The Next Generation of Energy Leaders: TEA-LP-Sponsored Students Shine at AICCEES 2025

Bridging Research and Impact for Africa’s Energy Future

Across Sub-Saharan Africa, more than 600 million people still live without electricity, according to The World Bank data. While most African countries are committed to achieving SDG 7 (access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all by 2030), some persistent challenges remain: a prohibitively high cost of renewable systems, a lack of localised technologies, insufficient research and development, and a widening technical skills gap.

It was against this backdrop that the Africa International Conference on Clean Energy & Energy Storage (AICCEES) 2025 convened nearly 3 000 participants from across the globe to exchange ideas on how research and industry can work hand-in-hand to power Africa’s clean-energy future. The conference brought together engineers, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and academics under one banner, with the goal of turning ideas into implementable action.

For the second consecutive year, the Transforming Energy Access – Learning Partnership (TEA-LP) proudly sponsored ten student researchers to take part, with six of them attending physically in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, and another four joining virtually from other regions. Their participation highlighted TEA-LP’s continuous commitment to nurturing the next generation of innovators driving Africa’s just energy transition.

“We’re thrilled to have the support of TEA-LP again this year,” said Dr Veronica Akpasoh, one of the conference organisers. “Their contribution last year was instrumental to the event’s success, and once more they have enabled promising young researchers to bring their ideas to a continental stage.”

From Classrooms to Conference Halls: Students Bring Research to Life

The ten TEA-LP-sponsored students presented an impressive range of topics at the conference,  ranging from grid optimisation and waste-to-energy innovation to AI-driven materials research.

Ssekaayi Hassan, a Bachelor of Science student in Electrical Engineering at Makerere University, Uganda, examined “Distribution Network Performance Gaps and Modernisation Challenges in Uganda’s Electricity Sector.” His analysis of Kampala’s Kitala Feeder used industry reliability indices to reveal high outage durations and proposed targeted interventions to reduce technical losses.

For Hassan, one moment stood out:

“The most unexpected insight at AICCEES 2025 was the indigenous Ticlop-Lumos technology presented by Dr Ejikeme Nwosu,” he said. “It converts waste into green hydrogen and fertiliser while generating up to 2.5 times more electricity. It completely changed how I view waste: not as a problem, but as a powerful clean-energy resource.”

He added that the experience “broadened my understanding of how integrated waste and energy management can accelerate sustainable development,” and reaffirmed his commitment to championing scalable waste-to-energy projects in Africa.

Technology with Purpose

Roha Rehan, a young researcher from the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) in Pakistan, brought an international perspective with her comparative study “A Comparative Analysis of V2G and G2V Potentials in Clean Mobility for Pakistan and Sub-Saharan Africa.”

Her simulations demonstrated how electric-vehicle charging strategies can either burden or stabilise fragile grids in developing regions. But what impressed her most was the human element behind innovation.

“The most interesting talk was by Glory Oguegbu, who shared how her small solar project grew into a continental movement,” Roha said. “She reminded us that clean energy isn’t just about technology or infrastructure – it’s about empowering people through skills, training, and local innovation.”

Glory’s 90-day challenge to the audience – to commit to one actionable goal – struck a chord. “That message made the clean-energy movement feel personal,” Roha reflected. “It showed that leadership in sustainability begins with small, disciplined steps.”

Finding Voice and Direction

Among the most reflective participants was Golden Offorson from Cross River University of Technology, whose paper analysed Nigeria’s Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs).

“AICCEES made me realise I can’t slack,” he said with a laugh. “There’s so much work to do to align my data-engineering skills with energy policy. I also learned that humanity gets innovation from the same consciousness – if you delay your idea, someone else is already building it. So start now.

He added that TEA-LP’s support and the conference environment “gave me a sense of belonging in Africa’s energy community – it showed me that young professionals have a place at the table.”

Smart Systems and New Horizons

For Muhammad Tariq Abdulraheem of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, the conference was both a technical and personal turning point. His paper, “A Dual-System Approach to Enhancing Renewable Energy Capture and Peer-to-Peer Distribution for Residential Communities in Nigeria,” introduced a solar-tracking and energy-sharing prototype that could boost generation efficiency by 60 %.

“Before AICCEES, I saw blockchain as too advanced for local use,” he admitted. “But the sessions showed how it can make peer-to-peer energy exchange more transparent and accountable. I’ve now integrated blockchain concepts into my research design.”

He added: “I was nervous about presenting, but I learned that I could do it – and do it well. That confidence will stay with me.”

Turning Waste into Wealth

Several students echoed the importance of local innovation. Jesca B. Macha, from Ardhi University in Tanzania, presented her research on “Enhancing Eco-Friendly Biodiesel Production from Waste Cooking Oil Using Agricultural By-Products as Catalysts.”

By experimenting with rice husks, coconut husks, and chicken manure, she achieved biodiesel yields of up to 80%, reducing production costs by 40%.

Jesca noted:

“AICCEES showed me how blockchain, digital pay-as-you-go systems, and community-level innovation can revolutionise energy access. I used to think the solution was just expanding the grid, but now I see the power of local resources and partnerships.”

Her participation also deepened her resolve to advocate for women’s inclusion in clean-energy innovation. “This experience reinforced my commitment to empower women and dismantle the cultural norms that limit their participation in technical fields,” she said.

Regional Collaboration in Action

PhD candidate Justus Asasira from Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Uganda, analysed the life-cycle impacts of solar cooking versus charcoal use.

“The conference taught me that what I’m doing isn’t just relevant for Uganda – it’s relevant for the entire continent,” he said. “I’ve already connected with four professors across Africa to collaborate on future projects.”

Similarly, Eli Usheunepa Yunana of Kaduna State University, Nigeria, who works on machine-learning models for thermoelectric materials, reflected that AICCEES “inspired my passion for excellence and problem-solving.” He added, “I will seek collaboration with industry experts to turn research outcomes into value-added products.”

Entrepreneurship, Research, and the Spirit of Action

Ondari Brian Overmars, from Moi University in Kenya, used mathematical modelling to study the combustion characteristics of agricultural-waste briquettes. His key lesson – that research must translate into entrepreneurship.

“Attending the conference was an eye-opener,” he said. “I realised research doesn’t end with publication – it must lead to real-life implementation and, where possible, commercialisation. I want to move from being a paper writer to showing the world that it can be done.”

Igniting New Passions

For Donubari Kogbara, an Electrical Engineering student at the University of Port Harcourt, attending the conference revealed the vast potential of untapped energy sources.

Donubari reported that:

“The keynote on Waste to Energy: Powering Our Planet and Protecting the Environment was eye-opening. Seeing how industrial biomethane could power the nation while creating jobs made me realise how diverse and opportunity-rich the energy sector is.”

Working as a business-development analyst, Donubari left the conference inspired to merge her technical background with entrepreneurial insight. “I discovered a genuine interest in business and management,” she reflected. “Now I want to explore energy entrepreneurship as part of my career.”

Stories of Gratitude and Growth

Every participant acknowledged how TEA-LP’s sponsorship removed the barriers that often keep students from such global exposure.

“The TEA-LP support enabled my full participation and access to key sessions,” said Hassan. “It opened channels for collaboration around waste-to-energy innovation and entrepreneurship.”

“Without TEA-LP, I wouldn’t have been able to attend,” added Abdulraheem. “Their support covered travel, accommodation, and registration – it allowed me to focus entirely on learning and networking.”

Virtual delegates echoed similar gratitude. “The Wi-Fi stipend and registration coverage made it possible to engage fully,” said Rehan. “I could connect with mentors and peers across regions – an opportunity that simply wouldn’t exist otherwise.”

Lessons for the Future

While AICCEES 2025 marked a milestone, many students emphasised the need for sustained engagement beyond the conference. They proposed post-event mentorships, seed-funding opportunities for prototypes, and regional hubs for collaboration.

“To truly translate research into community impact,” suggested Hassan, “we need platforms that connect innovators with investors and policymakers. Expanding mentorship and incubation during and after the conference could make participation even more transformative.”

The students’ call to action mirrors TEA-LP’s broader vision: turning capacity-building into real-world outcomes that advance energy access, entrepreneurship, and gender inclusion across the Global South.

Building Momentum Together

The AICCEES organisers commended TEA-LP’s ongoing partnership, noting that its support was “instrumental to the success of the conference” and pivotal in amplifying youth voices in energy research.

By sponsoring emerging researchers from Uganda, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, and Pakistan, TEA-LP helped bridge academic and industrial perspectives and foster South-South collaboration. The 2025 cohort left inspired to transform their projects into practical solutions – from cleaner cooking technologies to smarter grids and greener fuels.

“AICCEES taught me that humanity gets innovation from the same consciousness – if you delay your idea, someone else is already building it. So start now.”

Powering the Path Ahead

Through initiatives like these, TEA-LP continues to demonstrate how targeted support can multiply impact – enabling young researchers not only to present their work but to become ambassadors for Africa’s clean-energy transformation.

Each participant’s story reflected a shared conviction: Africa’s future lies in local innovation, collaboration, and courage to act.

“AICCEES didn’t just expand my technical knowledge,” said Rehan. “It reminded me why I chose this field – to create energy solutions that are equitable, inclusive, and truly ours.”

As these ten rising leaders return to their universities and communities, they carry more than research findings – they carry the momentum of a movement that is lighting up Africa’s path toward a sustainable future.

Written by Kai Forster