadership, particularly in systems that have a large-scale impact on people's lives.
A Spirit-Led Model That’s Already Taking Root
The fact that Chinenye is mobilising rather than merely theorising is what most excites me. She is fostering a daring new movement of early-career energy professionals who are driven by impact, devoted to ethics, and guided by faith as the convener of Graced Energy Professionals for Africa (GEPA).
According to her, GEPA is a community where morals are just as significant as output. where upcoming African leaders can receive guidance, develop spiritually, and acquire the tools they need to completely overhaul the energy industry.
I urge energy professionals who are prepared to lead with conviction to learn more about and become a part of this movement: https://gepafrica.com
A Quiet Revolution with Lasting Consequences
Megawatts, infrastructure, and billions of dollars in funding are frequently discussed in relation to energy in Africa. But every power plant has a human behind it, as Chinenye reminds us. Every policy has a policymaker behind it. We run the risk of making the same mistakes again if we don't invest in the "human software"—the moral character, drive, and attitudes of industry leaders.
Africa now requires not only quick development but also moral leadership. Purpose, not just policy. Reformers with moral courage, not just reformers.
The Bigger Question
As I reflect on Chinenye’s work, I am left with one burning question:
Who is designing Africa’s energy
future—and why?
The answer to that question will determine not only how far we go but whether we rise with integrity, dignity, and justice for all.
