Sola POPOOLA
Top executives from the U.S. Export-Import Bank, Africa Finance Corporation and leading American and African investment firms gathered in New York on Monday as Cavista Holdings convened its annual U.S.-Africa Leadership Dinner on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly.
The dinner, which drew former President of Botswana Dr. Mokgweetsi Masisi, Emir of Kano HRH Muhammadu Sanusi II, Nigeria’s Minister of Education Dr. Tunji Alausa, Governor of Zamfara State Dr. Dauda Lawal and former Ekiti Governor Dr. Kayode Fayemi, focused on rethinking how U.S. capital can be better deployed to unlock sustainable growth across Africa.
The first dialogue brought together Niyi John Olajide, Chairman of Cavista Holdings, and John Jovanovic, President and Chairman of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM).
The second session featured Olajide and Sameh Shenouda, Executive Director and Chief Investment Officer at Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), with Tom Sheehy, Principal at Quinella Global and Senior Advisor at KRL International, serving as moderator.
Both sessions explored the opportunities, realities and partnerships needed to translate Africa’s vast potential into sustainable investment and long-term value.
Olajide: Quality of Partnership Will Define Next Phase of U.S.-Africa Investment*
Speaking on the theme “Catalyzing U.S.-Africa Investment,”* Chairman of Cavista Holdings, Niyi John Olajide, who also chairs the Corporate Council on Africa, said:
“The next phase of U.S.-Africa investment will be defined not simply by the availability of capital, but by the quality of the partnerships behind it. Africa needs long-term capital, but investors also need trusted local partners who understand the market, the operating environment and the realities of execution.”
According to him, bridging the gap between interest and execution will require patient capital, strong local institutions, and partnerships built on trust and mutual value.
n his remarks Mr. Jovanovic said: “Investing in Africa requires more than recognising the opportunity. It requires showing up early, understanding the market and building the right partnerships. Africa is not a place to go alone. American companies can bring capital, technology and trusted solutions, while African partners bring local knowledge, relationships and an understanding of what it takes to execute on the ground.
“Our role at the Export Import Bank of the United States is to help make those partnerships possible and bring more private capital into projects that matter. As Africa advances its industrialization journey, there is a significant opportunity for American technology and equipment to support that growth. If we can be a reliable partner to African markets while helping American companies compete globally, that creates value on both sides. That is the kind of partnership we want to help build.”
A central theme of the evening was the gap between investor interest in Africa and successful execution. Speakers highlighted that closing it depends on reliable local partners who understand the regulatory and operating environment, maintain strong stakeholder and community relationships, and have the experience to navigate the practical realities of building businesses on the ground.
Executive Director and Chief Investment Officer at Africa Finance Corporation, Sameh Shenouda,said: “Africa is increasingly central to the global economy, but capturing its opportunities requires more than capital. Investors need deep local knowledge and the ability to navigate very different markets and execute successfully. AFC combines capital, on-the ground expertise and a proven track record to help turn Africa’s opportunities into bankable, scalable investments.”
The message reflects a broader reality of investing across Africa: opportunity and execution are inseparable. Understanding individual markets, building trusted relationships and having the capability to operate through complexity can determine whether investment interest translates into sustainable businesses. Cavista Holdings plays that role as an operator with its own capital at work.
The investment and holding company has invested in and runs businesses across agriculture, food processing, financial services, hospitality and technology, and draws on that experience to connect global capital and expertise with credible African opportunities, helping partners navigate the last mile between investment interest and execution.
In Nigeria, Agbeyewa Farms is developing a large-scale cassava value chain in Ekiti State, and Matna Foods processes cassava into food-grade starch in neighbouring Ondo State, linking cultivation to industrial production. PayZeep operates in financial services in Nigeria and Botswana, while Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort, operated by Glocient Hospitality, represents Cavista Holdings investment in hospitality.
Through Cavista Technologies, the Group operates across Nigeria, India, Botswana, the Philippines and the United States, providing technology services to clients globally. Across these businesses, Cavista combines strategic, long-term capital with local resources, local people, strong governance and global expertise.
The Group’s activities in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly as well as its annual U.S.-Africa Leadership Dinner form part of its broader effort to deepen commercial relationships between African businesses and global partners. The objective is to help move the conversation from interest to investment, and from investment to execution, by building the relationships and local capability required to create lasting value in Africa.
The annual U.S.-Africa Leadership Dinner has become a key platform for shaping private sector-led dialogue on U.S.-Africa economic cooperation during UNGA week.