AUST, AFRECCC Host Pre-Event Press Briefing: Harps On Need For Partnerships

The African University of Science and Technology (AUST), Abuja in conjunction with the Local Organizing Committee of the African Energy & Climate Change Conference (AFRECCC 2025), has fixed the October 23–25, 2025, as the date for this year's conference.

This was disclosed to the press corps in a pre-event press briefing held at the university's boardroom 2.

The conference which has  “Future of Energy and Climate Change,” as the theme the seeks to bridge the gap between research and its practical application in driving Nigeria’s knowledge economy.

The event will attract key stakeholders from the academia, industry, and policy sectors to discuss strategies for sustainable energy transition, climate resilience, and socio-economic transformation across Africa.

In his welcome remarks, the AUST President, Professor Azikiwe Peter Onwualu, FAS,  emphasized the importance of energy in national development, noting that “energy is one thing that contributes more than any other sector in the quest for national development.

According to him " If we get the energy issue right, we can unlock a chain of innovations that will transform the Nigeria economy" Onwualu enthused.

He highlighted AUST’s commitment in advancing energy technologies through research and innovation, referencing breakthroughs such as battery development from biomass and the university’s award-winning 3D printing machine project, which earned the institution  a ₦10 million award prize.

Professor Onwualu also called on researchers and innovators to actively participate in AFRECCC 2025, encouraging those interested in presenting papers to still submit their abstracts despite the timing.

He further stressed that the conference will serve as a hub for sharing ideas and fostering partnerships that can help position Nigeria as a leader in sustainable energy reforms.

Delivering the pre-event press briefing address,  Engr. Michael C. Mozie, Secretary of AFRECCC 2025, described the forthcoming event as more than a gathering of experts  but  a catalyst for Africa’s structural transformation through knowledge, innovation, and policy coherence.

He explained that AFRECCC 2025 aims to institutionalize data-informed and integrity-driven decision-making across sectors that shape Africa’s sustainability.

“For too long,” he noted, “climate discourse in Africa has been fragmented between environment, energy, and economic policy.

AFRECCC seeks to bridge that divide  connecting science to governance, and governance to action.

According to Engr. Mozie, the conference will address the critical link between climate change, energy access, and economic growth. He emphasized that issues such as soil degradation extends beyond agriculture, constituting a socio-economic dilemma that threatens livelihoods, especially among the most vulnerable populations.

“At the heart of this conference lies data integrity — the ability to measure, monitor, and manage our transition using verifiable evidence,” he stated.

“Without robust data infrastructure, our budgeting policies and interventions will remain disconnected from the realities they seek to transform”

He reiterated that AFRECCC 2025 is “not just another climate conference, but a catalytic platform for rethinking Africa’s development narrative through data integrity, energy transition, and sustainable governance stressing  that climate change is not merely an environmental challenge, but a developmental equation that demands coherence between science, policy, and action.

Mozie affirmed that through AFRECCC 2025, Nigeria and Africa must not only adapt to climate realities but also lead the global conversation on sustainable energy and environmental resilience.

The press parley reinforced the call for coherence, collaboration, and continental leadership, while underscoring the inclusive nature of the event and its commitment to bridging gaps between Energy, Climate change, science, policy, and the public.

AFRECCC 2025 promises to be a transformative gathering that positions Africa not as a victim of global climate narratives but as an architect of resilient, knowledge-based, and equitable futures.