With over 75 of its population under the age of 30, Uganda's young people are crucial factors in the country's economic trajectory. Recognising the need to harness this potential, TotalEnergies, in partnership with the Society of Petroleum Engineers, convened a youth engagement forum to discuss how young Ugandans can play a greater role in the country's evolving energy landscape. The second in the series, this year's "Youth in Energy" conference, held under the theme "Awareness to Action: Youth Shaping Uganda's Energy Transition," brought together over 300 students, academia and industry stakeholders to exchange insights on skills development, innovation and participation in the oil, gas and renewable energy sectors, and close to 500 people connected live.
In her keynote address Marime-Sav Sow, Vice President for engagement and advocacy at TotalEnergies EP Africa, challenged young Africans to claim their place at the decision-making tables where the continent's energy future will be shaped, stressing that those who will live with the consequences of today's choices must also be part of designing them. "We cannot let the future be designed by those who won't live in it," she said, urging youth to bring their creativity, courage and ideas into enterprise, policy and innovation for a just energy transition.
Sow argued that Africa's pathway to carbon neutrality must be guided by fairness and in cognisance of the continent's particular circumstances. While the continent contributes least to global emissions, it faces the harshest impacts of climate change. She called this a "generational opportunity to redefine development," insisting that Africa has the sovereign right to use its natural resources responsibly to power schools, hospitals and industries while pursuing renewable solutions. She said that Uganda's youth are not just stakeholders but "chief architects" of the continent's sustainable energy future.