Lagos head quartered Africa Finance Corporation has named Fola Fagbule as director and head of its new regional office in Nairobi, deepening its push into East and Central Africa.
Fagbule, a longtime AFC executive who joined the development finance institution as an associate in 2009, will lead the lender’s origination, project development, and capital mobilization efforts across the region. The appointment underscores AFC’s strategy to expand its footprint in an area seen as increasingly critical for infrastructure, industrialization, and regional integration.
Since 2017, Fagbule has headed AFC’s financial advisory business, originating and executing transactions totaling more than $12 billion in natural resources, infrastructure, and industrial projects. His experience spans power, transport, telecommunications, oil and gas, mining, and financial services. He has advised governments, sovereign wealth funds, development finance institutions, and corporate clients on complex deals.
Prior to AFC, he worked in investment research and corporate finance. Fagbule holds a bachelor’s degree in physics, an MBA, and has completed executive programs at Harvard Business School and Stanford University.
Samaila Zubairu, AFC’s president and chief executive officer, said the region offers major potential for economic transformation through infrastructure and domestic capital mobilization.
“This appointment reflects both the strategic importance of the region to AFC’s future growth and our longstanding commitment to developing leaders from within the Corporation,” Zubairu said. “Fola’s experience, judgment and deep understanding of AFC and Africa’s investment landscape make him exceptionally well positioned to lead our regional platform.”
In his new role, Fagbule will focus on expanding AFC’s investment pipeline, forging partnerships with governments and investors, and scaling operations. The move follows recent AFC initiatives in the region, including an equity investment in the Dhamana Guarantee Company, support for Dangote Group’s fertilizer and refining expansions, and involvement in the proposed upgrade of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Fagbule described the timing as pivotal for both AFC and the region.
“It is a great privilege to be given this responsibility at such an important moment,” he said. “I am excited to build on our strong foundations in the region — working alongside colleagues, friends and partners to accomplish meaningful projects, unlock major investments and deliver lasting economic impact for Africa.”
Posts
0 Comments