The maiden African MSME Congress for Energy and Extractive Industry is set to wrap up this August with the final cohorts of its tuition-free masterclasses, equipping small businesses to seize multi-billion-dollar opportunities in oil, gas, power, renewables and mining across the continent.
Organised by the Women School of Business and Leadership (WSBL) in collaboration with Blackgold Energy Authorities, the main congress took place on 27 June 2026 in Lagos. It marked United Nations World MSME Day under the theme “Human-Centered Entrepreneurship in an AI-Driven Future: Economic Empowerment for the Next Generation of MSMEs.” Delegates from more than 30 African countries across North, East, South and West Africa attended, creating a rare continental platform focused on placing people at the centre of entrepreneurship, leveraging AI and digital tools, and building resilience amid constant disruption.
The second phase of the programme, a series of free masterclasses, began with Cohort 1 from 20 to 23 July in Lagos. That session concentrated on oil and gas business opportunities. Cohorts 2 and 3, scheduled for August, will expand the focus to energy, power, renewables, extractives, critical minerals and mining. Organisers designed the series to move participants beyond theory into contract readiness, bankability and vendor qualification.
Dr. Oladunni Owo, CEO of Blackgold Energy Authorities and co-convener of the African Energy Congress, underscored the scale of the moment. “The new frontiers and growth we are witnessing in the energy and extractive value chain across Africa is unprecedented,” she said. “From seismic to logistics, fabrication to HSE, power infrastructure to battery, minerals and mining — the opportunities are enormous. But opportunity without readiness is missed opportunity. This Congress was designed to ensure African MSMEs are not spectators, but qualified vendors and owners in the imminent boom.”
Africa’s energy and extractive sectors are experiencing fresh discoveries, frontier basin developments and major investments. The congress stressed that MSMEs must sit at the centre of these value chains if local content goals and continental wealth creation are to be realised. Without deliberate preparation, the bulk of contracts risk remaining out of reach for indigenous firms.
The Lagos masterclasses have drawn executives, retirees, women, youth and business owners from Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones alongside the broader African delegation. Faculty members include leading practitioners such as Professor Wumi Iledare, supply-chain expert Mrs. Dupe Oyeneyi, energy finance specialists Mrs. Yemi Kolesho and Mrs. Toyin Aralepo, compliance and HSE expert Dr. Dapo Omolade, gas development expert Mrs. Ibitola Fabunmi, marketing specialist Mrs. Haoma Worgu, and corporate AI expert Mrs. Blessing Egbe.
Professor Iledare, emeritus professor of energy economics and director at the FUPRE Energy Business School, highlighted the practical intent of the programme. “MSMEs are the backbone of inclusive growth,” he noted. “What we are doing is demystifying the sector and giving participants a clear roadmap to become compliant, competitive, and contract-ready vendors in line with local content development frameworks.”
Sponsors who themselves began as MSMEs have underwritten the effort. Principal support has come from Blackgold Energy Authorities led by Dr. Owo; BOVAS Group Ltd under Dr. Mrs. Victoria Samson, which grew from modest beginnings into one of Africa’s respected downstream oil and gas companies; Masters Energy Group led by Mrs. Patience Dappa, which provided scholarships for selected youth and women; and Yikodeen Nigeria Ltd led by Mr. Yinka Atunde, another key sponsor offering participant scholarships. Organisers expressed gratitude to these partners for turning the Pan-African gathering into reality.
By the end of August the congress aims to have assembled a ready force of African energy and extractives MSMEs, service providers and vendors equipped to scale from local operators to regional players. The emerging network is intended to position participants to deliver services and execute projects in oil, gas, power, renewables, mining and critical minerals.
Dr. Owo framed the outcome in the language of the UN MSME Day theme. “By aligning with the UN MSME Day theme of inclusive and sustainable growth, this Congress will conclude successfully having produced a new generation of African MSMEs ready to take advantage of the business opportunities that will come with the new African oil and gas boom, energy transition, and mining expansion,” she said.
Plans are already in motion for the 2027 United Nations World MSME Day. Organisers intend to stage African MSME Congress 2.0, again capped by sector-specific masterclasses across relevant industries. The 2026 edition, they argue, has laid the foundation for a more inclusive African energy future in which small and medium enterprises move from the margins to the centre of value creation.
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