TEA-LP at YES! 2025: Empowering Africa’s Next Generation of Energy Leaders

The Transforming Energy Access – Learning Partnership (TEA-LP) had the privilege of attending the Youth Energy Summit (YES! 2025), held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from 18–20 June. This dynamic event brought together thousands of students, young professionals, entrepreneurs, and energy sector leaders from across Africa to connect, learn, and shape the continent’s energy future.

The summit provided TEA-LP with an exciting platform to share our mission and engage directly with the emerging generation of energy professionals. Our participation was anchored around workshops, panels, and meaningful conversations with youth and key stakeholders.

TEA-LP representatives at YES! 2025, including four of the recent Future Female Leaders graduates.

Interactive Workshop: Designing Africa’s Energy Future

On the opening day, Kai Forster (TEA-LP) and Adekoyejo Kuye (Kamim Technologies, Nigeria) co-hosted an interactive workshop attended by 30 students and young professionals. The session was built around a realistic, hypothetical case study that challenged participants to develop a high-level renewable energy solution for a fictional African community.

Working in small teams, participants explored not only the technical design of energy systems, but also the broader considerations essential for successful implementation—policy and regulation, business models, community engagement, sustainability, environmental impact, and ownership structures.

The energy and enthusiasm from participants were palpable, and the quality of their proposals was a powerful reminder of the talent and creativity among Africa’s youth. If this workshop is any indication, the future of energy in Africa is indeed in capable hands.

One of the workshop teams present their solutions to the group.


Adekoyejo Kuye (left) and Kai Forster (right) delivering the workshop.

Celebrating the Future Female Leaders in Energy

We were honoured to be joined by four remarkable graduates of TEA-LP’s Future Female Leaders in Energy CPD course—our largest and most successful professional development programme to date. Each of these inspiring women participated in high-profile panel discussions at YES! 2025:

  • Hannah Muthoni Gichuki (Kenya) – From Conception to Reality: Bringing Energy Projects to Success

  • Cynthia Ngoma (Zambia) – The Role of Youth in Energy Policy and Advocacy

  • Bongeka Gumede (South Africa) – Rural Electrification: Developing Energy Access Across the Continent

  • Mekides Ashagre (Ethiopia) – Maximising Investments in Clean Energy Projects

We are incredibly proud of these Future Female Leaders and commend their continued dedication to transforming Africa’s energy landscape. Their contributions served as an inspiration to the many students and professionals in attendance.

The four Future Female Leaders who joined TEA-LP at the workshop. From left: Mekides Minlike, Bongeka Gumede, Hannah Muthoni Gichuki, Cynthia Ngoma.


One of the panel discussions that the Future Female Leaders spoke on.

Bridging the Knowledge Gap: Panel Discussion on Academia and Industry

On Friday, Kai Forster moderated a panel titled “Bridging the Knowledge Gap: Collaboration Between Academia and Industry.” The discussion addressed a challenge TEA-LP has encountered repeatedly in its work across the continent: the widening gap between academic training and the practical skills required in the energy sector.

While universities are producing technically capable graduates, many young professionals struggle to transition into the workforce due to limited exposure to cross-cutting disciplines, real-world challenges, and workplace readiness. At the same time, the private sector often faces difficulties sourcing talent with both depth of knowledge and adaptability.

The panel featured a diverse group of leaders:

  • Aatifah Latief – Communications, Training & Education, City of Cape Town

  • Sherrie Donaldson – Opportunity, Development & Incubation Lead, Harambee

  • Tsholo Mogotsi – Chief Partnerships Officer, Youth Employment Service (YES)

  • Atiku Jafar – Partner, Bowyard Partners

  • Mapaseka Setlhodi – National Pathway Management Lead, Presidential Youth Employment Intervention

Together, the panel explored not just the nature of the gap, but practical ways to reimagine education, embed soft skills, promote systems thinking, and strengthen partnerships between academia and industry. It was a timely conversation with far-reaching implications for Africa’s energy and employment future.

Kai Forster moderating the panel discussion on Bridging the Gap between Academia and Industry

Looking Ahead

TEA-LP extends its sincere thanks to the organisers of YES! 2025, our fellow participants, and everyone who took the time to engage with us throughout the summit. The event reaffirmed our belief that Africa’s energy transition will be powered by people—and that investing in capacity building, collaboration, and education is key to realising that future.
We look forward to deepening the relationships we formed at YES! and continuing our work to ensure that young people across Africa are not just prepared for the energy transition, but empowered to lead it.

– Written by Kai Forster