Seminar Speakers
Olubunmi Obembe, Executive General Manager-Technical Services & Nigeria Content, Total E&P Nigeria Limited
Olubunmi Obembe has a Bachelor degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (1979) and an MBA from the University of Port Harcourt (1989). He is an alumnus of the Institute Francais de Petrole, and INSEAD in France. He has 28 years’ experience in the oil industry working for Elf Petroleum Nigeria (TOTAL), in areas spanning maintenance, production operations, and the supply chain. He is presently the Executive General Manager for Technical Services & Nigerian Content Development, He also doubles as Director of Total (E&P) CPFA Limited – the company sponsored pension management company. He represents the company in the NLNG Board Sub-Committee on Nigerian Content, the OPTS Sub-Committee on Nigerian Content and several other workgroups on the subject. He is a member of SPE, Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply Management of Nigeria.
Abiodun Arokodare, Group Executive Director, Finance and Accounting, NNPC
Engr Ernest Nwapa, General Manager Capacity Building Nigeria Content Division, NNPC
Engr Ernest Chukwuemeka Nwapa (MNSE) heads the strategic Nigerian Content Division of the NNPC which is responsible for implementing the Nigerian Content Policy. He joined the NNPC as a Project Engineer in 1983 following graduation from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 1982 and has successfully executed several key projects as Design Engineer, Construction Superintendent and Project Manager. Engineer Nwapa has written several papers and made presentations on the subjects of local content development and capacity building both at local and international conferences.
Sam Smoots, Managing Partner, AfriDev Capital Partners
Sam Smoots served eight years as Business Development Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa for the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), a US government agency that provides financing, political risk insurance and equity funds for emerging markets projects. During his tenure at OPIC he also served as Acting Vice President for Investment Development and facilitated financing for 30 projects in 20 countries in a variety of sectors including IT, hospitality, manufacturing, housing, power, and oil and gas. Mr Smoots has a B.S. in International Trade from Texas Tech University and a Certificate from Harvard Business School for training in International Private Equity.
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.
Simbi Kesiye Wabote, General Manager Nigerian Content Development (NCD),
Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited
Engr Simbi Wabote is currently the General Manager, Nigerian Content Development of Shell Exploration Production Company in Nigeria (SEPCiN). He is responsible for the development and governance of initiatives aimed at encouraging more Nigerian companies to execute contracts and provide services to the oil and gas industry in their own country and eventually perform on the regional and international stages. In line with the aspirations of Shell for Nigerian Content Development, Mr Wabote also manages the external advocacy for Nigerian Content strategy and implementation, liaising with the Nigerian state oil company and international oil companies on possible collaboration to build the capacity of Nigerian companies in relevant fields. Mr Wabote joined Shell in 1991, after graduating as a Civil Engineer, and has held various positions in engineering, external affairs and community affairs directorates of the company. As Head of Civil Engineering in Shell Eastern division, he was responsible for some major civil engineering projects for the company, including the Osubi airstrip development.
Bisi Soji - Oyawoye, Manager, Nigerian Content Development, Chevron Nigeria
Bisi Soji-Oyawoye obtained a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from the University of Ilorin in 1986 and an Advanced Certificate in Supply Chain Management in 2006 from the Arizona State University School of Business (W P Carey). She joined Chevron 21 years ago – her career has spanned various functions from the Human Resources Department to the Supply Chain Management Department where she became the first female Escravos Aviation Supervisor as well as the first female Logistics Superintendent in the company. She is currently the Manager of Nigerian Content Development. She is also a member of the Nigerian Institute of Personnel Management.
Chijioke Igwe, Director of Projects and Engineering, Ascot
Chiege Aloy, Territory Sales Manager, Onne, Cameron Offshore Systems Nigeria Limited
Mr Chiege Aloy is a Chemical Engineer, currently undertaking an MBA with Robert Kennedy College Zurich, Switzerland. He started his career in the oil and gas industry with Cooper Cameron Nigerian Limited in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Having worked for Cameron in various capacities over the past 12 years, he is currently the Territory Sales Manager of Cameron Offshore Systems Onne and has a portfolio of experience covering operations, management and sales. Mr Chiege has been involved in the successful execution of many oil and gas projects in the Niger Delta. He has participated in many Nigerian content development programmes and has presented many papers on local content.
Dr Alirio A Parra, Senior Associate, CWC Group Limited
Alirio A Parra was Venezuela’s Minister of Energy and Mines from 1992 to 1994 and head of its OPEC delegation. He is a past president of the OPEC Conference and of the Latin American Energy Organization (OLADE). As Minister of Energy and Mines he was chairman of the Stockholders Assembly of PDVSA. As a member of the Presidential Commission on Oil Nationalization in 1975, Dr Parra participated in the smooth transition of the Venezuelan oil industry to the then newly created Petroleos de Venezuela S.A., of which he became a founding board member. During Dr Parra’s 15-year tenure on the Board of PDVSA he helped shape the national oil company into a highly efficient entity that significantly increased the reserves position of the country and modernized the downstream including the revamping of the refinery sector in Venezuela and integrating abroad both into US and European markets. Dr Parra is a previous president of the International Association of Energy Economists (1988), and a past chairman of the British Institute of Energy Economics (1997) and the Oxford Energy Policy Club (1984-95). He has also been a member of the International Advisory Board of Total. He is currently a director and senior associate of CWC Group Ltd and chairman of the Advisory Board of the Energy Intelligence Group (EIG), Washington DC. He is a vice-chairman of the Anglo-Venezuelan Society, London. In October 2006, he was elected an honorary fellow of the British Institute of Energy Economics.