Niël Terblanché
The second edition of the Youth in Oil & Gas Summit (YIOGS) is set to return to Walvis Bay’s town hall on 25 and 26 July 2025.
The event will be presented under the banner “Drilling into the Future: Empowering Youth in Namibia’s Oil & Gas Revolution”, and the summit is set to welcome over 800 young professionals, industry experts, policymakers and educators, all committed to advancing youth representation in the sector.
A statement issued by the organisers states that the theme reflects the drive to “move from conversation to construction and from awareness to active participation.”
Having secured endorsements from Africa Energy Week and the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor), the summit is billed as a launchpad for dynamic discussion and sustained engagement across the energy value chain.
Driven by the founder Justina Erastus’s vision, the non-profit initiative firmly believes in African youth steering the continent’s energy transition.
Erastus is quoted as saying the summit seeks to position African youth as leaders at the forefront of the global energy transition, leveraging Namibia’s rapidly expanding prominence in the oil, gas, and renewable energy sectors.
For two days, attendees will engage with high-profile speakers and panellists who are exploring emerging industry trends, sustainability concerns, and technological innovation in oil and gas.
The summit also offers expansive networking opportunities and showcases the evolving landscape of Namibia’s energy economy.
The event is designed to be inclusive, extending invitations to students, graduates, young professionals, entrepreneurs, women and under-represented groups, while also inviting corporate stakeholders who are committed to youth empowerment and Namibia’s energy ambitions.
YIOGS debuted in July 2024, with over 600 participants, 13 notable speakers, and representation from four companies.
According to the Youth in Oil & Gas Foundation, that inaugural event was more than a conference.
According to YIOGS, it was a declaration, forging a movement that linked youth with career and training opportunities.
Set for its second edition, the summit has gained the support of the African Energy Chamber.
The Youth in Oil and Gas Summit is an important catalyst for determining the future of Africa’s energy landscape.
It is an essential platform for nurturing the next generation of energy professionals and leaders.
Looking ahead to the second iteration, the organisers promise deeper technical workshops, masterclasses, and high-value networking, which the founding team refers to as an expanding scale, ambition, and impact experience.
While Namibia continues to position itself as a major player in Africa’s energy map, the summit arrives at a pivotal moment.
The statement said that, by bringing youth, industry, and policymakers together, YIOGS 2025 seeks not merely to respond to the continent’s energy shift but to direct it, driven by the energy and ideas of a new generation.
