Shedding light on Africa’s paradox - rich in natural resources yet plagued by energy poverty, Dr. Kachikwu recounts a conversation that questions why energy access remains a privilege rather than a right. He explores Africa’s vast energy potential, the failures in resource monetization, and the urgent need for strategic policies. The talk challenges African leaders, policymakers, and the populace to rethink energy, infrastructure, and self-reliance, urging them to harness local resources, think globally, and prioritize value creation for the African people, as the only way for the continent to effectively progress. Prof. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu is a former Minister of State Petroleum Resources of The Federal Republic of Nigeria and Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) 2015 - 2019. He also served as Group Managing Director, NNPC from 2015-2016 and became the only Nigerian to have held at the same time, portfolios of Group Managing Director, NNPC, Minister of State Petroleum, President of OPEC, president Of GECF, and President of APPO. He was the Executive Vice Chairman of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited and General Counsel for ExxonMobil Nigeria affiliate Upstream and Downstream Companies in Nigeria before his time in government.Prof. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu is a visiting Professor in several universities globally including Harvard and three Nigerian universities. He is the author of over 12 law books on energy, contract, investment & petroleum. He is an international consultant on petroleum and energy policy matters to various countries & companies. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Taking a leap of faith - leaving behind her family, a thriving corporate career, and the familiar world of multinational organizations, to step into the complexities of Nigeria’s public sector, a journey of unexpected lessons, resilience, and impact – that is Jane’s story. In this talk, Jane shares the stark realities of public sector work: the culture shocks, the bureaucratic hurdles, and the overlooked opportunities for transformation. She reflects on what it truly takes to drive lasting change, why top talent must consider public service and the mindset shifts necessary to lead effectively in this space. Jane Egerton-Idehen is a Tech Executive, Author, and Angel Investor. She is currently the MD/CEO of Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited. She was the Head of Sales, Middle East and Africa, Meta and Country Manager & Regional Sales Director for the West African branch of Avanti Communications Group PLC. She spent 13 years in Sales and Management at Ericsson and worked as a Cluster lead for Nokia Siemens Network in West Africa. Jane has a degree in Electronics Engineering from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka; a Master's Degree from Warwick Business School, US; and an executive education from Yale School of Management, US. She has worked in the telecommunications industry in Africa for more than 17 years. In March 2020, she published a book titled, “Be Fearless: Give Yourself Permission To Be You.”Outside of work, she spends time with her amazing family and gives back to her younger women and girls via mentorship, her NGO (Women and Career), and other initiatives. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx