Rome: To mark Africa Day 2025, commemorated globally on 25 May, the Pontifical University of Santa Croce in Rome, in partnership with Harambee Africa International, hosted a thought-provoking conference titled: "Energy, Youth, and the Future: A Global Perspective on the Sustainable Transition from Africa."

This wasn’t just another commemorative event—it was a dynamic platform for reflection, dialogue, and action, showcasing what Africa represents today: a continent abundant in resources, driven by youthful energy, and poised for a sustainable and inclusive future.

The conference brought together a diverse group of thinkers and doers—experts from the fields of economics, climate, international cooperation, and energy regulation—who converged on one central theme: Africa’s strategic role in the global energy transition and how its youth must be at the helm of this transformation.

With a predominantly young and engaged audience in attendance, the message was clear: Africa is not waiting for change—it is generating it, powered by innovation, resilience, and the call for equity.

Opening the conference was Mr Isaac Kodjo Atchikiti, a Togolese climate finance specialist and doctoral candidate at Sapienza University of Rome. He called for an Africa built on inclusive participation and transparent, stable economic foundations.

He cautioned against the trend of treating youth inclusion as a buzzword rather than a reality, insisting that sustainable development must involve genuine multi-stakeholder partnerships. Referencing the Oslo Development Agenda, he emphasized the need for models that anchor long-term strategies in consultation, accountability, and local empowerment.

Ms Musamamba Mubanga, a Zambian climate advocate with Caritas Internationalis, shared powerful insights from her fieldwork. She illustrated how energy access remains a daily struggle, not just a policy concern, for millions of Africans.

“Too often, energy plans are crafted in distant boardrooms, disconnected from the communities they’re meant to serve,” she noted. In countries where 80% of the population lacks consistent access to electricity, and where charcoal remains a cooking staple, the costs are borne not only in health and hardship but in forests and futures lost.

For energy transitions to be truly transformative, the lived experiences of ordinary Africans must shape the agenda.

From a regulatory standpoint, Mr Fabio Tambone, Director at Italy’s ARER, underscored the dual pillars of Africa’s progress: water and energy. He advocated for distributed energy generation systems as key to overcoming persistent infrastructure gaps and decentralizing power literally and figuratively.

Adding a cooperative lens, Ms Isabela Stoll of Italy’s GSE highlighted areas where Italy and African nations can collaborate to build resilient and equitable energy frameworks.

Ms Angela Cestari, Executive of Cestari Group, shared tangible examples of her company’s ethical, long-term investments in African energy sectors, proving that business and development goals can—and must—align.

The spirit of the event echoed the philosophy of Harambee Africa International, whose latest report, “The Silent Revolution,” was a centerpiece of discussion. The Swahili term “Harambee,” meaning “let’s pull together,” captures the essence of African collective strength and the vision of a continent united in purpose and action.

Originally popularized by Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya’s first president, Harambee remains a foundational principle of community-led progress, reminding us that real transformation begins from within.

Originally known as African Freedom Day, Africa Day is a powerful reminder of the continent’s enduring struggle against colonial rule and exploitation. Today, it celebrates Africa’s cultural richness, diverse traditions, and the unwavering spirit of its people, both on the continent and in the diaspora.

As the world looks toward Africa with renewed attention, this year’s Africa Day served not just as a commemoration, but as a call to harness Africa’s potential through inclusive energy policies, youth empowerment, and global solidarity.