Samaila Zubairu

Mr. Samaila Zubairu has championed African value capture, job creation, and industrialisation, directing billions into transformative infrastructure over three decades. As President & CEO of the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) for six years, he has doubled membership to 42 nations, tripled investments to $13.2 billion, including the largest renewable energy acquisition on the continent, grown total assets from $4.1 billion to $12.3 billion, and increased total comprehensive income to $327 million, despite the challenges of COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Under his leadership, the AFC has received numerous accolades, including Local Impact Champion at the 2023 Africa CEO Forum Awards, Equity Deal of the Year for the Infinity Energy Equity Investment and Lekela Power Acquisition at the African Banker Awards, and DFI of the Year for Europe & Africa at the Infrastructure Journal Global Awards. Mr. Zubairu was honoured as African CEO of the Year at the AsiaOne Magazine Awards for his visionary leadership.

As the pioneer CFO for Dangote Cement Plc, he launched Africa’s largest syndicated project finance facility and managed the unbundling of Dangote Industries Limited. At Africapital Management Limited, he partnered with AIIM to develop the Nigerian Infrastructure Investment Fund1.

Mr. Zubairu co-chairs the World Economic Forum’s Network to Mobilise Investment for Clean Energy in the Global South. He is an Eisenhower Fellow and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Nigeria. He holds a BSc in Accounting from Ahmadu Bello University.