Nigeria’sMinister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy
Wale Edun is Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and a seasoned economist with decades of experience in banking, development finance, and public policy. A former Chairman of Chapel Hill Denham and a key architect of Nigeria’s economic reforms, Edun has been instrumental in shaping fiscal policies that drive investment and growth. He was a driving force behind Nigeria’s debt restructuring strategy, securing critical financial relief that bolstered economic stability and investor confidence. With expertise spanning capital markets and governance, he remains a leading voice in positioning Nigeria as a competitive global economy.
Affiong Williams
Founder/CEO ReelFruits
Williams has done more than build a brand; she has redefined what is possible for agribusiness in Nigeria. And in doing so, she has set a new standard: that “Made in Nigeria” is not just a label.
Aliko Dangote
President and CEO of Dangote Group
Aliko Dangote is the President and CEO of Dangote Group, Africa’s largest diversified conglomerate with interests in cement, sugar, oil refining, and more. A visionary industrialist, he has redefined the landscape of manufacturing and trade on the continent, pioneering large-scale investments that drive economic growth and job creation. His groundbreaking $19 billion Dangote Refinery, the largest in Africa, is set to revolutionise Nigeria’s energy sector and reduce dependence on fuel imports. Recognised globally for his business acumen, Dangote continues to champion Africa’s self-sufficiency through bold industrialisation projects.
Olu A. Verheijen
Presidential Adviser on Energy
With nearly two decades of hands-on experience across oil & gas, power, and renewable energy, she brings a deep, multidimensional understanding of sub-Saharan Africa’s energy landscape—bridging legacy systems with the future of sustainable power.
Haresh Aswani
President and CEO of Tolaram
Haresh Aswani is the Managing Director of Tolaram Group in Africa, a multinational conglomerate with interests spanning consumer goods, infrastructure, and financial services. Under his leadership, Tolaram has driven industrial growth across Africa, forging strategic partnerships that have transformed supply chains and expanded market access. He played a key role in establishing the $1.5 billion Lekki Free Trade Zone partnership with the Lagos State Government, boosting Nigeria’s industrial and trade capacity. Committed to sustainable business practices, Aswani continues to foster economic development across the continent.
Roger Thompson Brown
Chief Executive Officer SEPLAT ENERGY PLC
Mr. Brown was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Seplat Energy Plc in August 2020. He joined the company as Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Executive Director in July 2013. During his time at the Company as CFO, he was instrumental in completing the dual listing of the company on the main markets of the Nigerian and London Stock Exchanges, which was the first for a Nigerian corporate. He has also been instrumental in broadening the capital base of the company and also increasing Seplat Energy’s footprint in Nigeria by acquiring oil and gas assets.
With a background in finance, he is a qualified Chartered Accountant with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland. Mr. Brown has over 30 years’ experience, primarily focused on emerging markets with extensive experience in structuring energy and infrastructure transactions on the African continent.
Prior to joining Seplat Energy, he held the position of Managing Director of Oil and Gas EMEA for Standard Bank Group and prior to Standard Bank Group, Senior Manager in the Corporate Finance department of PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Mr. Brown has extensive financial, accounting, M&A, debt and equity capital markets experience in the emerging markets space, and in particular the African oil and gas sector. He has advised on and provided capital to some of the largest and highest-profile transactions that have occurred across the African Continent, including many of the asset divestments in the onshore Niger Delta undertaken by Shell, Total and ENI.
