Oritsegbubemi Omatseyin
Lagos — The Executive Director & Chief Financial Officer, CFO, of Heirs Energies and Chief Investment Officer of Heirs Holdings Group, Nwanze O. Samuel, has been named Africa CFO of the Year at the prestigious All Africa Business Leaders Awards (AABLA) in partnership with CNBC Africa.
The accomplishment is a testament to its Group Chairman, Tony Elumelu and his philosophy of championing African excellence through Africapitalism.
Samuel’s win is a direct reflection of the world-class talent and strategic ambition Heirs Holding is building within its group. His leadership in high-stakes finance and investment is a key driver of success, making this award a point of pride for the Group.
He is not only a CFO in the traditional sense. He is an architect of growth, a dealmaker, and a strategic force. His journey with Heirs Group has been defined by landmark transactions and unwavering financial discipline that have reshaped its portfolio and the energy landscape in Africa.
Samuel orchestrated the raising of a $2.5 billion financing facility, showcasing his profound capability to access global capital. With strategic precision, he deployed these resources to secure the landmark 45% acquisition of OML 17 – a masterful execution that highlights expert capital allocation and stands as one of the largest oil and gas financings in Africa in over a decade, earning the prestigious Project Finance International (PFI) ‘African Oil Deal of the Year’ award in 2021
As Chief Investment Officer, his strategic oversight spans a diversified empire exceeding $10.3 Billion in assets under management across Oil & Gas, Power, Financial Services, and Real Estate.
His foundational experience as Group Treasurer in one of the leading banks at the time, managing treasury operations across the continent, forged the financial rigor he brings to every decision.
The award, judged by a panel of the continent’s most respected business leaders, validates that Sam’s expertise is world-class.
Samuel is a sought-after voice at the African Union, the Milken Institute, and Oxford Saïd Business School, and his recent role as the first African on the board of the Global Impact Investing Network, GIIN, places him at the forefront of global finance.
