From a worker’s morning commute to a child’s school day, citizens across Africa utilize and rely on public works and services every day. The quality of these services are critical for a thriving continent: well-maintained roads keep communities connected and well-resourced hospitals and schools save and transform lives. These every day services directly impact the quality of life of citizens and the ability for a community to succeed economically.

The importance of the individuals and institutions that enable these services cannot be forgotten. A robust dialogue between citizens and local, national and regional civil servants is key to maintaining and delivering high-quality infrastructure. But they’re not alone in cultivating and advocating for these services. A strong future for Africa needs strong public service: one that business helps to build.

The private sector cannot ignore its place as a leader in building African infrastructure. Business action to deliver public services is necessary to bring the just future that the Sustainable Development Goals envision to life. An estimated annual USD $130-170 billion will need to be invested in African infrastructure to deliver a sustainable, equitable future across the continent.

From a private sector perspective this is not a challenge to be met, it is a business opportunity that will yield high returns for investors and local stakeholders. To help businesses access these opportunities, I’ve joined other African leaders to form The B Team Africa. This group of dynamic leaders is accelerating a new way of doing business, one which will be profitable and equitable, driving the creation of a prosperous Africa and world.

Many of us are attending the upcoming Ibrahim Governance Weekend in Kigali. Along with other global and regional leaders, we’ll be discussing public service in Africa, its relation to good governance, its challenges and ways to strengthen it. It’s a conversation and a movement that needs business-driven solutions.

Some private sector companies have realized this, most have not. We need to help companies that are already focused on this new economy to access and invest in these markets. Simultaneously we need to highlight the data and success stories that will show a wider group of investors and operators why these opportunities should not be missed.

Across Africa, and the world, more and more companies are recognising the importance of taking action on tax for a sustainable future. The UN estimates that Africa loses more than USD $50 billion through illicit financial outflows per year, primarily linked to tax avoidance and evasion. Business is increasingly stepping up to help combat these losses and corrupt practices.

In February nine leading multinationals, including Safaricom, endorsed The B Team’s Responsible Tax Principles. This signaled their commitment to responsibly managing tax policy to provide healthy, robust and adaptive resources for citizens. Corporates are recognising that the shift toward a sustainable and prosperous future can’t happen without a shift in their approach to tax.

In Africa, the dialogue on responsible tax is gaining necessary momentum with dialogue and partnerships between companies, civil society organisations and governments forming. Businesses are working closely with these actors to collaborate not only on tax, but also on responsible and transparent public procurement.

On average, across the continent, half of government spending goes toward public contracts. But often, governments don’t know who they’re buying from or if they’re getting a fair price. Many times, vendors don’t even complete the work they’ve been contracted to do. This leaves communities debilitated with failing infrastructure and inadequate public services.

There is, however, a solution: open contracting. By making contracts open, data on the entire procurement process, from planning to tendering to performance and contract closure is made available to the public. It holds governments accountable and opens market opportunities for business.

In Africa, open contracting is growing. Uganda has implemented a strong open contracting system and other African countries are following suit. The African Partner Pool has also opened up opportunities for African small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs). Since its launch last year, this platform has provided USD $15 million worth of tenders for more than 800 SMEs. Through transparent and fair bidding, open contracting systems build and provide strong public services while providing market access for often overlooked businesses.

Beyond funding and constructing, the private sector must also champion the mechanisms and policies that allow for a healthy dialogue between citizens and public servants. Across Africa, civil society participation and civic space are deteriorating. Business has a role to play to ensure citizens can voice concerns around public services, hold officials accountable and access information. And while many companies are realising this, more need to join them to ensure an enabling environment for strong public service in Africa.

From changing operational practices to advocating for key policies, it’s time for African business to focus on strengthening the continent’s public service. This is not just the work of governments or civil society. A strong, thriving and just future for Africa is on the line. And it’s up to all of us – ”business, governments and civil society – ”to deliver.

Dr. Amy Jadesimi
Managing Director, LADOL
23/04/2018

The MD of LADOL, Dr Amy Jadesimi, chaired a presidential panel in the Great Hall at the Commonwealth Business Summit.

The session was focused on a subject the MD is extremely passionate about; delivering Sustainable Development Goals by aligning Business Society and Governments. How do we move from billions to trillions to help fund these SDGs and mainstreaming SDGs into business delivery?

The Presidential panel consisted of:

• Chair: Dr Amy Jadesimi, MD LADOL
• HE Nana Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana (represented by Dr. Eugene Owusu, Special Advisor to the President on SDGs
• HE Maithripala Sirisena, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
• Andrew Forrest, Founder and Chairman, Fortescue Metals Group and Minderoo Foundation, Australia
• Graham Wrigley, Chairman, CDC Group

As summarised by Dr. Jadesimi – “this panel shows that the Commonwealth is united in its focus on achieving the SDGs by creating enabling environments, moving capital to high growth markets and yielding higher returns from the private sector through a focus on sustainable business models. This is a winning strategy”.

A unified approach is the only way to achieve sustainable development across the world and unlock significant global economic value.

The Managing Director of LADOL, Dr. Amy Jadesimi, recently spoke on the In the Balance BBC Radio program alongside the Maltese Minster for the Economy, Investment and Small Businesses (Christian Cardinals), the Chairman of Interswitch Nigeria (Sir Kenneth Olisa OBE), Chairman and Managing Director of Aries Agro Limited, a leading Indian agri-business (Dr. Rahul Mirchandani).

Dr. Amy spoke on the importance of “Equitable trade agreements and associations leading to mutual prosperity.” As she stated “this is necessary to stimulate the quantum leap in economic growth Commonwealth countries need, by creating thriving prosperous economies throughout the Commonwealth we will drive global growth”. Dr. Amy also stressed the importance of “Local private sector in NIGERIA developing infrastructure, facilities and people – in short we need more locations like LADOL to attract investment, support local engineering and manufacturing and therefore enable equitable local supply of Made in NIGERIA goods and trading of finished goods across the Commonwealth.” In her closing remarks the Dr. expressed a wish that “by the next Commonwealth Forum in two years we will have agreed standards for business practices, quality of products and partnerships that are aligned with the SDGs, within the Commonwealth. So that countries and companies that adhere to these standards receive more assistance and support.”

Listen to the full BBC radio podcast below.

Dr. Amy Jadesimi, MD of LADOL, has attended the Commonwealth Business Forum in London, UK along with other Nigerian and Commonwealth business leaders and industry experts. Dr. Amy chaired the session on How do we move from billions to trillions to help fund the SDGs?

Speaking at the Blue Economy and Maritime Industry panel of experts Dr. Amy commented, “we all agree that we need to move towards a more sustainable world but low growth, high income countries expect incremental change, high growth low income countries such as Nigeria – are making radical changes. Only radical changes in development and business will create a sustainable world, which is why countries like Nigeria will take a lead in creating a sustainable global maritime economy.”

“The development of LADOL is an example of how high growth low income countries can excel by focusing on sustainability as a business opportunity – LADOL built a Port Facility and Industrial Free Zone out of disused land in Apapa Port – we have now created the largest shipyard in West Africa and the only fully integrated logistics base. Private sector in Nigeria should seize the opportunity to sustainably build infrastructure, facilities and industries because that will yield the highest return to their investors, to the local society and the global economy.”

Dr. Amy Jadesimi also spoke at an invite only, closed meeting of Commonwealth CEOs as part of the ongoing Commonwealth Business Forum.

During her remarks the MD emphasised the need for a Commonwealth Business Forum to enable Commonwealth private sector companies, small and large, to pursue lucrative sustainable business models. In addition, the MD emphasised the need for a shift in financing towards local companies in high growth countries, where investors will find the highest returns. Such a shift will require a re-framing of bankability to recognise that sustainable local and international companies are the safest, highest yielding investment opportunities.

The MD joined others in calling for better enforcement of anti-corruption legislation in wealthier countries.

Click here to find out more about the Commonwealth Business Forum.

Click here to read more about Nigeria’s involvement at maritimefirstnewspaper.com

We are delighted to announce that our MD, DR Amy Jadesimi has been named Young CEO of the Year at the recent Africa CEO forum.

On receiving the award Dr Amy said in her acceptance speech “Thank you for this great honour. As some of you may know, LADOL is an industrial Free Zone in Lagos, Nigeria. We are best know for our logistics base and shipyard, which is the largest in West Africa. LADOL is currently transforming into a Sustainable Special Economic Zone, so that we can help drive the creation of and benefit from the USD12 trillion increase in global GDP that will come from private sector pursuing SDG business opportunities, thank you.”

View the news of Amy’s achievement on France 24’s Eye on Africa report below.

MD LADOL, Dr. Amy Jadesimi was selected to join the newly formed B Team Africa in January this year. The LADOL MD joined the CEO of Unilever Mr. Paul Polman at a press conference to announce the B Team Africa’s Agenda held at the Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on 26th March 2018.

Speaking at the press conference, after Mr. Polman, Dr. Jadesimi discussed her vision for sustainable infrastructure development in West Africa and her goals in working alongside The B Team Africa leadership members (Bob Collymore, CEO of Safaricom, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Chair of GAVI, Dr. Mo Ibrahim, Founder and Chair of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, Jochen Zeitz, Co-Founder & Executive Chair of The B Team and Former CEO of PUMA, Jesse Moore, CEO and Co-Founder of M-KOPA Solar, Rita Kavashe, Managing Director of Isuzu East Africa and Joshua Oigara, Group CEO & Managing Director of KCB Group) and the B Team Global Leaders to drive positive change in Nigeria and the continent.

As Dr. Jadesimi said, “I’m honoured and excited to the part of the B Team Africa, working alongside a team of passionate business leaders to support and drive sustainable business models and new opportunities for job creation and investment in Africa. For the world to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, Africa will have to become an engine of growth and prosperity. Fortunately, as Africans we have the human capital and resources to do this ourselves and working with Jesse, Rita and Joshua on the B Team we can actively help create an environment where real private sector companies, large and small can build new economy businesses generating millions of jobs across the Continent”.

Source: Africa CEO forum

The B Team Africa is a Pan-African platform to enable committed business and civil society leaders to work collectively in driving progress and addressing critical issues across the continent. The B Team Africa leaders are united in influencing and convening the private and public sector to drive long-term, inclusive, sustainable economic growth and social development for a prosperous Africa.

To achieve these goals, leaders are committed to work together and through current B Team initiatives. The B Team Africa’s ambitious work agenda includes, but is not limited to, open contracting, supply chain transparency, responsible tax practice, renewable and clean energy, environmental preservation, unlocking capital for value-add, green businesses and social enterprises, job creation, civic rights, gender equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

International non-profit organisation The B Team, co-founded by Richard Branson and Jochen Zeitz in 2012, established The B Team Africa in 2017 and continues to recruit Africa-based leaders to accelerate the shift toward a just and sustainable future for the continent and the world. The B Team’s mission and impact to date reflect the tremendous power of the private sector to catalyse new business opportunities and solutions to diverse global challenges.

Source: Africa CEO forum

The B Team Africa is one of a growing number of regional B Teams established to galvanize regional based leaders to harness business-driven solutions and create collective impact. In this spirit, The B Team Africa calls upon other leaders in Africa and partners to join them to:

1. Use their collective voice and influence to amplify key issues and drive progress on timely, critical issues
2. Lead by example in their own companies, and engage in B Team initiatives in Africa
3. Collaborate with others to develop and scale systemic solutions that benefit current and future generations

For more information on The B Team, please visit www.bteam.org

The B Team is a not-for-profit initiative formed by a global group of business leaders to catalyse a better way of doing business for the wellbeing of people and the planet.
Founded in the belief that the private sector can, and must, redefine both its responsibilities and its own terms of success, The B Team is developing a new, sustainable model for business centered on concerted, positive action that will ensure business becomes a driving force for social, environmental and economic benefit.
The B Team was co-founded by Sir Richard Branson and Jochen Zeitz, and includes Leaders Oliver Bate, Marc Benioff, Sharan Burrow, Kathy Calvin, Bob Collymore, David Crane, Christiana Figueres, Mats Granryd, Arianna Huffington, Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, Dr. Mo Ibrahim, Yolanda Kakabadse, Guilherme Leal, Andrew Liveris, Arif Naqvi, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Francois-Henri Pinault, Paul Polman, Mary Robinson, Ratan Tata, Zhang Yue and Professor Muhammad Yunus

The B Team Africa includes

• Bob Collymore, The B Team Leader; CEO, Safaricom
• Dr. Mo Ibrahim, The B Team Leader; Founder and Chair, Mo Ibrahim Foundation
• Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, The B Team Leader; Chair, GAVI; Senior Advisor, Lazard
• Jochen Zeitz, The B Team Co-Founder and Executive Chair; Founder, The Zeitz Foundation for Intercultural Ecosphere Safety
• Dr. Amy Jadesimi, The B Team Africa Member; CEO of Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics Base (LADOL)
• Rita Kavashe, The B Team Africa Member; Managing Director, Isuzu East Africa
• Jesse Moore, The B Team Africa Member; CEO and Co-Founder, M-KOPA
• Joshua Oigara, The B Team Africa Member; Group CEO and Managing Director, KCB Group

Source: Africa CEO forum

View more photos from the Africa CEO Forum and The B Team here.

LADOL is very proud and honoured to win the Best Local Content Operator of Year award at the Energie Platform Lecture series and The Oil and Gas Industry Award Dinner recently held at Eko Hotel in Lagos.

On International Women’s Day 2018, Dr Amy Jadesimi joined Shell Nigeria Women’s Network to share her professional experience and lessons learned. “Focus on your work, not on what people think about you. Don’t be affected by the negative comments, just keep pressing forward!”

Amy Jadesimi, managing director of Lagos Deep Offshore Logistic Base (LADOL) explains to TheCable why Nigeria is fast becoming the fabrication hub in Africa, why Nigeria is now more than ever an attractive investment destination, women’s role in leadership and the impact of increased local content to the Nigeria economy.

TheCable: What is the economic impact of the successful arrival of Egina FPSO in Nigeria?

Amy Jadesimi: The arrival of the Egina FPSO (floating production storage and offloading unit) is a sea change – no pun intended – because it shows that we can now carry out the most challenging industrial project in the world, in Nigeria. This is not just about the arrival of the vessel, it is about the building of the yard and the operation of the yard. The Nigerians who worked in the yard operated above the average global standard and the results speak for themselves.

The fact that the FPSO was sent here was primarily because we achieved everything that we needed to achieve in the yard. The six modules were built, we were ready to receive the vessel ahead of time. And in every way the arrival of the vessel and the way the project has been conducted in Nigeria exceeded expectations. The collaboration and the proof that ease of doing business is working, is also an important mile stone. We couldn’t have achieved this without the support of the Nigeria Port Authority (NPA). The NPA went the extra mile – they set up a committee, they coordinated all the stakeholders (both private and public sector) they made sure that the shipping channel was upgraded, brought in extra equipment, and brought in extra tugs.

At the same time, the Nigeria Export Processing Zone Authority (NEPZA) worked literally 24/7 coordinating government agencies in the zone. So, it really took a village to make this happen and the success is a mile stone that shows that more and more projects like this can be done not just in Lagos but across the country.

Click here to read the full interview at thecable.ng

We were very pleased to welcome Mr Jeff Ewing (MD Chevron Nigeria), Mr Ahmadu Kida Musa (Deputy MD Total E&P Nigeria Ltd), Mr Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu (Minister of State for Petroleum) and Mr Nicolas Terraz (Managing Director/Chief Executive of Total E&P Nigeria Ltd) to the Free Zone to mark the arrival of the EGINA FPSO.

Picture from Left to Right
1. Mr Jeff Ewing – MD Chevron Nigeria
2. Dr Amy Jadesimi – MD LADOL
3. Mr Ahmadu Kida Musa – Deputy MD Total E&P Nigeria Ltd
4. Mr Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu – Minister of State for Petroleum
5. Mr Nicolas Terraz – Managing Director/Chief Executive of Total E&P Nigeria Ltd