His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio has presided over the oath-taking ceremony of the new Secretary to the President, Dr Emmanuel Gaima, expressing hope and confidence that he will bring his extensive expertise on matters of governance to bear on the tasks and demands of his new role.

He also bade farewell to the outgoing Secretary to the President, Dr Julius Sandy, and thanked him for his years of invaluable service and support to the presidency and wished him well in his new assignment as the country’s High Commissioner to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

President Bio acknowledged that the office of the Secretary to the President was no mean task although the buck would always stop with him as the head of state, emphasising that the work with the President was a huge undertaking and a weighty task that required a lot of attitudes.

The President called on Dr Gaima to be aware of the fact that there was a lot to learn from his predecessor, expressing his eagerness for a seamless synergy between the former and present secretaries.

He also assured his new aide of his presidential support to work and to have a conducive working environment, while wishing him well during his tenure. He reminded him that he was an adviser and that if he did his job well, he would remain a standout. He congratulated Dr Sandy for being a pillar of support for his administration, even before he came into office.

“Don’t hesitate to call me. We would have missed you dearly. I know you will be proud of what we are doing, and I have confidence that you will always call back when things are not going well. Thanks. I wish you well. You are not going to retire. Thanks for everything, and I so appreciate you for everything,” President Bio said to the former Secretary to the President.

In his remarks, Secretary to the President, Dr Emmanuel Gaima, thanked President Bio for making him, his family, and his career so significant in five short years, from his former role as Presidential Governance Adviser to his recent appointment as Secretary to the President.

He also thanked the President for the opportunity to serve in the present capacity, pointing out that, on behalf of his family, friends, people, and in-laws, he was sincerely grateful to the President.

He said he was aware of the challenges in the office of the Secretary to the President but assured the President and the gathering that based on his experience at State House in the last five years and God be his helper, he was optimistic that he would make his own contributions to serve judiciously.

Dr Gaima also assured President Bio of his commitment to continuity and to focusing on delivery, reaffirming that his decision would be to position himself not in the administration but with a technographic personality that would bridge the gap between administration and delivery.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Sierra Leone.

The President of Republic of Seychelles, Mr. Wavel Ramkalawan, conveyed his congratulations to H.E. Paul Kagame on his successful re-election as the President of the Republic of Rwanda.

In his message, President Ramkalawan, stated:

“I am pleased to extend my heartfelt congratulations on your re-election as President of the Republic of Rwanda.

Your re-election to this high office is a testament to your leadership acumen and reflects the continued trust that the people of Rwanda have in your vision for a prosperous and united Rwanda. I am confident that under your stewardship, Rwanda will make further progress in achieving sustainable development, social justice, and economic growth.

Seychelles and Rwanda share strong and dynamic relations, which were further solidified during your visit in June 2023. I remain committed to our common objectives of further strengthening our bilateral ties and working together to intensify our cooperation for the mutual benefit of both our countries and peoples.

I am very much looking forward to continuing our collaborative efforts at bilateral, regional and multilateral levels.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism – Foreign Affairs Department, Republic of Seychelles.

Africa Oil Week (AOW) – an Africa-hosted oil and gas conference – will be acquired by Sankofa Events, a London startup created in July 2024, led by Paul Sinclair – former Government Relations Executive of Africa Oil Week. Aimed at transforming the event, the acquisition will see the conference take a new direction as it continues to promote investment and development across the African energy sector. Representing the voice of the African energy sector, the African Energy Chamber (AEC) (https://EnergyChamber.org) views this strategic acquisition as a critical step towards creating more inclusive dialogue regarding African energy matters. Under new ownership, AOW has the chance to redefine itself as an event that is not only African-based but African-driven.   

For over 25 years, AOW has held an annual event in South Africa centered around supporting investment in African oil and gas projects. While the event has played a role in facilitating dialogue between African and global stakeholders, the decision to move the event to Dubai following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 brought to attention the lack of respect for the continent. While Africa – specifically South Africa – was well-equipped and fully capable of hosting an international conference in a safe and productive manner, the decision to take the conversation about African energy out of the continent effectively silenced and marginalized African voices. This was especially devastating given the fact that at a time when Africa most-needed investment, it was left out of the discussion.

The repercussions of AOW’s decision were far-reaching and damaging. It perpetuated the notion that African issues are better addressed outside of Africa, reinforcing harmful stereotypes and power dynamics. Moreover, it deprived African energy professionals, entrepreneurs, key players, policymakers and African citizens of a critical platform to drive progress. By prioritizing convenience and profit over principle and solidarity, AOW betrayed its commitment to Africa’s energy development. Despite the focus on many African countries and their potential in energy, most were unable to travel to the event due to COVID-19-related travel restrictions. As such, the move to Dubai was a painful reminder of the industry’s historical exploitation and neglect of African interests.

“To achieve its goals of becoming an electrified and industrialized economy, Africa needs collaboration, unity and partnerships. The decision to move AOW to foreign soil directly opposed all of these aspects. Sankofa Events has a unique and strategic opportunity to turn this conference around, addressing polarization and divisions perpetuated by previous ownership,” stated NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC.  

Now, Sankofa Events – through its acquisition of AOW – aims to address this unjust decision head-on by transforming the event into an African-led platform. The acquisition not only creates the opportunity for a change in ownership but the introduction of fresh perspectives that align closely with Africa’s goals as a continent. Led by an African startup, AOW has the chance to redefine its narrative and play a more central role in driving impactful change in Africa.

“As a leading advocate for Africa’s energy development, the AEC looks forward to working with Sankofa Events to promote the continent’s energy potential, foster economic growth and enhance cooperation among African energy stakeholders. We believe that this new chapter for AOW will contribute to a more unified and prosperous energy community in Africa,” added Ayuk.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

The African Energy Chamber (AEC) (https://EnergyChamber.org/) welcomes the decision by Judge Unterhalter to send Africa Oil Week’s (AOW) defamation case against the AEC to a trial court – citing lack of merits for a summary judgment.

The AEC views this as a victory not just for the Chamber, but for the right of Africans continue exploring and producing oil and gas, despite pressure that we have seen from outside the African continent. We believe in free markets, limited government intervention, individual liberty and respect for African resources and energy companies.

Our counterclaim against AOW will continue, seeking justice for the African energy industry and all Africans fighting energy poverty. We look forward to a spirited litigation and defense against AOW’s allegations.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.