Orji, Nkontchou to Address Global African Investment Summit

The organizers of The Global African Investment Summit (TGAIS) have listed Uche Orji, managing director & chief executive officer of the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and Bimpe Nkontchou, director of the Lagos Court of Arbitration as part of speakers at the Summit.

The Organizers of The Global African Investment Summit (TGAIS), in a statement also announced a partnership with Nigeria’s leading indigenous independent oil firms, Seplat. 

The partnership sees Seplat sponsoring the event and Dr. AB Orjiako, the chairman, addressing the conference on opportunities in investing in Africa’s natural resources sector.

Dr. Orjiako is amongst strong company on the stage at TGAIS, with headline speeches from African president’s including His Excellency Paul Kagame, His Excellency Yoweri Museveni, His Excellency Jakaya Kikwete, His Excellency John Mahama and His Excellency Faure Gnassibé of Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Ghana and Togo respectively.  The summit will be held at London’s landmark Savoy Hotel, October 20-21.

Seplat is a strong example of the evolution of the natural resource industry in Africa. 

The indigenous company is not only making commercial history - such as being the first local company to acquire and operate oil and gas leases - but it is also at the forefront of how African businesses seek financing from the international market. 

Lessons from Dr. Orjiako will be keenly heard by the audience of pension fund managers, private equity investors and CEOs.

Paul Sinclair, the event director, highlighted the importance of having African businesses represented at the summit: “We are seeing African firms taking an increasingly high profile in areas of the economy that used to be dominated by foreign firms.  Governments across the continent are pushing for increased local participation in sectors such as oil and mining. 

To have Seplat, one of Nigeria’s biggest oil success stories, presenting at our event ensures that the important lessons this firm has to offer can be felt elsewhere.

“As a London and Nigeria cross listed firm, Seplat embodies the spirit behind The Global African Investment Summit.  By building the links between the international financial community in London and African opportunity we expect to see many more companies following similar financing arrangements.”

The Summit will involve African governments profiling investment opportunities to London’s international finance community. 

By focusing on bankable projects and upcoming investor milestones the event is not just for talking about doing business, it is about securing finance and bringing foreign direct investment to Africa.

Bridging Africa’s investment gap will help convert a decade of strong economic growth for the continent into long-term socio-economic development. 

TGAIS is about attracting the right partners for Africa, partners who are looking for long investments and strong relations with their host communities. 

A key theme for the summit will be placing sustainability at the heart of investments, an idea that both protects investments from risk but - critically - also maximizes the benefits for local governments and their citizens.

Major energy projects that will be highlighted at the event include: Ruzizi III Hydropower Project (Rwanda); Ghana 1000 Gas to Power Project (Ghana); Batoka Hydro Power Project (Zambia) and Inga Dam III (Southern Africa).

Other is Lake Tanganyika and Rovuma Gas Fields (Tanzania); Uganda oil exploration blocks and Tweneboa, Enyera and Ntomne (Ghana).

The Summit also covers agribusiness and infrastructure and will see speakers from a number of prominent companies in these sectors as well from professional services firms and multilateral trade promotion and development agencies.

The event is hosted by His Excellency Olusegun Obasanjo, the former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the country has strong representation throughout the program.