FULL TEXT OF THE EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BETWEEN AFRICAN LEADERSHIP MAGAZINE AND MR. SAMUEL DOSSOU-AWORET (SDA), FOUNDING CHAIRMAN, PETROLIN GROUP AND PRESIDENT, AFRICAN BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE
1. As President of the African Business Roundtable (ABR), you sit at the heart of Africa’s private sector advocacy. How is ABR redefining the role of African businesses in influencing policy, driving investment and shaping the continent’s economic future?
SDA
In 2019 the ABR Board gave me broad authority to diagnose, professionalize and expand ABR, deepen international relationships – an explicit mandate to modernize ABR so it can deliver on this agenda at scale, a renewed mandate to become the private sector’s leading voice in Africa’s transformation.
Our mission is explicit: strengthen Africa’s private sector (especially SMEs), foster private-sector-led growth, and build the relationships that unlock investment and trade.
We serve as an instrument for constructive dialogue with governments and financial institutions, promote public-private partnerships for structural projects that enable the integration of African economies. We accomplish this by keeping in mind the inclusion of indigenous stakeholders, focusing on the critical issues that concern them, taking a greater interest in the continent’s stakeholders, maintaining an open mind, and looking resolutely towards the future.
2. With the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) promising new opportunities for intra-African trade, what role do you see ABR and private sector leaders playing in ensuring that African businesses are not just beneficiaries, but also architects of this historic integration ?
SDA
ABR has been at the forefront of African Continental Free Trade Area, hosting impactful events with notable DFI’s and multilateral institutions. In May 2025 on the sidelines of the AfDB Annual Meetings in Abidjan, ABR hosted a high-level Business Forum focused on how firms actually capture AfCFTA opportunities. Again, in June 2025, on the sidelines of the Afreximbank Annual Meetings, we ran an Abuja forum that linked policy discussions to bankable projects and trade finance. Our goal is to position the private sector at the heart of integration—driving cross-border investments, trade platforms, and infrastructure such as dry ports that make intra-African trade both practical and competitive.
African Continental Free Trade Area represents a vast market designed to boost intra-African trade. This naturally leads to SME growth, as these enterprises discover new trade opportunities and forge partnerships across different sectors, undeniably contributing to the creation of channels and networks that facilitate increasingly fluid transactions. This translates into enhanced communication pathways and the opening of entire regions and countries. Since its establishment in 1990, ABR’s mission has been to encourage the private sector, particularly SMEs, to achieve sustainable competitiveness, strengthen their operations, and create synergies among themselves, with our organization’s members, and with governments. Beyond aid, what we require is the support of individuals and institutions who believe in our continent’s potential—a continent abundant in both natural and human resources. Together, we have delivered numerous projects; together we have crafted a narrative that speaks of a united, connected, pluralistic, committed, and vibrant Africa. We stand as architects of remarkable achievements exemplified by organizations like ND Westen, Seplat, and Renaissance. By engaging in our areas of expertise, we have emerged as African champions of local, regional, and continental development.
We have succeeded by being deeply aware of our fundamental needs and striving to meet them; by adopting an inclusive, fraternal approach that applies to regional issues as well as the real dynamics of peoples and goods; by being a front-line player that dares to take risks.
3. You are widely recognized as one of Africa’s most influential energy leaders through your work with Petrolin. How do you see Africa balancing the urgent need for energy transition with the continent’s continued reliance on hydrocarbons for industrialization and development?
SDA
Africa needs hydrocarbons for growth, but the transition must be responsible.
Hydrocarbons are essential, but we can change how we use them by becoming more responsible. And that is what we are doing by emitting less CO₂, avoiding gas flaring, building infrastructure for gas-fired power generation, etc. We are one of the leading producers of gas, which is a clean energy source.
The use of robotics and AI technology to solve what appear to be difficulties today will significantly improve industrial progress at a speed that was previously unimaginable. And we will be there to follow the trend.
4. A recurring challenge for African businesses is access to finance. From your experience at Petrolin and ABR, what innovative financing mechanisms or partnerships do you believe can unlock African capital for African-led projects?
SDA
We need to blend traditional finance with innovative tools. ABR has provided opportunities for brilliant minds to discuss these pressing issues. It is crucial to unlock capital for youth and women entrepreneurs and to encourage pension and sovereign funds to invest further in the continent. By doing so, they will initiate a domino effect that will lead to access to capital at more favorable rates.
Another important aspect is the development of institutional solidarity with organizations such as the African Development Bank, which initiated the creation of ABR and has been working to implement sophisticated mechanisms to bridge deal-closing gaps. Afreximbank and many others are also striving to achieve tangible results.
My group, a long-standing ABR member, has contributed by diligently executing projects. We believe in the importance of constructing robust dossiers to position ourselves for strategic international calls for tenders. This necessitates compiling a strong technical file that will serve as the bedrock for a solid financial package. When a file is technically sound and led by a reputable team of experts, it becomes bankable. With a proven track record of good governance, banks are more inclined to consider financing.
5. You have combined corporate leadership with continental advocacy over the years. What core leadership principles have guided you in building successful institutions like Petrolin and steering the African Business Roundtable towards greater impact?
SDA
Building Petrolin required long-term vision and resilience. Leading ABR demands inclusivity, ensuring every member, feels represented whether they are an individual or a company. Above all, Solidarity, Discipline and Affection remain the strongest currency in both business and advocacy for us.
6. In a world where narratives about Africa are often shaped externally, how is ABR working to ensure that Africa’s business voice is not only heard but also respected in global trade and investment negotiations ?
SDA
It is the formula I just described of Solidarity, Discipline and Affection that we have found strength to lead the creation of a consortium or be a significant shareholder in pan-African entities such as MTN, Renaissance, ND Western, Seplat, Tullow, etc. Applying these principles has raised and consolidated the pan-African involvement of the continent’s natives in national projects that they control in partnership with the Petrolin Group and leading international companies and/or national state-owned companies.
It is important that at any level, we are present during impactful global discussions where it is critical that our voices be heard.
7. Africa has the youngest population in the world. What deliberate steps should continental business institutions like ABR and companies like Petrolin take to mentor, finance and position young African entrepreneurs as leaders of tomorrow’s economy?
SDA
For decades, we have been experimenting, developing, and promoting Africa’s resources. When I say resources, I am not just talking about natural, cultural, and intellectual resources. I mainly talk about human resources; our youth are our greatest asset. ABR aims to equip young and women entrepreneurs with funding, mentorship, and market access.
At Petrolin, we invest in skills development for future engineers, energy experts, and business leaders.
The education of young people is a principle that is close to our hearts and is an integrated part of our policy. From inception, we have contributed to education from primary school, university, and beyond by opening schools, particularly in rural and remote areas; supporting educational institutions; and helping university students. Our group deploys intergenerational working teams with different profiles, with the idea of learning from each other while passing on skills that are not necessarily taught in schools or that are not known by those with experience. A win-win.
8. As someone who has witnessed Africa’s business and energy sectors evolve over decades, what is your vision for Africa’s private sector over the next 20 years and what legacy would you like to leave through ABR and Petrolin ?
SDA
Africa is the mother of humanity, and a conference such as the one bringing us together today reminds us of that.
The fruitful merging of the two conferences Forum on African-Caribbean Leadership (IFAL) with Global Power Women Conference (GPWC) giving birth to the Global Power Forum is a strong symbol that we must keep in mind given the profound changes shaking up the year 2025. This coincidence, which for us at Petrolin Group is no accident, reminds us that it is women who give birth to life and that Africa, the mother of humanity, is seeing its children come together this year, in a city that symbolizes a civilization a little reluctant to recognize the role of the African continent.
Not in 20 years but I already see our story taking shape today. I see the birth of a confident, continentally fully integrated African market. Infrastructure like our Backbone Project, opening doors to new opportunities for everyone where they are with what they have. I see African Business Roundtable, Petrolin, and others from Africa and across the world continuing to work to empower Africa’s transformation as well as attaining food and medical self-reliance.
Africa has everything to succeed, the space, the population with its age advantage and growth rate. Simply put, we are walking towards our future now.