Converting ambition into action, opportunity into measurable results

Africa’s energy sector is at a defining moment, and with the significant shift in the global energy landscape (supply disruptions, geopolitical tensions, energy security concerns), Nigeria has a strategic opportunity to become a major driver of Africa’s energy success story, says project finance and energy expert Dr Tominiyi Owolabi.

“Nigeria has the resources and market influence to serve as a regional energy hub,” adds Owolabi, who is Managing Partner at leading firm Olaniwun Ajayi, with nearly three decades of expertise providing counsel on some of the largest, most complex and market-defining energy transactions in Nigeria. “The enactment of key industry reforms in recent years, renewed investor confidence as demonstrated by investors’ commitments, and sector wide collaboration points towards the country’s potential.”

But the real priority now, he says, is implementation and measurable impact.

As part of that objective, Olaniwun Ajayi will on 14 October host its second Energy Leadership Forum, themed “Positioning Nigeria for Energy Leadership in Africa: From Reforms to Results”, alongside Africa Energy Week in Cape Town.

“The objective really is to examine how Nigeria can convert its strategic advantage into tangible results that deliver sustainable value for not just the country but the African continent as a whole,” says Owolabi, who will also be speaking as part of the main Africa Energy Week (AEW) programme. On 13 October, Owolabi will chair sector leaders Osayande Igiehon of Heirs Energies, Dr Ian Cloke of Afentra, and Oladimeji Bashorun of Energia in an AEW session addressing “Re-energising Onshore & Brownfield Assets: Production, Recovery & Gas-to-Industry”.

Olaniwun Ajayi created and hosted the first Energy Leadership Forum in October 2025, in partnership with Africa Legal, with the inaugural edition convening key energy executives, policymakers, and investors to discuss scalable growth and African energy transformation, under the theme of “Beyond Divestments: Unleashing Indigenous Capacity to Drive Nigeria's Upstream Growth”.

Alongside some key takeaways around identifying structural barriers to financing indigenous success, exploring innovative and sustainable financing models, and developing strategies to enhance operational efficiency while preserving competitiveness, what stood out, says Owolabi, was the calibre of the participants.

“The forum convened leading voices from across finance, policy, industry and operations, creating an environment for genuinely substantive dialogue. The exchange of ideas was both intellectually rigorous and highly practical, with discussions consistently focused on outcomes rather than theory.”

Building on that foundation, this year’s Energy Leadership Forum is directed towards converting policy ambition and sector reforms into measurable outcomes. It will serve as a platform for assessing progress, identifying practical pathways, and advancing initiatives capable of delivering tangible results across the value chain.

“The emphasis will therefore shift from discussions centred on what should be done to the disciplined implementation of strategies that produce demonstrable impact,” says Owolabi, who has advised on multiple billion-dollar energy projects in Nigeria.

Alongside explorations of the effectiveness of legal reforms and practical challenges faced by stakeholders, he is expecting “robust discussions” on the role of regional collaboration for energy security and economic resilience, harmonisation of energy policies and creating a larger energy market for Africa. Also, with the Africa Energy Bank, headquartered in Abuja, set to commence operations soon, Owolabi and Olaniwun Ajayi are looking forward to practical conversations on Africa-driven solutions for Africa’s energy future. “The energy transition agenda will also be considered from a perspective of balancing, as opposed to abandoning, the continent’s traditional source of energy in a manner that supports sustainability.”

The 2026 Energy Leadership Forum will reinforce Nigeria’s role as a catalyst for energy security, investment, and sustainable sector growth across Africa, he adds.

Bringing together leading figures and key stakeholders, and fostering strategic partnerships and collaborations and the coordinated regional participation needed to achieve impact-driven outcomes, Owolabi says the upcoming Leadership Forum represents a unique opportunity for decision-makers to engage with the ideas, institutions, and individuals shaping the next phase of Africa’s energy evolution.

“It is intended for industry leaders committed to remaining at the forefront of sector developments, influencing the direction of policy and investment, and contributing to the advancement of Africa’s energy future. The Forum is therefore both a platform for insight and a forum for influence - bringing together those best positioned to convert ambition into action and opportunity into measurable results.”

For more information on the Energy Leadership Forum, themed “Positioning Nigeria for Energy Leadership in Africa: From Reforms to Results”, visit here.