Heirs Energies CFO, Samuel Nwanze, named Africa CFO of the Year
Sopuruchi Onwuka
Heirs Energies has announced that its Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Samuel (Sam) O. Nwanze, has been named Africa CFO of the Year at the prestigious All Africa Business Leaders Awards (AABLA), held in partnership with CNBC Africa.
The recognition celebrates Nwanze’s outstanding leadership in corporate finance and investment strategy across the Heirs Holdings Group, where he also serves as Chief Investment Officer.
Company spokesperson, Ms Chidinma Ugbojiaku, declared in a statement that “remarkable accomplishment is a testament to our Group Chairman, Tony O. Elumelu, CFRand his philosophy of championing African excellence through Africapitalism. Under his leadership, we have built an ecosystem that empowers leaders like Sam to thrive and redefine the African business landscape.”
She described the award as a validation of the Group’s Africapitalism philosophy which, according to her, espouses a commitment to empowering African talent and driving transformative business leadership across the continent.
“Sam’s win is a direct reflection of the world-class talent and strategic ambition we are building within our group. His leadership in high-stakes finance and investment is a key driver of our success, making this award a point of pride for every one of us.
“Sam is not only a CFO in the traditional sense. He is an architect of growth, a dealmaker, and a strategic force. His journey with our group has been defined by landmark transactions and unwavering financial discipline that have reshaped our portfolio and the energy landscape in Africa,” Chidinma declared.
She added that Sam’s excellence and ambition reflect Heirs Group’s business ecosystem. “He represents the next generation of African leaders who are defining the future of business on the continent,” she said.
Chidinma pointed at landmark transactions and disciplined financial stewardship that mark Nwanze’s career at Heirs Holdings.
“He led the $2.5 billion financing that enabled Heirs Energies to acquire a 45% stake in OML 17, one of the largest oil and gas deals in Africa in over a decade — a transaction that won the Project Finance International (PFI) African Oil Deal of the Year in 2021.
“As Chief Investment Officer, Nwanze oversees a $10.3 billion diversified portfolio spanning oil and gas, power, financial services, and real estate. His earlier experience as Group Treasurer in one of Africa’s leading banks built the foundation for his strong financial acumen and strategic foresight.
“Beyond his executive roles, Nwanze is recognised globally for his thought leadership. He has spoken at the African Union, the Milken Institute, and Oxford Saïd Business School, and recently became the first African appointed to the board of the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN).
The AABLA award, judged by a panel of Africa’s foremost business leaders, underscores his influence in shaping Africa’s investment landscape and his pivotal role in Heirs Holdings’ growth and impact.
