Laila Adji, Nigeria Market Development Consultant, Invest Africa

Laila Adji is an accomplished energy and growth-market professional with deep expertise in business development, government relations, and strategic market entry within Nigeria’s energy and infrastructure sectors.

She previously served as Senior Special Assistant on Energy Transition to the President of Nigeria, where she contributed to early-stage planning for COP28 and played a key role in the restructuring of Nigeria’s National Council on Climate Change (NCCC). Her experience at the highest levels of government provides her with a strong understanding of regulatory frameworks, policy alignment, and public–private collaboration in emerging markets.

Laila has also been supporting governments, development partners, NGOs, and blue-chip companies on market entry, stakeholder engagement, and transaction support on landmark energy transactions, including the Dangote–GE LM2500 gas turbine deal, and continues to support investors navigating Nigeria’s complex operating environment. 

Her private-sector experience spans Nigeria’s power and oil & gas sectors. She served as Country Manager at Symbion Power, she was part of the team that won the Ughelli power project during the PHCN privatization exercise, and was an early shareholder in Paygas Nigeria, a startup focused on expanding access to LPG for the low-income population across Nigeria.

In 2025, Laila completed her Executive MBA at HEC Paris as part of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) cohort, further strengthening her cross-cultural business expertise and deepening her engagement across the Middle East–Africa investment corridor. She is currently completing a professional coaching certification at Anailis, reinforcing her commitment to leadership development and impact-driven growth.

Laila recently launched a platform mobilizing senior professionals and coaches across the Middle East and Africa to support and mentor the next generation of female entrepreneurs.