Nigeria’s leading indigenous independent oil and gas firm, Seplat, is partnering the organisers of the Global African Investment Summit (TGAIS), a platform that brings together the public and private sectors to discuss specific transactions, access to finance, and bankable projects in sub-Saharan Africa requiring investment and technology transfer.
The partnership, which was announced by TGAIS, sees Seplat sponsoring the event and their chairman, ABC Orjiako, addressing the conference on opportunities in investing in Africa’s natural resources sector.
The company recently listed on both the Nigerian and London stock exchanges.
The summit, which will be held in London from October 20 to 21, will have headline speeches from African president’s including Paul Kagame, Yoweri Museveni, Jakaya Kikwete, John Mahama, and Faure Gnassibé of Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Ghana and Togo, respectively.
Paul Sinclair, event director, in a statement on Wednesday, said: “We’re 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.”
Seplat is a strong example of the evolution of the natural resource industry in Africa, 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, the statement said, adding that lessons from Orjiako will be keenly heard by the audience of pension fund managers, private equity investors and CEOs.
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 Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of the Republic of Nigeria and the country has strong representation throughout the programme. The British government is a strong supporter of the event.
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 maximises the benefits for local governments and their citizens.
FEMI ASU
