Aig-Imoukhuede Hosts Aliko Dangote Foundation WEF Young Global Leaders Learning Journey

The Aliko Dangote Foundation and the World Economic Forum hosted a Young Global Leaders Learning Journey at Access Tower, Lagos, where leading African business, finance, and investment professionals gathered to delve into the topic of "Finance, Capital, and the Real Economics of Building at Scale in Africa." The session, led by Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Chairman of Access Holdings and Coronation Group, focused on the practical aspects of financing, building, and sustaining African enterprises that can achieve global scale.

The discussions followed the participants' immersive experience at the Dangote Refinery, using the industrial project as a case study to examine various factors such as capital costs, infrastructure and logistics constraints, development finance, backward integration, technology, talent, institutional capacity, capital markets, and the discipline required to transform ambition into enduring enterprises.

Notable attendees included Zouera Youssoufou, MD/CEO of the Aliko Dangote Foundation; Innocent C. Ike, Group CEO of Access Holdings; Obeahon Ohiwerei, Managing Director/CEO of Coronation Merchant Bank; Adebayo Adewolu, CEO of Trium; Temi Popoola, Group Managing Director/CEO of NGX Group; Chuka Eseka, Group Managing Director/CEO of Vetiva Capital Management; David Bird, Managing Director of Dangote Refinery; Kola Karim, Chairman of Shoreline Natural Resources; and Adesuwa Okunbo Rhodes, Founder & Managing Partner of Aruwa Capital Management.

A central theme of the discussions revolved around transitioning from sporadic instances of large-scale achievements to a more replicable model of capital formation and institution-building. Key areas of focus included the potential for domestic capital markets, the mobilization of pension, insurance, sovereign, and private capital, and the development of pathways from concentrated private ownership to broader institutional and public participation.

Aig-Imoukhuede emphasized that vision, governance, and execution by talented individuals are crucial for an institution's longevity. He also stressed the importance of Africa's financial architecture spanning the entire yield curve, connecting short-term commercial financing with long-term institutional capital necessary to fund businesses and infrastructure across generations.

Zouera Youssoufou highlighted that the primary challenge for Africa is not a lack of ambition or entrepreneurial talent but the need to enhance the capital, institutional, and operating systems that empower ambitious enterprises to attain scale and maintain their momentum. The conversation concluded with Aig-Imoukhuede challenging the Young Global Leaders to be game-changers, leveraging their intellect, network, and courage to create enduring institutions in Africa.