Mr. Tope Shonubi

Mr. Tope Shonubi is a distinguished entrepreneur, business leader and energy executive with over three decades of experience in the oil and gas, power and infrastructure sectors. As Co-founder and Executive Director of Sahara Group, he has been instrumental in transforming the company from a local energy trading business into a leading international energy and infrastructure conglomerate with operations across Africa, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

Throughout his career, Mr. Shonubi has led strategic investments across the energy value chain, including oil and gas, power generation, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), storage infrastructure and clean energy solutions. His leadership has contributed significantly to expanding energy access, strengthening regional energy markets and promoting sustainable infrastructure development across the continent.

Beyond the private sector, Mr. Shonubi has served Nigeria in public office as Special Adviser on Youth Affairs to President Olusegun Obasanjo between 1999 and 2003. During this period, he worked with the Presidency and relevant ministries to develop national policies on youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, employment generation and small and medium enterprise (SME) development, demonstrating his commitment to national development beyond business.

A respected voice in Africa's energy industry, Mr. Shonubi is a strong advocate for energy security, regional collaboration and a just energy transition that supports economic growth while expanding access to reliable and sustainable energy. He is widely recognised for fostering innovation, strategic partnerships and responsible private sector investment across the continent.