Chief Executive Officer
Bolaji Osunsanya
Bolaji is the Chief Executive Officer of Axxela Limited, pioneering private sector-led developer of natural gas distribution in Nigeria and designated natural gas shipper on the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP).
He oversees the company’s gas infrastructure and virtual pipeline expansion programme, embedded power plant projects, as well as other substantive efforts across Africa.
Previously referred to as Oando Gas and Power Limited, Bolaji has been at the company’s helm since 2007. Prior to joining Oando in 2001, he was an Executive Director at Access Bank, and an Assistant General Manager/Head of Local Corporate Group of the Institutional Banking at Guaranty Trust Bank.
He began his career in 1988 as a Consultant with Arthur Andersen, Nigeria – now KPMG professional services – gaining experience in the banking, oil and gas, and manufacturing sectors.
He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Economics from the University of Ife, and the University of Lagos, Nigeria respectively.
Director, Business Development
Franklin Umole
Franklin has worked and garnered extensive international experience in Business Process Optimisation and Gas Economics in a career spanning several countries in Europe, America, the Far East, Middle East and Africa.
Franklin joined Axxela in 2011 as Programme Executive, responsible for the opportunity maturation of the Central Gas Processing Facility (CPF). In 2013, he assumed the position of Executive Director, Corporate Development with responsibilities for Business Development and Finance across the West African region.
Franklin has a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University and an MBA from Webster Vienna Private University.
Chief Financial Officer
Timothy Ononiwu
Timothy is an accomplished finance executive with extensive experience spanning Project Financing, Financial Advisory, Capital Raising, Business Development and Project Management across the energy, environmental and infrastructure sectors.
Prior to joining Axxela in 2018, he held senior management positions in various financial and non-financial institutions including Executive Director and Head of Thermal Power and Oil & Gas, Project Finance North America at BBVA Securities, Co-Head of Energy and Industrials at Fitch Ratings (NY), Director and Head of Thermal/Oil & Gas at Dexia. His transactions have won ‘Deal of the Year’ awards from Project Finance International and Euromoney publications, both industry-leading magazines.
Timothy has an MBA in Finance and International Business from the Columbia University Business School.
Chief Strategy Officer
Olufisayo Duduyemi
Fisayo is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA), with over a decade and half cumulative work experience spanning Financial Services, FMCG and Energy sectors.
He currently supervise the Corporate Services team (including Human Resources, Information Technology, Corporate Communications, Procurement and Strategy & Planning) in Axxela. He has successfully led major transformation programmes and executed several corporate development projects.
Fisayo has a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and an MBA in Finance from Obafemi Awolowo University; and he is also a Strategy Executive Education scholar at INSEAD.
Chief Operating Officer
Kehinde Alabi
Kehinde has over 20 years experience in the Financial Services and the Oil & Gas sectors – including the Power sector, as a finance professional. Prior to his appointment as COO, Alabi was Head, Sales & Marketing.
He has led the Finance team in four merger and acquisition deals—two in the Oil and Gas industry and two in the Power sector – that successfully closed multi-million dollar divestment transactions. He has also successfully participated in two merger and acquisition deals in the Financial Services sector. Prior to joining (now) Axxela, he worked in various capacities at Standard Trust Bank, United Bank for Africa, and Oando Marketing. He also had a stint in academia as a lecturer.
Kehinde has a BSc. in Economics from Obafemi Awolowo University and an MBA from Manchester Business School. He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).
General Counsel And Company Secretary
Tuoyo Ejueyitchie
Tuoyo has a wealth of international legal experience from his time at Skadden Arps (London, England) and Hogan Lovells (London, England) where he specialised in Tax Law and advised in various capacities including Financial Services, Employment and Business Restructuring.
Tuoyo joined the Oando Group in 2011 where he worked as the Group Finance Legal Manager, responsible for all Financing and Mergers & Acquisition transactions across the Oando Group.
In 2017, he assumed the position of General Counsel and Company Secretary of Axxela with responsibilities for the Legal and Governance departments of the company and its subsidiaries.
Tuoyo graduated with a First Class Honours in Law (LLB) and a Distinction in Law (LLM) from the University of Reading, Berkshire.
Head, Human Resources & Admin
Ngozika Achebe
Ngozika is responsible for developing and implementing workforce strategies that enable the attainment of corporate objectives.
She has over 15 years progressive experience in Strategic and Operational Human Resource Management. Prior to joining the organization in 2012, she was the HR Business Partner for two subsidiaries in the Oando Group.
Her experience cuts across Organisation Development, talent acquisition, compensation and benefits administration, employee relations and HR policy formulation in the Upstream, Midstream and Downstream industries of the oil and gas sector.
Ngozika has a Bachelor’s degree in English from University of Nigeria, Nsukka and an MBA in Business Administration from the University of Warwick.
Head, Business Stakeholder Management
Babatunde Baba-Agba
Babatunde is experienced in providing management oversight for the development of high quality, cost-effective, and integrated marketing programs for gas distribution.
He joined Gaslink Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of Axxela Limited, in 2000 as Project Accountant where he was responsible for the day-to-day management of project cost and administration. In 2003, he became Head, Procurement and Supplies and was responsible for the procurement of project materials for the Greater Lagos Gas Distribution Project 1A and 1B. Before joining Gaslink, he worked at Ibru Organization and Aquamarine Finance & Securities Limited.
Babatunde holds an MSc. in Financial Management from University of Ibadan. He is also a Chartered Professional in Industrial Gas Marketing from the Gas Technology Institute, Chicago, USA.
Head, Business Origination
Olayide Williams
Head, Gas Demand and Supply
Emmanuel Anyaeto
Emmanuel is a gas and power Subject Matter Expert (SME) with 20 years of experience in upstream, downstream, gas and power project development. Prior to joining Axxela in 2018, he was an Asset Manager of Shell Nigeria Gas Limited where he oversaw the tremendous growth of Shell’s downstream gas assets in Nigeria. Being one of the top Contract Managers in The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited.
As a shareholder management representative at the national strategic aggregator, Gas Aggregation Company of Nigeria Limited (GACN), Emmanuel played the role of MD during difficult transition periods and under his leadership, GACN successfully negotiated and executed the first gas supply agreement that attracted over $1.2 billion foreign direct investment under the Government’s policy of Domestic Supply Obligation. Additionally, he managed the team of industry experts that developed the processes, systems and controls for implementing Gas Price Aggregation for the domestic market in Edinburgh.
He’s a graduate of Economics, Jurisprudence and Turbine Engineering from Lincoln University Jefferson City, University of South Dakota Vermillion, and Cranfield University Bedford respectively.
Head, Engineering & Operations
Uchenna Okpala
Uchenna is a mechanical engineer with over 20 years’ experience in the oil and gas industry. Prior to joining (now) Axxela at the end of 2009, he had worked in various capacities as a Field Engineer, Project Engineer, and Quality Assurance/Control Engineer.
He has diversified experience in Oil and Gas Pipeline and Structural Designs, Construction and Maintenance, Quality Assurance and Control, and Project Management, coupled with certifications from various international bodies.
Uchenna has a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical and Production Engineering from Enugu State University and a Master’s degree in Process Engineering from University of Lagos. He also has an MBA in Production and Operations Management from Lagos State University.
Head, Corporate Finance & Treasury Management
Yetunde Demuren
Yetunde is responsible for corporate finance and treasury management for Axxela. In her role, she is responsible for ensuring optimal capital structure for projects, project viability assessment, cashflow planning, excess cash investments, and hedging for foreign exchange exposures.
She has over 16 years’ experience span across consulting, investment banking, corporate banking, and business development in developed and emerging markets in a transaction-oriented position. Prior to joining the organization in 2020, she was with the West Market Area Deals team at PricewaterhouseCoopers where she worked on equity and debt capital raise mandates, corporate restructuring, financial modelling, and valuation analysis for publicly-traded and privately-held companies.
Some of her key deals include: Adviser on the acquisition finance capital raise for OML 42 by Neconde Energy Limited during the shell divestment program, adviser to the Federal Government of Nigeria on the Implementation of the settlement agreement for the National Iron Ore Mining Company, Itakpe, Adviser on the acquisition of Nokia Nigeria by Microsoft Mobile oy, an SPV created by Microsoft Corporation, Adviser of the acquisition of majority stake in Forte Oil by Prudent Energy, Adviser on Lease, Redevelop, Operate and Transfer of two (2) hotels owned by the Odu’a Investment Company of Nigeria Limited and Adviser on the Corporate restructuring for Afprint Nigeria PLC.
Yetunde has a bachelor’s degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Lagos, Nigeria, and a Master’s degree in Management (Finance) from the University of Wales, Swansea. In addition, she has completed the fundamental stage of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, UK. She is an alumnus of Harvard Business School Online.
Head, Information Technology
Kevin Ezeife
Kevin is an experienced technology professional and has led teams whose responsibilities span the major spectrum of IT transformational projects. Prior to joining Axxela, Kevin led the Information Technology unit at ARMLife PLC where he transitioned the organization to a retail-focused business through the implementation of digital transformation platforms.
His expertise cuts across IT Strategy, Enterprise Architecture, Digital enablement, Automation, Infrastructure, Information security, Business continuity, and project management
He holds an MBA from Lagos Business School and a B.Eng from the Federal University of Technology Minna.
Head, Community Relations/Security
Aloiye Aigbonga
Aloiye manages Axxela’s relationship with its host communities and security agencies to strengthen the conditions for sustainable peace, as the business executes projects that engender socio-economic development. He is also responsible for the protection of Axxela’s assets through the development and implementation of security protocols.
Aloiye is a lawyer with over 27 years of experience and was in active legal practice until 2002. Prior to joining Axxela, he was the Senior Manager, Legal Services, Oando Plc, and later worked in the Community Relations Unit of Oando Plc. Aloiye joined Axxela in 2015, and skillfully deployed his experience and expertise in Community Relations and Security, evident in the successful execution of various projects undertaken by the company.
Aloiye has a Bachelor of Law degree (LL.B) from the University of Benin and a BL from the Nigerian Law School, Lagos. He is also a trained Conciliator, Mediator, and Arbitrator. Aloiye is a member of the Nigeria Bar association and the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators (ICMC).