AVCA Conference

Save the date:
28 April–02 May 2025
Lagos, Nigeria

Formats

PE Conference

Registration 7:30 am - 6:00 pm

8:00 am - 8:30 am

Registration: Regional Forums

8:30 am - 8:35 am

North Africa Day Chair

Haytham Wagih Managing Director, Avanz Capital Egypt

8:30 am - 8:35 am

East Africa Day Chair

Lise Arakaza Investor Relations and Business Development Manager, Kigali International Finance Centre

8:30 am - 8:35 am

Southern Africa Day Chair

Ashveen Dussoye Associate Client Services Director, IQ-EQ

8:30 am - 8:35 am

West Africa Day Chair

Ayodele Adeyemi-Faboya Partner, Banwo & Ighodalo

8:35 am - 9:00 am

Investment Case: North Africa

Badr Belkadi Executive Director, Mohammed VI Investment Fund

8:35 am - 9:00 am

Investment Case: East Africa

Jean Marie Kananura Chief Investment Officer, Kigali International Finance Centre

8:35 am - 9:00 am

Investment Case: Southern Africa

Ken Poonoosamy Chief Executive Officer, Economic Development Board

8:35 am - 9:00 am

Investment Case: West Africa

Chinedu Mofunanya Deputy Head, Externally Managed Investments, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority

9:00 am - 9:15 am

Portfolio Company Spotlight

9:00 am - 9:15 am

Portfolio Company Spotlight

Frannie Tyner Director, Corporate Development, Onafriq

Nadia Kouassi Coulibaly Head of Research, AVCA (moderator)

9:00 am - 9:15 am

Portfolio Company Spotlight

Manley Diedloff Chief Executive Officer, Master Plastics

Peter Rowse Private Equity Executive, Metier Private Equity (moderator)

9:00 am - 9:15 am

Portfolio Company Spotlight

Lola Cardoso Group Chief Executive Officer, Tangerine Africa

Nieros Oyegun Soerensen Partner and Chief Operating Officer, Verod (moderator)

9:15 am - 10:15 am

Seizing the Investment Opportunities in North Africa

Ramez El-Serafy Chief Executive Officer, Flat6Labs

Hassan Laaziri Chief Executive Officer, CDG Invest Growth

9:15 am - 10:15 am

Seizing the Investment Opportunities in East Africa

Jacop B. Rentschler Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Zoscales Partners

Frederik Benzel Managing Director, CrossBoundary

Thierry Mucyo Executive Advisor to the Chief Investment Officer, Rwanda Social Security Board

Marlene Ngoyi Mvidia Chief Executive Officer, Fund for Export Development in Africa

Muthoni Wachira Managing Partner, Katapult Africa

Njeri Wagacha Partner, CDH (moderator)

9:15 am - 10:15 am

Seizing the Investment Opportunities in Southern Africa

Rory Ord Head, Private Markets, 27Four

Bame Pule Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Africa Lighthouse Capital

Mark Tindall Chief Executive Officer, Tana Africa

Hema Vallabh Partner, FIVE35 Ventures

Shamima Mallam-Hassam Managing Director, Trident Trust, Mauritius (moderator)

9:15 am - 10:15 am

Seizing the Investment Opportunities in West Africa

Matthew Boadu Adjei Chief Executive Officer, Oasis Capital Ghana

Jean-Marc Savi de Tové Co-founder and Managing Partner, Adiwale Partners

Shirley Somuah Partner, CardinalStone Capital Advisers

Mark Kenderdine Davies Chief Legal Officer, British International Investment (moderator)

10:15 am - 10:30 am

North Africa Outlook Presentation

Cecilia Isohi Research Analyst, AVCA

10:15 am - 10:30 am

East Africa Outlook Presentation

Paulette Mbeya Research & Advocacy Associate, AVCA

10:15 am - 10:30 am

Southern Africa Outlook Presentation

Alexia Alexandropoulou Senior Research Manager, AVCA

10:15 am - 10:30 am

West Africa Outlook Presentation

Nadia Kouassi Coulibaly Head of Research, AVCA

10:30 am - 10:45 am

Network Network Network!!!

10:45 am - 10:50 am

Opening Remarks

Genevieve Sangudi Partner, Alterra Capital Partners

10:50 am - 11:05 am

In Conversation With...

Tope Lawani Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Helios Investment Partners

Clarisa De Franco Founder, Impact Advise (moderator)

11:05 am - 11:10 am

Morning Chair Introduction

Anuoluwapo Balogun Partner, Olaniwun Ajayi

11:10 am - 11:55 am

Panel 1: We Came, We Saw – Did we Deliver?

While private capital in Africa continues to maintain an upward growth trajectory, a hallmark of the industry’s maturity and long-term health is the attainment of successful exits. This panel provides valuable insights, expert perspectives, and practical strategies for optimising performance and executing successful private capital exits in Africa. Panellists share firsthand experiences of their value creation and risk mitigation strategies; how they approach portfolio performance evaluation; and lessons learned from notable investments or challenges they overcame to deliver optimised returns for investors.

Genevieve Sangudi Partner, Alterra Capital Partners

Tibor Ashboth Head, Equity, Africa and Middle East, Proparco

Benjamin Dabrah Partner, African Capital Alliance

Nathaniel Nyika Chief Investment Officer, Norsad Capital

Nigel Wellings Partner and Joint Head, Corporate , Clifford Chance (moderator)

11:55 am - 12:35 pm

Panel 2: 20/20 Vision: Shaping the Next 20 Years

Building on the reflections of the opening panel, this panel adopts a forward-looking lens to envision the next 20 years of private capital in Africa. How will global trends, technological advancements, novel financial models, and socially responsible investment strategies impact the industry’s overall development trajectory? Which sectors and strategies will hold the greatest promise to attract pockets of capital? This session calls for critical introspection of contemporary investment practice in Africa – what should be phased out, maintained, or phased in? Successful investment strategies and best practice from more mature markets will be evaluated to identify key areas of change that will promote the transformation and growth of the African private capital industry.

Chris Chijutomi Managing Director and Head, Africa, British International Investment

Hany Al Sonbaty Managing Partner, Sawari Ventures

Alhassane Haidara Head, Equity Fund-of-Funds Operations, AfDB

Mohau Polo Leteka Founder and Chief Executive Officer, IDF Capital

Camilia Benani Partner, DLA Piper (moderator)

12:35 pm - 1:20 pm

Networking Lunch!

1:20 pm - 1:25 pm

Afternoon Chair Introduction

Michael Denenga Partner, Webber Wentzel

1:25 pm - 2:10 pm

Panel 3: From Blueprints to Bridges: Innovative Approaches to Infrastructure Investment

Africa’s demographic growth and economic transformation necessitates the prioritisation of rapid and scaled-up infrastructure development by both the public and private sector. Critical to the continent’s ability to meet these burgeoning infrastructure needs is a reconfiguration of the infrastructure investment landscape to unlock necessary development capital through innovative financing models. Some of these models - such as blended finance and public-private partnerships – are discussed in this panel, alongside the risk and reward of their implementation. Panellists will explore avenues to mitigate these risks, with an objective of unlocking capital for large-scale infrastructure projects in a way that ensures maximum return on investment.

Aminu Umar-Sadiq Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority

Rachel More-Oshodi Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, ARM-Harith Infrastructure Investment

Olusola Lawson Co-Managing Director, African Infrastructure Investment Managers

Laurentius Human Managing Partner, Sustainability Partners Energy Fund, Convergence Partners

Florian Muenkle Vice President, Infrastructure and Energy, Global Equity, DEG (moderator)

2:10 pm - 2:15 pm

Afternoon Chair Introduction

Michael Denenga Partner, Webber Wentzel

2:10 pm - 2:15 pm

Afternoon Chair Introduction

Angela Mwenda Associate Director, IBIS ESG Consulting

2:15 pm - 2:50 pm

Stream 1(a): Emerging Opportunities: The Golden Age of Private Debt?

In the wake of the global macroeconomic downturn and diminished availability of traditional forms of capital, Private Debt has emerged as an alternative investment strategy. As more private debt funds reach final close on the continent, questions of the asset class’s longevity and popularity abound. Are we witnessing the golden age of Private Debt, or will the enthusiasm wane in favour of more familiar strategies? In this engaging discussion, panellists dissect the evolving role, opportunities within, and challenges associated with private debt as an investment strategy in Africa.

Mujaahid Hassan Co-Head, Hybrid Equity, Old Mutual Alternative Investments

Tosin Ojo Partner, Sahel Capital

Edmund Higenbottam Managing Director, Verdant Capital

Lisa Rumelin Founding Partner, Betula Growth

Anthony Njoroge Principal and Co-Head Africa, Swiss Investment Fund for Emerging Markets (SIFEM) (moderator)

2:15 pm - 2:50 pm

Stream 1(b): When Health is Wealth: Unlocking Opportunities for Healthcare Financing in Africa

The growing prominence of private capital investments within the Healthcare sector has spurred innovation and transformed the quality and access to healthcare across the continent. This session is a deep dive into the broad spectrum of investment opportunities across the entire healthcare ecosystem in Africa, spanning both traditional (hospitals and pharmaceuticals) and emerging (digital health) sub-sectors. Panellists will explore the regulatory considerations associated with healthcare investing in Africa; the impact of innovation and technology on the delivery of medical services; and their sector-specific portfolio management strategies that ensure success for their Heathcare investments.

Romen Mathieu Managing Partner, The EuroMena Funds

Sandrine Henton Managing Director, EG Capital

Koome Imathiu Partner, Ascent Capital

Gbenga Hassan Managing Director, Argentil Capital Management

Skander K. Oueslati Chief Investment Officer and Deputy Managing Director, AfricInvest (moderator)

2:50 pm - 3:25 pm

Stream 2(a): Wiring the Future: Private Capital for Africa’s Digital Transformation

Across Africa, traditional sectors including Agriculture, Financial Services and Infrastructure are experiencing seismic shifts as technology disrupts established patterns and opens new doors for consumer access. This panel delves into the driving forces of this transformation, examining how AgTech solutions are revolutionising farm productivity and empowering smallholder farmers; how expanding digital infrastructure and smart cities are reshaping physical landscapes; and how digital payments and e-commerce platforms are dismantling barriers to financial inclusion and market participation. The role of private capital in further catalysing the integration of technology in these sectors will be discussed, demonstrating how the private sector is not only a financier of change, but is also at the forefront of fostering innovative and sustainable solutions for Africa's unique market needs.

Sihle Gumede Investment Director, Sanari Capital

Olivier Granet Managing Partner and Chief Executive Officer , Kasada Capital Management

Lineshree Moodley Country Head, Visa, South Africa

Folake Elias-Adebowale Partner, Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie (moderator)

2:50 pm - 3:25 pm

Stream 2(b): Blue and Green Wealth: Investing in Africa's Land and Water

Africa's future prosperity hinges on the strategic management of its natural capital. When managed wisely, land and water resources have the potential to become a cornerstone of Africa's economic and environmental future. This panel is a deep dive into the intersection of private capital and environmental stewardship, exploring sustainable investment opportunities that leverage these natural resources, while also considering conservation initiatives crucial for long-term ecological balance. Panellists will examine innovative models for land and water management; how these can lead to robust, sustainable development; and draw inspiration from the evolution of carbon markets to explore novel approaches to investing in natural capital. This dialogue convenes investors and industry experts to chart a course for integrating environmental sustainability into the core of Africa's economic growth strategies.

Stephen K. Macharia Head, Investments, FSD Africa Investments

Josep Oriol-Bosch Managing Partner, Okavango Capital Partners

Alex Simalabwi Chief Executive Officer, Continental Africa Water Investment Programme (AIP)

Hossam Allam Managing Partner, Climate Resilient Africa Fund

Jennifer Baarn Head, Private Sector Partnerships, AGRA (moderator)

3:25 pm - 3:55 pm

Network Network Network!!!

3:55 pm - 4:40 pm

Panel 4: Behind the Curtain: Unveiling the LP Perspective

This panel convenes emerging and longstanding limited partners to provide exclusive insight on their views and expectations of private capital in Africa and some of the sustainability challenges of funds on the continent. What is their appetite for and performance of private capital in Africa? How do they evaluate the fund managers in their portfolio? What investment strategies are they placing their bets on? What risk management and operational controls do they look out for in managers? This session gives a sneak peek behind the curtain of LP decision making, exploring the sectors, geographies and emerging trends which influence their capital allocation; their risk assessment and due-diligence practices when evaluating investments or fund commitments, and how considerations of ESG compliance and effective controls factor into their decision making. Finally, panellists share how they approach GP-LP relationships and their strategies for ensuring mutual interests, transparency, and effective collaboration throughout the investment lifecycle.

Philipp Hein Head, Private Equity Africa and Global Climate Investments, DEG

Mojisola Fashola Managing Director and General Counsel, Kuramo Capital Management

Anne Fossemalle Director, Equity Funds, EBRD

Diana Njuguna Africa Investment Advisor, Southern Africa, U.S. International Development Finance Corporation

Andrea Heinzer Founder and Managing Director, Omnia Impact (moderator)

4:40 pm - 4:45 pm

Closing Remarks

Rhoda Mhango Head of Strategic Initiatives & Stakeholder Engagement, AVCA

VC Summit

Registration 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

1:45 pm - 2:45 pm

Building Successful Fit-for-purpose Technical Assistance Programmes

2:45 pm - 3:15 pm

Network Network Network!!!

3:15 pm - 4:45 pm

GP/LP Summit

6:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Welcome Reception

Join Us In Lagos For AVCA 2025

Save the date!

What's On

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Day 0

  • GP-Only Session
  • LP-Only Session
  • GP-LP Summit (invite only)
  • PE Welcome Reception 
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Day 1

  • PE Conference
  • Gala Dinner

Day 2

  • PE Conference
  • VC Roundtables
  • GP-LP Summit (VC) 
  • VC Welcome Reception
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Day 3

  • Venture Capital Summit
  • Professional Development Programmes