Samaila Zubairu stands at the helm of Africa Finance Corporation, one of the continent’s most dynamic infrastructure finance institutions. Under his leadership, AFC has strengthened its role in mobilising capital for critical sectors, power, transport, heavy industry, telecommunications and supporting Africa’s push for industrialisation and value creation.
Zubairu’s journey reflects decades of strategic financial and operational leadership. A graduate in accounting from Ahmadu Bello University, he holds a fellowship with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and is an Eisenhower Fellow. According to his profile, prior to joining AFC, he served as Chief Financial Officer at Dangote Cement Plc where he launched a landmark syndicated project finance facility for the Obajana Cement project. He also led a joint venture for infrastructure private-equity investment at Africapital Management Limited, helping to develop the Nigerian Infrastructure Investment Fund.
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He assumed the role of President & Chief Executive Officer at AFC in July 2018, succeeding the previous leadership. During his tenure, the institution has expanded its membership base significantly and ramped up its investment portfolio. AFC’s website describes his leadership as pivotal in “corralling billions of dollars into transformative infrastructure across three decades of leadership.”
Recognition for his impact has followed. In 2024 he was appointed Chair of the Alliance of African Multilateral Financial Institutions (AAMFI), a coalition of major African development finance institutions, signalling trust in his capacity to steer continental financial architecture. According to official AFC releases, his agenda includes strengthening intra-African collaboration, mobilising capital for industrialisation, and building resilient capital markets.
What sets Zubairu apart is his dual focus, delivering measurable infrastructure results while promoting African value capture. He frequently underscores the need for projects that not only build assets but generate jobs, support local supply chains and deliver broader socioeconomic benefit. Under his direction, AFC is credited with projects such as the Lobito Corridor rail initiative and major renewable-energy investments that span across African countries.
Looking ahead, Zubairu envisions a future where African infrastructure finance is not seen as ancillary but as foundational to the continent’s growth. He advocates for stronger domestic capital mobilisation, cross-border investment, and strategic partnerships that keep value within Africa. His work embodies a vision where infrastructure is more than concrete and cables, it is the platform for opportunity, industry and transformation.
Samaila Zubairu’s leadership at AFC is helping redefine how infrastructure is financed, delivered and owned in Africa. Through innovation, strategic focus and purpose-driven investment, he is contributing to a vision of a continent that builds not just for today but for a generation to come.
