The Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) participated in the 16th US-Africa Business Summit, organized by the Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) in Dallas, Texas in the United States from 6th – 8th May 2024. Through this engagement, PIND aimed to showcase its impactful initiatives and foster partnerships to contribute to sustainable growth in the Niger Delta.
Leveraging its expertise and commitment to driving socio-economic development in Nigeria’s Niger Delta region, PIND, represented by its Access to Energy Manager, Teslim Giwa, was a panelist in a session titled “Lighting the Path Forward: Scaling Energy Down to the Last Mile in Africa.”
Mr. Giwa highlighted the importance of collaboration in providing reliable energy solutions to underserved communities, particularly in the Niger Delta region. He showcased PIND’s data-driven model, particularly its recent successful implementation in the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-led Health Electrification and Telecommunication Alliance (HETA) project, which aimed at enhancing energy access to health facilities, businesses, and households in remote coastal communities in the Niger Delta region through innovative solutions.
Addressing the audience, Mr. Giwa said, “Innovative partnerships that approach electricity as a value chain would allow the scale and speed of delivery for energy goods and services to the last mile communities.”
He added that PIND’s partnership with Power Africa through the HETA project installed energy cabins to electrify 12 healthcare facilities in Bayelsa, Delta, and Ondo. This project was a great platform to showcase PIND’s Access to Energy (A2E) achievements across its intervention areas.
He spoke alongside other speakers such as Kormelia Shilunga, Deputy Minister of Mines & Energy of Namibia; Alfonso Chikuni, Secretary of Energy, Malawi; Caroline Emombou, CEO All On; and Richard Nelson, Coordinator, PowerAfrica. Overall, the session explored innovative solutions to addressing energy gaps in the continent while identifying opportunities to collaborate to accelerate energy access across Africa, reaching last-mile communities.
PIND was also represented by its Director of Strategy and Business Development, Aline Varre, who participated in another session tagged: “The Business and Philanthropy Nexus: Driving Sustainable US Africa Partnerships.” This session focused on the relationship between business and philanthropy and how effective collaboration enhances sustainable development and positive social impact in Africa. Other panelists were Travis Atkins, CEO of USADF; Ndidi Nwuneli, CEO of One Campaign; and Zouera Youssoufou, CEO of Dangote Foundation.
In her remarks, Ms. Varre stated, “PIND has continued to partner with key stakeholders from the public and private sectors and is expanding partnerships with in-country banking and global financial institutions to allow for access to financing and to scale economic development in Nigeria’s Niger Delta.”
She added that Africa is open for business, noting that one way to solve its development problems is to equip its private markets with access to capital and technical assistance. She also stated that blended finance between stakeholders of similar interests and goals is the right way to centralize.
The summit was a platform for fostering sustainable development and promoting impactful partnerships between the United States and Africa. It featured plenary sessions, panel discussions, and networking opportunities, focusing on various themes relevant to Africa’s development agenda. It also convened key stakeholders from government, business, and civil society to discuss pressing issues and explore opportunities for collaboration.
