By Felix Shammah
Copyright sharpedgenews
Dr. Chinedu Ogwus, Chartered European Engineer, Diplomat, and Head of Purchasing with TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited, unveiled a bold climate-smart investment agenda at the Africa–UK Trade and Investment Conference in London on Saturday.
His keynote address, delivered at the illustrious Royal National Hotel and met with sustained applause, was hailed as a defining moment for Africa’s economic future, positioning the continent’s youth and resources at the heart of a global green transformation.
Speaking on the theme, “Green Trade and Climate-Smart Investment: A Shared Agenda for Africa and the UK,” Dr. Ogwus captured the attention of an audience of policymakers, investors, and international business leaders from both regions with a message that was at once urgent, visionary, and deeply practical.
“Green trade is Africa’s gateway to prosperity. Climate-smart investment will open new industries, create jobs for millions of our young people, and position Nigeria and the continent as leaders in the global green economy,” he declared to resounding applause.
With over 60 percent of Africa’s population under the age of 25, Ogwus stressed that the continent’s future depends on empowering its youth through climate-smart opportunities. He underscored that renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and green technology innovation are not merely environmental imperatives but direct pathways to mass employment, innovation, and global competitiveness.
Dr. Ogwus declared that the continent’s prosperity hinges on embracing green trade and strategically channeling capital into climate-smart opportunities. His message, delivered with clarity and urgency, positioned Africa’s youth and natural resources as pivotal forces in reshaping the global green economy.
He outlined a practical roadmap for Africa–UK cooperation in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and green technology. From solar farms and eco-housing to drought-resistant crops and waste-to-energy innovations, Ogwus painted a future where Africa does not merely adapt to climate change but turns it into a platform for growth.
With Africa’s population overwhelmingly youthful, he argued that climate-smart investment is not only an environmental necessity but also an economic imperative. “Our youths are not just the workforce of tomorrow; they are the innovators of today,” he stressed, urging Africa to become an exporter of innovation rather than seekers of opportunities abroad.
The conference, themed “Evolving a New Framework for Trade and Investment Between Africa and the UK Within the Changing Global Economy,” provided a platform for exploring partnerships in an increasingly climate-conscious world. Yet it was Ogwus’s keynote, weaving together engineering expertise, diplomatic insight, and grassroots advocacy, that struck the deepest chord with delegates.
Observers at the Royal National Hotel described the session as more than an academic exercise. Many hailed it as a turning point—an unveiling of a continental agenda that blends profit with sustainability, and trade with conscience.
For his leadership and achievements, Ogwus was honored with the Africa–UK Best Procurement Practices Champion Award, a recognition that underscored his growing influence as one of Africa’s leading reformist voices on the global stage.
