Forward-looking discussions and meaningful collaboration highlight OA Energy Leadership Forum

One of the highlights of a power-packed recent African Energy Week (AEW) 2025 held across 29 September-3 October in Cape Town, the inaugural Olaniwun Ajayi Energy Leadership Forum, themed, “Beyond Divestments: Unleashing Indigenous Capacity to Drive Nigeria’s Upstream Growth”, was a very successful half-day event of forward-looking discussions on financing, innovation and sustainable leadership.

“It’s a very momentous time in Nigeria’s oil and gas history,” says Mrs Ibi Ogunbiyi, a partner in Olaniwun Ajayi LP’s Power and Infrastructure team, widely regarded as Nigeria's flagship practice. “We have a lot of international oil companies that are divesting, and these assets are now being handed over to indigenous companies. So we need to have conversations about how these indigenous companies are going to fare, how they are going to manage these assets, and how they can do so in a sustainable fashion, in the better interests of Nigeria as a whole.”

Events such as Olaniwun Ajayi and Africa Legal’s inaugural Energy Leadership Forum bring stakeholders and top executives together to look at all the issues and chart the course of action that is effective for all the players in the ecosystem, says Ogunbiyi, who delivered the opening remarks on the day. She noted that it’s imperative the transition from IOCs to indigenous companies is well-managed and the sector is positioned to take indigenous firms beyond mere production to ensure sustainability, value creation, resilience, adaptability and overall success.

The event had operators, big players, small players, people from the midstream and upstream, regulators, and lawyers all in the room, noted Dr Tominiyi Owolabi, Managing Partner of Olaniwun Ajayi. “All those people coming together and exchanging ideas has just been powerful. Everyone had something big to take away. Overall, this has been extremely productive for us. I can tell you we’re eagerly awaiting for next year.”

The central panel session, “Unleashing Indigenous Capacity: Finance, Innovation, Strategy and Operational Levers for Scalable Growth,” was unique its rawness, pragmatism, and dissection of the operational challenges, legal and governance frameworks, and financing models underpinning the transition to indigenous control.

Moderated by Olaniwun Ajayi partner Damilola Salawu, it featured a distinguished lineup of C-Suite speakers: Roger Brown of Seplat Energy; Dr. Philip Mshelbila of Nigeria LNG Limited; Dele Kuti of Standard Bank Group; Bashorun Oladimeji of Energia Limited; and Dr. Tosin Etomi of Asharami Energy. The conversation examined how African operators can unlock new forms of capital, strengthen investor confidence, and enhance operational capacity amid shifting global energy priorities.

That was followed by a riveting fireside chat between Dr Owolabi and Mr. Adegbite Falade, CEO of Aradel Holdings PLC, who shared insights on scaling with purpose and building resilient business models in Africa’s energy transition.

“It was a no holds barred reflection on the grit, determination and visionary leadership required to curate a world-class oil and gas firm from the disparate intentions of a broad spectrum of investors, learning to build and dream together,” shares Ogunbiyi, who praised the intimate setting that took attendees away from the hectic pace of AEW 2025 and allowed for “authentic and meaningful” interactions.

Scott Cowan, the CEO of Africa Legal, and Chuks Ibechukwu, Managing Partner of Olaniwun Ajayi (UK) LLP, closed this year’s Energy Leadership Forum, highlighting the shared vision between OALP and Africa Legal to drive indigenous capacity development and foster meaningful collaboration across Africa’s energy ecosystem.

“It was a pleasure to support Olaniwun Ajayi in delivering the inaugural Energy Leadership Forum,” says Cowan. “We look forward to continuing to build and grow this important event together in the years ahead. The calibre of discussion and depth of expertise across the panels were truly exceptional; a power panel in every sense!”