The Family of Our Sage, Agagu- Mama, YHE Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan- Former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Mokgweetsi E. K. Masisi, Former President of the Republic of Botswana, Former Governor of Ogun State/Senator- Ogun East Senatorial District- Otunba Gbenga Daniel, The Chairman & members of the Board of Trustees of the Olusegun Agagu Foundation (Dr Adedeji Adeleke), our mother, Chief Mrs. Sinatu Ojikutu (the pathfinder for many of her strong-willed and independent daughters), Chief Mrs. Magaret Shonekan, Chief Mrs Nike Akande, Members of the Lagos State Executives present, AIG (Rtd) Tunji Alapini, distinguished guests.

That Africa Report’s The Women Running Nigeria’s Economy captures something important about this moment in Nigeria: women are increasingly occupying positions where some of the country’s hardest economic choices are being made — shaping markets, mobilising investment, reforming institutions and translating policy into results.

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, It is my honour to join you at this distinguished gathering. This conference is timely because West Africa’s energy challenge is entering a new phase. The question before us is no longer simply whether our region has the resources or refining capacity to meet its energy needs. Increasingly, we do. The more important question is whether we can build the infrastructure, financing systems, regulatory institutions and transparent markets required to move energy efficiently from where it is produced to where it is needed.