Hey there! Brickstone Africa introduces her podcast series which will serve as a platform for Research insights and Interviews on thought leadership issues on Africa’s Infrastructure, Built and Natural Environment. Listen to this introductory podcast to learn all that Talks@Brickstone is about.

Talks@Brickstone

Introducing Talks@Brickstone

Ship Acquisition in Nigeria: Key Commercial Issues  Part A

Ship Acquisition in Nigeria: Key Commercial Issues  B

Talks@Brickstone: Episode 006
Topic: What is Bankability?
Anchor: Mr. Femi Awofala, Lead Partner, Brickstone Africa

Femi is the founder of Brickstone and has practical experience in advising companies and governments on private investments in energy, real estate and infrastructure, including structuring and executing project/structured financings and M&A transactions. He leads Brickstone’s Origination & Commercial advisory team in Energy, Infrastructure and Real Estate

Femi was an investment banking professional with Vetiva Capital Management Limited where he led teams on several M&A transactions, capital raisings programs as well as structured/project financings of over $500 million.

Prior to joining Vetiva Capital Management Limited, he was at the ARM Investment Mangers and was part of the private equity real estate team and he assessed potential real estate investment opportunities, prepared detailed financial models and valuations and oversaw property development, construction management, coordinated marketing, contract negotiations and closings for real estate developments;

Key projects included acquisitions of medium–upper income residential and commercial properties in the Lagos and Abuja, equity placement and advisory services for the raising of a $90 million private equity real estate fund that invests in real estate projects in West Africa, the US$ 350 million Toll Road Project in Lekki, Lagos.

Femi has a first degree – B.Sc Geology from the University of Ibadan and Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from Lagos Business School, Pan-African University. He is a Policy Member of the Infrastructure Policy Group, Nigeria Economic Summit Group.

What is Bankability?

Talks@Brickstone: Episode 010
Topic: Unlocking Finance For Post-Harvest Processing
Guest: Nelson Abila, Agribusiness Specialist, UNDP Nigeria

Nelson Abila, a Nigerian, is an economist with a special passion for development. Nelson has a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics and Extension, a master’s degree in Agricultural Economics and a PhD in Economics. Nelson’s career spanned engagements with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Winrock International, The Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative and the University of Vaasa. Nelson also worked previously with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Nigeria, first as an Agribusiness Specialist and later as acting team leader – inclusive growth and national economist. Nelson has published research works on renewable energy, biofuels adoption and agricultural industrialization. He currently works with the African Development Bank, as an additionality and development outcome assessment officer, providing advisory to the Board on private sector and sovereign operations being funded by the Bank.

Unlocking Finance For Post-Harvest Processing

Bayo is an economic and investment strategy analyst with extensive experience covering corporate responsibilities in economic, sector and capital market research, business development and performance management and investment banking. Bayo is currently the Managing Director of Sthenic Finance & Advisory Limited, his responsibilities include financial advisory activities in origination and structuring across plain vanilla and special capital raise, M&A, business structuring, etc. Bayo is also a PhD candidate in Energy Economics and Finance at the Centre for Petroleum Economics, Energy and Law (CPEEL), University of Ibadan-Nigeria
Key Podcast Discussion Issues
The Podcast involved discussions around the following issues

1. What are Growth Companies ( how are they different from Startups)
2. When is a Company ready for Debt Financing
3. What debt Financing Options are available for Growth Companies
a. Loans from family and friends
b. Bank loans
c. Personal Loans
d. Government-backed loans, such as FGN
e. Lines of credit
f. Private Debt Financing
4. Private Debt Financing: Advantages and Disadvantages
5. Steps Qualifying for Private Debt Financing

Debt Financing for Growth Companies

Talks@Brickstone: Episode 002
Topic: Facilities Management as a Risk Mitigation Strategy in Large Scale Commercial Developments
Guest: Mrs Wale Odufalu, Group Executive Director, Alphamead Group and Chair, Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management (IWFM) Nigeria

Mrs Wale Odufalu is currently the Chair of Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management (IWFM), Nigerian chapter. She is also the Group Executive Director at Alphamead Group where she handles a wide range of responsibilities in managing organizational affairs and business development in the Building Services industry, several of which involved pioneering roles. She has held the positions of Business Development Manager and Regional Manager with BASSCOMM Nigeria as well as Managing Director of One Source. In addition to this practical experience, Wale holds an MBA from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife and is an Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries (FCIS).
Key Podcast Discussion Issues
The Podcast involved discussions around the following issues

• Many Investors commit capital to Large scale investments in Real Estate, why doesn’t such attention go into FM Planning for such developments.
• How does FM preserve the Long-Term Asset Life for Commercial Developers in Retail, Office and Industrial RE.
• There is a growing awareness of the link between the efficiency of a business and its office environment.
• How does the Future of Workplace Facilities Management relate to Commercial Property Owners/Landlords?
• The Future of the Workplace in Facility Management talks about the need for African FMs to rise to the global FM there is need to develop the right systems along certain steps.

Facilities Management as a Risk Mitigation Strategy in Large Scale Commercial Developments Part B

Talks@Brickstone: Episode 002
Topic: Facilities Management as a Risk Mitigation Strategy in Large Scale Commercial Developments
Guest: Mrs Wale Odufalu, Group Executive Director, Alphamead Group and Chair, Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management (IWFM) Nigeria
Wale Odufalu

Mrs Wale Odufalu is currently the Chair of Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management (IWFM), Nigerian chapter. She is also the Group Executive Director at Alphamead Group where she handles a wide range of responsibilities in managing organizational affairs and business development in the Building Services industry, several of which involved pioneering roles. She has held the positions of Business Development Manager and Regional Manager with BASSCOMM Nigeria as well as Managing Director of One Source. In addition to this practical experience, Wale holds an MBA from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife and is an Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries (FCIS).
Key Podcast Discussion Issues
The Podcast involved discussions around the following issues

• Many Investors commit capital to Large scale investments in Real Estate, why doesn’t such attention go into FM Planning for such developments.
• How does FM preserve the Long-Term Asset Life for Commercial Developers in Retail, Office and Industrial RE.
• There is a growing awareness of the link between the efficiency of a business and its office environment.
• How does the Future of Workplace Facilities Management relate to Commercial Property Owners/Landlords?
• The Future of the Workplace in Facility Management talks about the need for African FMs to rise to the global FM there is need to develop the right systems along certain steps.

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