)
)
)
Nigerian Leaders Shaping Global Gas, Trade Finance and Downstream Policy Converge at AEW 2026
Across the most influential institutions in global energy and trade, Nigerian leadership shapes how African resources are brought to market. Reflecting this, senior executives with Nigerian roots – leading organizations like Afreximbank, the GECF, ARDA and Nigeria LNG – have confirmed their participation as speakers at this year's African Energy Week (AEW) 2026.
Taking place October 12-16 in Cape Town, AEW 2026 serves as the continent's premier platform for energy investment, bringing together operators, financiers, policymakers and service providers to advance project development.
Prof. Benedict Oramah, former President and Chairman of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and current Chairman of Africa Trading Minerals (ATMIN), will chair the AEW 2026 Finance Summit. During his decade at Afreximbank, the bank's balance sheet grew almost eightfold to roughly $44 billion, financing refining infrastructure, regional trade integration and the development of the Africa Energy Bank. The Finance Summit will address Africa's annual energy investment gap – estimated at $31 billion to $50 billion – exploring strategies to mobilize private capital and expand development financing.
The Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), the intergovernmental body representing the world's major gas producers, is now also led by a Nigerian national. HE Dr. Philip Mshelbila assumed the role of Secretary General on January 1, 2026, after serving as Managing Director of Nigeria LNG. The GECF has projected that Africa could attract up to $115 billion in gas midstream investment between 2031 and 2040. Mshelbila joins AEW 2026 as the forum continues to advocate for gas as a long-term source of industrialization and electrification across the continent.
The African Refiners and Distributors Association (ARDA), the only pan-African organization representing the downstream oil sector, recently reappointed Executive Secretary Anibor Kragha for a third term. Before ARDA, Kragha served as Chief Operating Officer for Refining at NNPC. Africa still imports the majority of its refined fuel despite producing millions of barrels of crude per day, and Kragha's agenda at AEW 2026 centers on the refining investment and intra-African supply chains needed to close that gap.
Nigeria LNG (NLNG) is advancing its Train 7 expansion, which will lift capacity from 22 mtpa to 30 mtpa, one of the largest LNG capacity additions underway in Africa. In August 2025, NLNG signed long-term gas supply agreements with six third-party suppliers, diversifying the plant's feed-gas base beyond its traditional shareholder joint ventures. Deputy Managing Director Olakunle Osobu joins AEW 2026 as the expansion progresses.
“Nigeria's leadership across the institutions that shape gas trade, energy finance and downstream policy reflects decades of expertise built in the sector,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber. “Their participation at AEW raises the quality of the conversation for every investor and operator in the room.”
At AEW 2026, these speakers will join industry leaders from across the energy value chain to explore the partnerships, capital solutions and policy frameworks needed to accelerate investment across Africa.