Kayode Ayeni, Managing Partner, AfriDev Capital Partners

Kayode Ayeni was the founding CEO for First Funds Limited (FFL), a subsidiary of First Bank Nigeria Plc. FFL is Nigeria’s largest SME focused Fund Management Company with $50 million invested in over 60 companies. An accounting graduate of the University of Ife, he also holds a Masters in Financial Economics from the University of London and a MBA from the University of Lagos. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and serves on the boards of many companies and professional associations including the Institute of Directors and the Nigerian Venture Capital Association.

Hakeem Adedeji, Senior Vice President and Head of Energy, First City Monument Bank

Hakeem is Senior Vice President and Head of Energy at First City Monument Bank Plc (FCMB), responsible for the bank’s oil & gas portfolio. He joined FCMB in March 2008 from Citibank, where he was Head of Energy for Nigeria. He has 16 years’ experience in the Nigerian oil and gas industry. Hakeem has been involved in several project & corporate finance transactions in Nigeria, which include MRS acquisition, Chevron downstream assets in West Africa, Bonny Gas Transport $680mm, Nigeria LNG $1b plus projects, Chevron $20mm, Shell Petroleum Development Company $100mm, Elf Petroleum $100mm, as well as the Nigerian Content $350mm financings. Prior to returning to Nigeria, Hakeem worked for 5 years in London and Moscow as Strategy Consultant to European oil and gas companies. He is a Chartered Accountant and an MBA of IESE, Barcelona.

Afolabi Oladele, Partner, African Capital Alliance

Following a successful career in the oil and gas industry, Afolabi joined African Capital Alliance in 1999. He has since been responsible for ACA’s investment and other related activities in the oil and gas sector. Afolabi has worked with many of ACA’s investee companies in various value-adding roles including serving on boards and providing interface with the oil & gas industry. Prior to joining ACA, Afolabi had over 20 years’ experience in the oil and gas industry. His previous experience was mostly with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), where he served in various capacities culminating in being appointed Group Executive Director for the downstream operations in 1995. While employed with NNPC, he was seconded at different times to OPEC, Mobil USA and Total France. Afolabi, a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering and post-graduate certificates in petroleum economics and management.

Oladele Kuti, Head of Energy Finance, Nigeria, Stanbic IBTC Bank

Oladele Kuti joined Stanbic Bank Nigeria Ltd, a member of Standard Bank of South Africa in 2006 after a brief stint at Standard Chartered Bank. Dele has about 17 years of banking experience and is the Head of the Energy Finance group and a member of senior management at Stanbic IBTC, member of Standard Bank of South Africa. Oladele has been involved in energy finance deals and actively participated in the finance structure of the deals in excess of $2 billion including; $625m oil field acquisition and development funding; $95million drilling rigs acquisition; $200million field development funding and various downstream structured trade finance in excess of $500m. He is also a member of the core global energy finance team for Standard Bank New York and London. 

Dr Levi Ajuonuma, Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs, NNPC

Dr Levi Ajuonuma, Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is a vastly experienced PR and advertising practitioner. He joined NNPC in 2003 and has been responsible for policy formulation and development of programmes of action, in the areas of community relations and sustainable development, government liaison and media relations. Prior to his appointment, he was Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, LASOM Communications Limited, a consortium of media and public relations consultants. Dr Ajuonuma acquired vast work experience which prepared him for his job in NNPC, whose activities have become more globalised. He was at one time or another; a lecturer, editor, reporter, broadcaster, PR and Advert officer/consultant, student adviser in various organisations in the USA between 1980 and 1989. Dr Levi Ajuonuma obtained his PhD in Mass Communication from the University of Minnesota USA (1987). He has an MBA, (majoring in Marketing), an MA in Mass Communication, Diploma in International Radio and in Radio/Television presentation.