Press Release
Centurion Law Group Announces Oneyka Cindy Ojogbo, Zion Adeoye as New Partners and Shareholders
Centurion Law Group, a leading full-service pan-African law firm specializing in energy and natural resources, is proud to announce the promotion of Oneyka Cindy Ojogbo and Zion Adeoye as the firm’s newest partners and shareholders. Representing the first Africa-focused firm to list on the German Stock Exchange, the promotion of Ojogbo and Adeoye serves as a testament to their leadership and proficiency within Africa’s legal field, as well as dedication to driving sustainable development across the continent.
Oneyka Cindy Ojogbo has been an integral part of Centurion’s success story, demonstrating exceptional legal acumen and a comprehensive understanding of Africa’s energy sector landscape. With a proven track record of providing strategic counsel to clients in complex energy transactions and projects, her promotion to partner is a reflection of both her dedication and expertise. A graduate of Columbia Law School, Ojogbo has direct experience counseling clients across power, energy and infrastructure sectors.
In 2019, she was appointed to lead Centurion Law Group’s Frankfurt office, a role that saw Ojogbo handle a growing portfolio of clients across Germany and Western Europe. Throughout her career, Ojogbo has advised clients, including Governments, financiers, project companies and sponsors on the life cycle of projects across multiple jurisdictions.
Her work has covered multiple sectors and tackled transactions of varying complexity. In 2020, Ojogbo was selected as an Advisory Board Member for the African Energy Chamber’s Regulatory Affairs Committee and was awarded the Private Practice Rising Star Award at the African Legal Awards. Shortly thereafter, she was promoted to Director at Centurion.
“I am truly humbled by the honor of this promotion,” says Oneyka Cindy Ojogbo. “I am grateful for the opportunities it brings and excited to embark on this new chapter, serving our clients with the highest level of excellence and commitment.”
Zion Adeoye is the Managing Director at Centurion Law Group, having demonstrated a relentless pursuit of excellence and made outstanding contributions to the firm’s growth. As a seasoned attorney with extensive experience in energy law, he has played a pivotal role in securing favorable outcomes for clients across the continent.
Adeoye holds an LLB from Nigeria’s University of Ibadan, an LLM from Columbia University, New York and an MBA from the University of Dundee, Scotland. He is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association and the Association of Independent Petroleum Negotiators. Before joining Centurion in 2017, he served in various roles at the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company Limited, KPMG Nigeria, Terra Cotta Legal, Olaniwun Ajayi LP, Templars Law and Transnational Energy Group, and has been instrumental in the reform of oil and gas legislation across several African markets. Adeoye was additionally awarded an ESQ 40 under 40 Lawyer Award at the Nigerian Rising Stars Awards for shaping the future of the legal profession in the country.
At Centurion, Adeoye served as a key advisor in various oil and gas investments and has been involved in major transactions that have shaped the firm’s success. His appointment as Managing Director in 2020 was not only a testament to his contributions and commitment to the firm, but also in the belief that Adeoye will lead Centurion to realizing its goal of becoming the premier legal firm in Africa.
“I am honoured to be part of this distinguished group shaping the future of African legal practice and humbled by the partnership appointment. I look forward to even greater accomplishments with the firm,” states Zion Adeoye.
“I am thrilled to announce Oneyka Cindy Ojogbo and Zion Adeoye as partners and shareholders at Centurion Law Group. Their exceptional dedication, expertise and commitment to excellence have been pivotal in the firm’s success, and we look forward to their continued contributions to our clients and the growth of the African energy sector. They represent the future of the firm and I am confident that their work will further cement Centurion’s position as the leading legal powerhouse in Africa,” states NJ Ayuk, Founder and CEO of Centurion Law Group and Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber.
Source: Centurion Law Group
EFInA Women’s Economic Empowerment report was launched in Abuja, at the third edition of the Gender and Inclusion Summit hosted annually by the Policy Innovation Centre (PIC) at the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG). The report underscored the second plenary by EFInA and FSD Network; tagged – Unpacking Access to Essential Tools and Services for Women’s Economic Empowerment – Collaborating for Sustainable Outcomes.
The EFInA WEE report utilises data from the 2023 Access to Financial Services in Nigeria (A2F 2023) Survey, Nigeria’s primary source of financial inclusion data, to better understand potential linkages between female financial inclusion and women’s economic empowerment in Nigeria. The results show that of Nigeria’s estimated female adult population of 56.3 million people, only 22%, or 12.5 women, can be classified as being economically empowered. Education, digital, and financial literacy are the most significant drivers of empowerment, followed by household and group agency, regarding women’s autonomy to join and influence decision-making in social groups and the agency to do productive work and own assets.
In assessing the pathway from financial inclusion to WEE, we find savings stand out with the greatest odds. Women who save –formally or informally – are six times more likely to be economically empowered than those who do not. The use of formal credit also doubles the likelihood of economic empowerment, whereas informal credit has a negligible impact. Women who actively use their accounts are more likely to be economically empowered than those who do not. Using Digital Financial Services increases the chances of empowerment and, more so, other formal banking channels, highlighting the growing role of digital platforms in financial inclusion.
Commenting on the report’s findings while speaking at the launch event, EFInA Gender Centre of Excellence Lead, Emezino Afiegbe said: “This report clearly identifies important linkages between financial inclusion and women’s economic empowerment in Nigeria, while also identifying the key factors influencing women’s formal financial inclusion. By establishing the importance of financial inclusion in economic empowerment we can focus resources and investments on the enabling factors that will ultimately accelerate empowerment for all Nigerian women.”
Also speaking on the panel Dr. Yetunde Fatogun, Social Development Consultant at the World Bank said: “For women’s economic empowerment, it’s crucial to recognise that this is not a short-term endeavour. Sustainable progress requires the involvement of multiple sectors in implementation. To truly empower women, we must address critical issues, including the significant influence of culture and the pivotal role of institutions—traditional, religious, and family. This report is both timely and essential, as it sheds light on these multifaceted challenges and offers insights into how various sectors can collaborate to drive meaningful and lasting change for women in Nigeria“.
Aisha Hadejia, Partner at Sahel Consulting Agriculture and Nutrition Limited, said: “Information accessibility remains a major hurdle, both in terms of design and delivery. Only 30% of women farmers have internet access, reflecting a significant digital divide. Additionally, mistrust in formal financial institutions is driving many women towards informal financial systems. Addressing these challenges requires data-driven solutions, such as those outlined in the A2F Women Economic Empowerment Report.”
EFInA, through the Gender Center of Excellence, is championing collaborative efforts with partners to drive significant progress in WEE by mainstreaming financial inclusion into sub-national economic policies and increasing financial and digital literacy, particularly for rural women. Our commitment extends to deepening financial inclusion, supporting income generation, and promoting savings behavior, all of which are essential for enhancing financial independence. Additionally, empowering women in decision-making and addressing vulnerabilities through social protection will further strengthen women’s roles in their households and communities. We invite you to contact us for partnership as we work together to drive impactful initiatives that advance financial inclusion and women’s economic empowerment.
The A2F 2023 survey findings can be found at https://www.a2f.ng/ while the specific report on women’s economic empowerment can be found here for partnership on strategic WEE initiatives.
The second edition of the Entertainment, Media, Technology and Arts (EMTA) Conference and Awards 2024 curated by BAO Live, an event division of leading media and brand consulting company, Business Africa Online (BAO) concluded on a high note. EMTA 2024 brought together industry leaders, innovators, and creatives for a day of insightful discussions, networking, and celebration. The pivotal event was held on Friday 30th August at The Wheatbaker Hotel Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria.
This year’s EMTA conference and awards themed ‘Redefining Entertainment and Media Business In A World of AI’ kicked off with a welcome address from Joy Harrison Abiola, BAO Board Advisor. The event featured a keynote address from Victoria Abiola Ajayi, Group CEO TVC Communications. Victoria shared her insights on the topic; Unlocking New Growth in Media and Entertainment Business.
Joy Harrison-Abiola (BAO Board Advisor).
Victoria Abiola Ajayi (Group CEO, TVC Communications)
The interactive panel sessions featured notable speakers; as Mary Ephraim-Egbas of Homelands Films, Ike Nnaebue of LP House of Creatives, Judith Audu of Judith Audu Productions, Dr. Bada Akintunde-Johnson of Paramount Africa, Ladun Awobokun of FilmOne, Israel Obatunde of Ideas Origin Media and Ebele The Flutist (Nigeria’s Foremost Female Flutist). The panel topics discussed were Beyond the screen: Unraveling the prospects in the film industry and Storytelling: Reimaging media and content production.
L-R: Joy Harrison Abiola, Dr. Bada Akintunde-Johnson, Ayomide Idogun, Ladun Awobokun, Israel Obatunde and Ebele The Flutist.
L-R: Joy Harrison-Abiola, Moses Agochuckwu, Alaba Ayinuola, Mary Ephraim-Egbas, Judith Audu and Ike Nnaebue.
The panel hosts; Moses Agochukwu of Silverbird Film Distribution and Ayomide Idogun of Lightning Sports were excellent moderators. The Showcase experience featured Michael Odiong of Premier Records Limited as he shared his insight on talent development, marketing and the impact of Premier Records in The African music industry. Attendees gained valuable insights into the latest trends and innovations shaping the entertainment and media landscape.
The awards ceremony honored outstanding achievements with six (6) winners announced. Notable winners; Obi Asika (Director General/CEO of National Council for Arts & Culture, Nigeria) and Victoria Abiola Ajayi (Group CEO of TVC Communications) took home the coveted Lifetime Achievement Award and Exemplary Leadership Award (Media) respectively, recognizing their exceptional contributions to the industry. Other winners are; Mary Ephraim-Egbas (Industry Champion Award – Film), LG NIGERIA ELECTRONICS (Smart Tech & Innovation Leadership Award), Ideas Origin Media (Design & Creative Excellence Award) and Premier Records Limited (Recording Legacy Company Award).
“We’re thrilled with the success of this year’s conference and awards. It was a fantastic opportunity for professionals to connect, learn, and celebrate the best in entertainment, media, technology and arts. Preparations are in gear to make EMTA 2025 even much more a bigger success.” said Alaba Ayinuola, Publisher & CEO at BAO.
The event was made possible through the support of sponsors and partners. Ideas Origin Media and LG ELECTRONICS NIGERIA as the Gold sponsors. And TVC Communications, Premier Records Limited, Olokpo App and GAIA Africa as partners. The event compere Segun Akinola (MC SHEGAZY) was exceptional.
For more information, please visit BAO Live. Join the conversation on social media using #EMTA2024 #BAOEMTA2024.
Heirs Insurance Group, Nigeria’s fastest-growing insurance Group, has shortlisted its top 15 semi-finalists for the third edition of the Heirs Insurance Essay Championship. The top 15 participants emerged from a competitive pool of close to 5,000 entries from Junior Secondary School students across Nigeria.
All entries underwent a rigorous grading process by renowned academics, on originality, depth of analysis, and clarity of thought. Furthermore, Deloitte & Touche, a leading Audit and Quality Assurance Firm, independently reviewed the grading process to ensure objectivity.
Out of the shortlisted participants, three students will proceed to the grand finale for a concluding presentation, on an all-expense paid trip sponsored by Heirs Insurance Group, which will take place at Transcorp Hilton Abuja, in September.
Winners of the Heirs Insurance Essay Championship will receive the combined scholarship of N8million, with the final winner’s school getting an additional N1million donation.
The Heirs Insurance Essay Championship is part of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts of the group geared towards improving the quality of education of the next generation. The Championship also highlights emerging talent, while bringing parents and children closer to insurance through extended workshops on financial security.
This year’s competition witnessed creative entries from 35 states of the country, in response to the task of writing an essay titled “If I could Invent Something new”. In appreciation and acknowledgment of the creative submissions, all participating students will receive a certificate of participation.
