A champion of African value capture, job creation, and industrialisation, Samaila Zubairu has directed billions into transformative infrastructure over three decades. As President & CEO of Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), within six years he has more than doubled country membership and profits, and tripled investments, including the largest renewable energy project on the continent. Under his leadership, AFC has received multiple accolades, including Pan-African Champion at the 2024 Africa CEO Forum Awards, and DFI of the Year for Europe & Africa at the 2022 Infrastructure Journal Global Awards. Mr. Zubairu was honoured as African CEO of the Year 2023 at the AsiaOne Magazine Awards for his visionary leadership. As 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 Nigerian Infrastructure Investment Fund (NIIF1). Mr. Zubairu is an Eisenhower Fellow and co-chairs the World Economic Forum’s Network to Mobilise Clean Energy Investment in EMDEs. Under his stewardship, AFC has driven some of the continent’s most ambitious clean energy projects, impacting millions of lives and reinforcing Africa’s role as a global economic powerhouse.