Sola is a Senior Partner in the Energy and Project Finance practice group of Adepetun Caxton-Martins Agbor & Segun (now Dentons ACAS-Law), which he co-founded in 1991.

In his 39-year career, Sola is renowned in the Nigerian Oil and Gas industry as an expert in oil and gas law and has considerable experience across a wide range of energy focused matters. He represents clients locally and internationally on multi-party transactional matters ranging from corporate structuring and re-structuring, mergers and acquisitions and regulatory compliance with a focus on oil and gas.

Sola is the recipient of a number of accolades, recognizing his excellent leadership quality and thought leadership. In 2016, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award in Africa for his sustained commitment to building the “Cape to Cairo” oil and gas industry. In 2019, he also received the award for Business Lawyer of the Year from the Nigerian Legal Awards. He has been listed in “Band 1” as one of the leading Nigerian Energy and Natural Resources Lawyers in the last 15 (fifteen) editions of the Chambers Global Guide, the World’s Leading Lawyers. He was listed as a ‘ Global Elite Thought Leader’ in the Who’s Who Legal: Global Elite 2019 and 2021 editions. He has been listed in the last 10 (ten) consecutive editions of ‘Euromoney’s Guide to the World’s Leading Energy and Natural Resources Lawyers’ as an expert and leading legal practitioner. Sola has also been described as a “leading lawyer” in the 2019, 2020 and 2021 editions of the ‘IFLR 1000’ directory under the Energy and Infrastructure, Project Development, Project Finance and Tax industry sectors. The ‘Chambers Global Guide’ labels Sola as “the foremost practitioner in upstream processes” in Nigeria, “one of the leaders of the field” and “a standout lawyer for energy work” and records that his clients regard him as “a top-notch lawyer”.

He currently serves in several leadership positions, including as the Chairman of the board of directors of Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria.

Casimir Chinyelu Maduafokwa is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Tecon Oil – Niger Blossom Drilling Group, a high performance and high quality Pan-African Drilling and Work over Rig Units and Oil Tools Contract Services Company with Nigeria as the key operational base, but with ambition and interests in the key Gulf of Guinea countries of Congo Brazzaville, Angola, Gabon and in East Africa.

He is also the promoter of Cepstar7 Reality Holdings, athorough going development company focused on top tier real estate. His new and most important long-term initiative could very well be the foundation for social responsibility, grants and philanthropy, policy think tank and advocacy, the Casimir Maduafokwa Common Cause and Prosperity Foundation (CMCCP Foundation).

A can-do entrepreneur and complex problem solver, a political economist and social critic, researcher and investment banker, Casmir holds a B.Sc. degree in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research from Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York; as well as Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Finance & Mathematical Economics, also from the same Syracuse University.

Casimir became the President/Chief Executive Officer of Tecon Oil Services Limited in 1991 through acquisition, after establishing and managing Cosmocorp Holdings (a company engaged in strategic investment and assets development, notably the idea of Luxury Condominiums in Nigeria).

Prior to this, he started his professional career with the Center for Management & Policy Research, Washington DC where he worked as a Policy Research Analyst in 1979 and was a rising Kempian Austrian-Supply Sider in the early Raegan and early years. He later proceeded to the Atlanta Office of Mathtech Division of Mathematics Inc., Princeton, New Jersey as Econometrician/Operations Research Analyst in 1981 before leaving the United States of America. Between 1983 and 1986, he worked with Chase Merchant Bank, Lagos as Assistant Manager, Credit and Marketing. In 1986 he joined First City Merchant Bank Limited as Manager, Credit and Marketing. He left F.C.M.B. to establish Cosmocorp Holdings in 1989.

An active corporate member of Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), International Association of Drilling Contractor (IADC), Nigeria.

Born March 31, 1954, ‘Yemi Akisanya attended Kings College Lagos from 1966 to 1972, thereafter obtained an LL. B (Hons), from the University of Lagos, Nigeria in 1976 and, in 1979, an LL.M from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

He was called to the Nigerian Bar in July 1977 as a Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and was enrolled as a Notary Public in May 2014.

After brief stints between 1979 and 1981 with the firms of Odujinrin and Adefulu, in Lagos and Sullivan and Cromwell, in New York, respectively, he joined the Office of General Counsel of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (“MPNU”), in November 1981, as Counsel.

From 1993 to 1996, he was an International Transactions Counsel, in the Office of General Counsel of Mobil Oil Corporation, E & P Division, in Fairfax, Virginia. He retired (elective voluntary early retirement) from MPNU in March 2002, after twenty-one years plus of service as Counsel, Senior Counsel, Acting General Counsel, and Company Secretary.

While with MPNU, he was involved in every aspect of the business and operations of the upstream oil industry, including its processes, transactions, arrangements, ventures, and agreements. And, until his retirement, he was an in-house resource person on the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”). As such resource person, he advised and provided opinions with respect to compliance with the FCPA in the company’s transactions and external relations.

‘Yemi Akisanya is presently engaged in private law practice as Principal of Adeyemi-Akisanya Associates, a service-oriented boutique firm of Attorneys, Mediators, and Conflict Resolvers. A CEDR Accredited Mediator (CEDR is the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution, UK), he has also, in collaboration with other practitioners in Alternative Dispute Resolution and Conflict Management, established The Dispute Solutions Hub (“TDSH”), – www.thedisputesolutionshub.com. TDSH gives clients optimum access to the best in Mediation and Conflict Resolution and Management services, programmes, advisory, training, and development, including Workplace Mediation, Employee Rights Mediation, Conflict Coaching, Host Community Relations and Negotiations, and Union Negotiations.

He is a member of the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators; Life Fellow, the Nigerian Conservation Foundation; and member, Trustee, and the Honorary Secretary, of the Musical Society of Nigeria, MUSON.

Outside of mediation and law practice, Yemi is an ordained Pastor and Bible Teacher, a classical pianist, and a choir trainer/director. His other loves include reading, philosophy, science fiction, and Christian Apologetics. He is married, with children and grandchildren.

Mavuaye James Orife has a BSC Hons, Geology from the University of Ibadan, School of Petroleum Studies, Oxford 1988, Corporate Planning & Petroleum Economics Course 1986, Exploration Economics 1983, Petroleum Industrial Management Institute 1982.

SOCIETIES, MEMBERSHIP, AFFILIATIONS AND FELLOWSHIP AWARDS

• MEMBER SPE 1973

• MEMBER LAGOS SOCIETY OF GEOLOGISTS AND GEOPHYSICISTS 1974

• MEMBER NMGS 1975

• SPE STUDENTS’ AFFAIRS CHAPTER CHAIRMAN 1979 – 1980

• SPE CONFERENCE AND PROGRAMME CHAIRMAN 1980 – 1981

• CHAIRMAN SPE NIGERIA COUNCIL 1981 – 1982

• PRESIDENT NAPE 1983 – AS INAUGUARAL PRESIDENT(AFTER RESURECTING THE SOCIETY)

• TREASURER NMGS 1983 – 1985

• VICE PRESIDENT NMGS 1986

• ELECTED FELLOW NMGS 1988

• ELECTED FELLOW NAPE 1992

• SPE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD 2001

• ELECTED PRESIDENT NMGS 2003

• COMEG REGISTERED (GEM 0047) .

BOARD MEMBERSHIPS

• DIRECTOR – SCHLUMBERGEER NIGERIA LTD 1978 – 1988 AS NNPC REPRESENTATIVE

• CHAIRMAN & CEO – VERSA-TECH NIG LTD JUNE 1990 – TILL NOW

• DIRECTOR – STERLING AND FALCON HOLDINGS LTD – 1992 TO DATE

• DIRECTOR – STARZ MARINE AND ENGINEERING LTD – 1997 TO DATE

• MEMBER AND VICE CHAIRMAN COUNCIL OF MINING ENGINEERS AND GEOSCIENTISTS 2003 – 2005

• EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR – MENCORIT NIGERIA LIMITED – 1990 TO DATE

• DIRECTOR – PRIME ENERGY RESOURCES – MARGINAL FIELD (FARMEE) OPERATOR 2003 – TO DATE

• CHAIRMAN – ACHILLES INFORMATION NIGERIA LIMITED – 2005 TO DATE

• DIRECTOR – INTELS SERVICES – 2005 TO DATE

NAPIMS   Jan. 1988 – April, 1990    Group General Manager (As Pioneer Head of NAPIMS)

• Initiated, defended and completed strategic plans as directed by the NNPC for the reorganization of JV into NAPIMS.
• Review of JV operating agreements, concession, bidding and award procedures, prepared framework for the bidding and execution of the OSO Gas Project, attended all JV operating committee meetings and final budget meeting for programmes.
• Defended JV budget to NNPC management.
• Supervised JV partners to ensure further investment in property as strategy for management of resources.

General Manager, OSO Condensate Project

• For the first time, NNPC was appointed to manage the project of this magnitude with a JV partner as a non-operator to head the planning and implementation of the project of about $1,000,000,000 USD. Based on this foundation, the project was completed below the planned budget.
• Facilitated the discussion between Eleme Petrochemical plant and Gas supplier and assisted to negotiate a commercially attractive price for gas supply to the project

Joint Venture Division Oct. 1985 – Dec. 1987 General Manager (Pioneer GM of re-organised Joint Venture Division)

Eastern Zone Port Harcourt Feb. 1985 – Sept. 1985 Branch Manager

Elf, Texaco & NAOC

April 1984 – Feb. 1985

Deputy Manager (Joint Venture)

1982 – March 1984 – Deputy Manager (Head Geology Operations)

Jan. 1980 – Sept. 1982 – Chief Geologist (Operations)

Aug. 1976 – Dec. 1979 – Deputy Chief Geologist

In charge of all well site geological activities involving planning logistics, preparing well prognoses and well logging programmes and supervision of well site geologists/operations in NNOC/NNPC direct E & P drilling operations. 

July 1974 – July 1976  – Senior Geologist

Withdrawn to NNOC to commence work on NNOC wholly owned activities/operations and holding meetings on the newly acquired NNOC interest in the Joint Venture companies – NAOC, Elf, Ashland, etc.

Sept. 1973 – June 1974

• On loan to Ashland Oil as Exploration Geologist/Well site Pet. Engineer to start off their drilling operations in Ossu /Izombe Field Exploration.

Jan. 1973 – Aug. 1973

• On secondment to Nigerian Agip Oil Company as Exploration Geologist in PH District Office.

Nigerian National Oil Corporation

(July 1972) – Geologist

• Joined NNOC as pioneer staff on 1-7-72

Shell – BP

July 1971 – June 1972

Well site Petroleum Engineering Supervisor • Supervised two drilling and/or workover rig Petroleum Engineers in specific areas where the operations are non-routine such as casing liner-hangers, gravel-pack, gas/fluid lift operations, Eposand-Pack, etc. in addition to running own rig operations.

April 1969 – June 1971

Well site Petroleum Engineer • In charge of a drilling rig as the well site Petroleum Engineer, planning and executing operations relating to mud engineering, ordering of well chemicals, preparing casing programme and running same. Daily drilling progress reports, log interpretation and responsibility for all data acquired on the rig by the company and. reporting to the Operations Engineer in the Head Office .