AVCA Conference

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28 April–02 May 2025
Lagos, Nigeria

Formats

PE Conference

Registration 7:00 am - 6:00 pm

8:50 am - 8:55 am

Opening Remarks & AVCA Video

Abi Mustapha-Maduakor Chief Executive Officer, AVCA

8:55 am - 9:20 am

Opening Keynote Address: Africa's Long Term Economic Transformation in a 21st Century Digital World

Phuthuma Nhleko Chairman and Co-Founder, Phembani Group

9:20 am - 9:25 am

Morning Chair Introduction

Tanya Goncalves Head, Investor Relations and Impact, Metier

9:25 am - 10:00 am

Panel 1: 20/20 Vision: Reflections on the Last 20 years

Capitalising on the benefit of hindsight, this panel charts the evolution of Africa’s private capital industry in the last two decades. Industry titans grace this panel to share their experience navigating the private capital landscape in its nascency, the transformative shifts that shaped it into what it is today, and the valuable lessons learned along the way. The panel then journeys through the second decade of private capital in Africa, which has been characterised by innovation, disruption, and globalization, to explore how these factors have influenced investment decisions, deal structures and the overall dynamics of the industry.

Vincent Le Guennou Chief Executive Officer, Africa50 Infrastructure Acceleration Fund

Wale Adeosun Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Kuramo Capital Management

‘Tokunboh Ishmael Co-founder and Managing Director, Alitheia Capital

Mayowa Kuyoro Partner, McKinsey, Nigeria (moderator)

10:00 am - 10:20 am

Reimagining Economic Growth in Africa

Acha Leke Senior Partner and Chairman, McKinsey & Company

10:20 am - 10:40 am

Network Network Network!!!

10:40 am - 11:20 am

Panel 2: Riding the Wave: Navigating Macroeconomic Challenges and Strategies for Resilience

The intricacies of investing in Africa take centre stage in this panel, which explores the impact recent macroeconomic challenges – including rising inflation, tight monetary policy, and currency volatility – have had on private capital in Africa. Drawing on the collective expertise of veteran investors that steered the industry through periods of uncertainty, this panel develops a playbook for riding waves of macroeconomic instability to maintain growth in adverse conditions. Panellists will unpack strategies to navigate exogenous shocks, the need for succession planning and regional collaboration, and strategic pathways to building the next generation of investors who are both knowledgeable and resilient.

Albert Alsina Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Mediterrania Capital Partners

Nieros Oyegun Soerensen Partner and Chief Operating Officer, Verod

Nicholas Vickery Global Head, Private Equity Funds, IFC

Yemi Lalude Partner, TPG

Paul Trites Director, Investments, Sango Capital (moderator)

11:20 am - 12:00 pm

Panel 3: Out With the Old, In With the New: Innovative Models to Unlock Liquidity

Illiquidity has and continues to be a challenge for private capital investors in Africa. However, the 2023 African Private Capital Industry Survey finds that investor concerns surrounding the volatility of hard currencies and liquidity shortages of local currencies are changing – these concerns are no longer localised to specific ‘risky’ countries, but increasingly perceived as impacting several countries across the continent. In response, this panel aims to deconstruct existing investment models which restrict liquidity and explore innovative strategies to unlock capital. Drawing on case studies and exemplars, panellists will examine the limitations of existing approaches and share success stories of alternative fit-for-purpose structures that respond to the evolving needs of markets and investors in Africa.

Laurent Demey Managing Partner, Amethis

Aliya Shariff Senior Advisor, The Rohatyn Group

Cheryl Mills Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Private Markets, BlackIvy Group

Zain Latif Founding Partner and Chief Executive Officer, TLG Capital Investment

Ashvin Deena Head, Global and International Corporates, Mauritius Commercial Bank (moderator)

12:00 pm - 12:15 pm

Investor Spotlight: 20:20 Growth & Future of Private Capital in Africa

Ziad Oueslati Founding and Co-Managing Partner, AfricInvest

Alison Klein Managing Director, Akmazo (moderator)

12:15 pm - 1:10 pm

Networking Lunch!

1:10 pm - 1:15 pm

Afternoon Chair Introduction

Novan Maharahaje Head, Fund Services, Africa, Middle East and Asia

1:15 pm - 1:55 pm

Panel 4: The Long and Windy Road: The Journey to a Successful Fund Close 

In the complex, ever-evolving and often muddy terrain of fundraising, the journey to a successful fund close is far from linear. This panel convenes fund managers of all currencies, shapes (vehicles) and sizes to share proven strategies and innovative approaches that contributed to their fundraising success - from crafting compelling narratives to navigating market dynamics, and managing investor expectation. However, successfully closing a fund is only the first of many steps in the intricate process of managing and sustaining a successful fund. The panel also adopts a forward-looking lens, discussing strategies to build trust, credibility, and cultivate lasting investor relationships that go beyond final close.

Jerry Parkes Chief Executive Officer, Injaro Investments

Dieynaba Kamara Partner and Chief Operating Officer, Joliba Capital

Barthout van Slingelandt Managing Partner, XSML

Makole Mupita Executive Director and Co-Founder, Mahlako A Phahla Group

Alexandre Alfonsi Managing Partner, Alternal (moderator)

1:55 pm - 2:10 pm

Investor Spotlight: 20:20 Growth & Future of Private Capital in Africa

Runa Alam Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Development Partners International

Hany Assaad Chairman, Avanz Capital Egypt (moderator)

2:10 pm - 2:50 pm

Panel 5: Charting New Horizons: Secondaries and Continuation Funds

The secondaries market globally continues to be a core component of the private capital funding continuum, providing avenues for increased flexibility for allocators and reduced capital lock up periods. Continuation funds are similarly gaining traction in Africa’s private capital industry. This exploratory panel discusses the concept of continuation funds and their strategic role in extending the life cycle of well performing investments while unlocking liquidity for investors. The nuances of secondaries deal structuring and execution will also be explored to glean best practices, potential pitfalls, and successful strategies for navigating these complex transactions.

John Owers Director and Head, Funds Solutions, British International Investment

David Moore Director, Private Equity Partnerships, Blue Earth Capital

Haydee Celaya Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Avanz Capital

Patrice Backer Partner and Chief Investment Officer , AFIG Funds

Marc Lasserre Managing Partner, S.O. Capital (moderator)

2:50 pm - 3:30 pm

Panel 6: Fortifying the Future: The Critical Role of Emerging Managers 

Championing emerging fund managers, this panel explores the critical role they play in fortifying the future of private capital in Africa - bringing innovation, creativity, diversity, and unconventional thinking to the market. Fund managers raising their maiden and sophomore funds discuss their unique experiences; challenges faced and how they overcame them; and finally, strategies for building investor relationships to secure capital commitments and establish a sustainable financial foundation.

Isabelle Bébéar Director, International and European Affairs, Bpifrance

Ennis Rimawi Founder and Managing Director, Catalyst MENA Climate Funds

Rui Oliveira Chief Executive Officer and Co-Chief Investment Officer, BFA

Yvonne Ofosu-Appiah Co-founder and Managing Partner, Sahara Impact Ventures

Simone Baur Portfolio Manager, Impact Investments, Allianz Global Investors (moderator)

3:30 pm - 3:50 pm

Network Network Network!!!

3:50 pm - 4:30 pm

Panel 7: Catalyst for Change: Impact Investing for Sustainable Development in Africa

Impact investing is the heartbeat of contemporary sustainable investment practice, and is a catalyst for social, economic and environment change in Africa. Impact investors discuss their strategies for successfully aligning profit with purpose - from integrating the SDGs into their investment frameworks, to developing impact assessment and measurement frameworks for impact reporting and accountability. The transformative power of impact investing in Africa and the unique opportunities it presents across various sectors and geographies will be discussed in turn, as panellists share how they ensure their investments produce a mutually beneficial outcome for both investors and the communities they serve.

Michael Nicholson Foreign Service Economist, US Agency for International Development

Catherine Cax Managing Director, Investments, Soros Economic Development Fund, Open Society Foundations

Sarah Clawson Global Head, Investor Relations, New Forests

Baafour Otu-Boateng Investment Director, KawiSafi Ventures

Cecile Collendavelloo Associate Principal, South Suez Capital (moderator)

4:30 pm - 5:10 pm

Panel 8: Hometown Heroes: Leveraging Local Capital to Bridge the Funding Divide

Although private equity has grown in both significance and familiarity across financial ecosystems in Africa, domestic capital pools (development finance institutions, pension funds, insurance companies, endowments etc.) remain underrepresented within the asset class. Their role is poised for a pivotal shift in the coming decade, however, as fund managers prioritise diversification of their investor base. Accordingly, this panel begins by charting the diverse landscape of local capital sources in Africa. Advancing the cause that local capital plays a pivotal role in the promotion of inclusive and sustainable development across the continent, the session explores key considerations domestic capital allocators contend with; strategies to maximise their asset allocation; and how best to align their needs with the compelling investment opportunities private equity has to offer.

Josphat Muriuki Chief Executive Officer, KenGen Staff Retirement Benefits Scheme

Sara Mezui-Engo Manager, Alternative Investments, Government Institutions Pension Fund

Botsang Ramorwa Fund Principal, Private Equity, Public Investment Corporation

Martijn Woudstra Senior Investment Officer, FMO (moderator)

5:10 pm - 5:15 pm

Closing Remarks

Nadia Kouassi Coulibaly Head of Research, AVCA

6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

20th Anniversary Awards Ceremony & Pre Gala Dinner Drinks

7:30 pm - onwards

Gala Dinner

*The AVCA Conference is complimentary for qualified Limited Partners (LPs), classified as non-retail investors in private equity funds, limited to 3 complimentary passes per organisation. This includes full-time employees of development finance institutions (DFIs), endowments, single-family offices, insurance companies, public and private pension funds, and sovereign wealth funds.