{
  "id": 7558314,
  "title": "Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede hosts Aliko Dangote Foundation WEF young global leaders learning journey",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/aigboje-aig-imoukhuede-hosts-aliko-dangote-foundation-wef-young",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-15T13:05:48.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Nairametrics",
    "slug": "nairametrics",
    "url": "https://nairametrics.com/2026/09/15/aigboje-aig-imoukhuede-hosts-aliko-dangote-foundation-wef-young-global-leaders-learning-journey/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On September 11, 2026, prominent African business, finance and investment leaders convened at Access Tower in Lagos for the Finance and Investment component of the Aliko Dangote Foundation/World Economic Forum Young Global Leaders Africa-Diaspora Leadership Programme. The event, chaired by Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, CFR, chairman of Access Holdings and Coronation Group, delved into the topic of \"Finance, Capital and the Real Economics of Building at Scale in Africa.\" This session built upon the participants' previous exploration of Dangote Refinery, using it as a case study to examine the intricacies of capital, infrastructure, logistics, development finance, technology, talent, institutional capacity, capital markets, and the commitment required to transform ambition into enduring enterprises.\n\nKey figures participating in the discussions included Zouera Youssoufou, MD/CEO of 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. Other esteemed leaders from various sectors joined the conversation.\n\nA central theme of the discussions centered around the need to transition from sporadic instances of remarkable scale to a more sustainable model for capital formation and institution-building in Africa. This included improving domestic capital markets, enhancing the mobilization of pension, insurance, sovereign, and private capital, and establishing pathways from concentrated private ownership to broader institutional and public participation.\n\nDuring the session, Aig-Imoukhuede emphasized that vision attracts capital, governance maintains capital, and execution by exceptional talent compounds capital. For an institution to endure, all three elements must be present. Reflecting on the cohort's visit to Dangote Refinery, he described the project as a testament to the scale of ambition and execution achievable on the continent. Aig-Imoukhuede lamented that Africa must overcome its greatest challenge by ensuring that vision, governance, and execution become recurring elements across multiple nations simultaneously. He further argued for the development of a comprehensive financial architecture that spans the entire yield curve, connecting short-term commercial financing with the long-term institutional capital necessary for funding businesses and infrastructure over generations.\n\nZouera Youssoufou, speaking on behalf of the Aliko Dangote Foundation, highlighted that the development of visionary leadership and the expansion of Africa's capital ecosystems are crucial to the continent's long-term prosperity. The discussions ultimately reinforced that Africa's primary challenge is not a lack of ambition or entrepreneurial capacity, but the necessity to strengthen the capital, institutional, and operational systems that enable ambitious enterprises to achieve scale and maintain their success.\n\nConcluding his remarks, Aig-Imoukhuede challenged the Young Global Leaders to recognize that while figures like Aliko Dangote are scarce, all present bear the responsibility of being change-makers. With their intellect, extensive networks, and courage, they are urged to shoulder the burden of carrying forward these principles and construct the enduring institutions Africa desperately needs. The Finance and Investment segment served as an integral part of the broader ADF/WEF YGL Africa-Diaspora Leadership Programme, bringing together current and former Young Global Leaders alongside senior African decision-makers to explore practical models for building and sustaining African enterprises at scale.",
  "summary": "Leading African business, finance and investment leaders joined current and former members of the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders community at Access Tower, Lagos, for the Finance and Investment segment of the Aliko Dangote Foundation/World Economic Forum Young Global Leaders Africa-Diaspora Leadership Programme on Friday, 11 September 2026. Hosted by Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, CFR,…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}