How Oluwatobi Alebiosu helped shape deals driving business growth, energy investment

United States-based Nigerian lawyer and project development & project finance professional, Oluwatobi Alebiosu, has emerged as one of the professionals contributing to some of the major transactions that have shaped investment, business financing and energy infrastructure development in Nigeria in recent years.

Between 2018 and 2022, Alebiosu was involved in advisory work on transactions spanning development finance, foreign direct investment, energy infrastructure and corporate acquisitions, helping to facilitate deals that attracted capital into critical sectors of the economy.

Her contributions came at a period when Nigeria was seeking increased investment to support business growth, expand energy infrastructure and improve access to financing for underserved segments of the economy.

One of the transactions she worked on was the $200m financing facility provided by the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation to Union Bank. The facility was designed to support small and medium-sized enterprises, women-led businesses and digitisation initiatives, sectors considered vital to economic growth and job creation.

Industry experts identified access to finance as one of the major constraints facing SMEs across Nigeria, making financing initiatives targeted at business expansion and entrepreneurship increasingly important.

Alebiosu also played a key role on the development and financing of the $650m ANOH Gas Processing Plant, a major gas infrastructure project expected to support domestic gas supply and contribute to industrial growth.

The ANOH project has been regarded by stakeholders as one of the key investments aimed at strengthening gas utilisation and supporting Nigeria’s broader energy development objectives.

Her experience further extended to advisory work on a transaction involving Japanese conglomerate Sojitz Corporation’s acquisition of a 25 per cent interest in the holding company of Axxela, one of Nigeria’s leading private sector gas distribution companies.

The deal was widely viewed as a significant foreign investment transaction within Nigeria’s energy sector and reinforced investor confidence in opportunities within the country’s gas value chain.

Beyond transactions, Alebiosu’s work reflected the important role played by project finance and corporate advisory professionals in connecting capital with opportunities capable of generating economic value.

Her growing profile within the sector also earned her international industry recognition.

Between 2021 and 2023, she was consecutively recognised by the International Financial Law Review as a Rising Star in Project Development, a distinction awarded to professionals based on transactional experience, client feedback and contributions to significant deals.

Alebiosu, a graduate of the University of Lagos built her early career in commercial law, developing expertise across energy infrastructure and projects.

Her work placed her among teams advising multinational corporations, development finance institutions and major investors seeking opportunities within Nigeria’s economy.

While many of the transactions occurred behind the scenes, their impact extended beyond boardrooms, touching sectors linked to business growth, entrepreneurship, foreign investment and energy development.

As investment continues to play a crucial role in economic development, professionals involved in structuring and facilitating complex transactions are becoming important contributors to the growth of strategic sectors, with Alebiosu’s work over the period reflecting that trend.