Nigeria, March 21 -- Energy is fundamental to Africa's development and must be treated as a central pillar of economic policy, according to the US Secretary of Energy, Charles Wright.

Mr Wright said this on Thursday, as global leaders and investors gathered in Washington, DC, for the 2026 Powering Africa Summit.

The summit is organised by EnergyNet, an events and investment platform focused on Africa's power and energy sector.

Speaking at a conference, Mr Wright stated that expanding energy access could unlock industrial growth, job creation, and improved living standards.

According to him, clean cooking solutions, in particular, offer immediate benefits by reducing health risks and freeing up time, especially for women who often spen...