Our Leadership

Dr. Nnaemeka O. Ewelukwa | Managing Director/CEO

Dr. Nnaemeka Ewelukwa, brings over 25 years of legal, regulatory, and executive leadership experience to Africa’s power sector. A recognized thought leader in electricity law and policy, Dr. Ewelukwa has held pivotal roles in government and the private sector, including serving as Managing Director/CEO of the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading PLC (NBET). Under his leadership, NBET delivered critical reforms, negotiated landmark power contracts, and laid the groundwork for Nigeria’s transition to a competitive electricity market.

His expertise spans the full energy value chain—from power project development and contract structuring to regulatory reform and cross-border energy trading. He has deep knowledge of African energy markets, and a proven track record in complex energy transactions.

Expertise Summary

• LL.M, International Business Law, London School of Economics & Political Science.

• PhD in Privatization and Electricity Legal Reforms, University of London.

• Former Managing Director/CEO and Board Member, Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET).

• Former General Counsel & Company Secretary, NBET.

• Former Technical Adviser (Electricity Regulation & Transactions), Presidential Task Force on Power (PTFP), Federal Government of Nigeria.

• Course Instructor, Power Sector Regulation in Africa course, African School of Regulation.

• Co-author, Understanding Power Purchase Agreements, Understanding Power Project Financing, Understanding Power Project Procurement, and Understanding Energy Storage. (Click to download)

• Provided key policy and strategic advisory to the NBET Board of Directors, regulators, legislators, cabinet ministers and the Presidency on electricity market reforms in Nigeria.

• Negotiated the following PPAs:

  • 450Mw Azura- Edo gas-fired power plant, Edo State, Nigeria.

  • 40Mw Dadin Kowa hydroelectric power plant, Gombe State, Nigeria.

  • 726Mw Afam gas-fired power plant, Rivers State, Nigeria.

  • 50Mw Maiduguri dual fuel power plant, Borno State, Nigeria.

  • 141Mw Geometric Aba gas-fired power plant, Abia State, Nigeria.

  • 181Mw Ibom Power gas-fired power plant, Akwa Ibom, Nigeria.

  • 14 greenfield solar IPPs (cumulative capacity: 1.1GW), Nigeria

• Created the policy and contractual framework for the N32.7Billion Gas Supply Stabilization Fund (GSSF) for ensuring reliable gas supply to power plants in Nigeria.

• Negotiated the Put Call Option Agreement (PCOA) backstopping the Azura- Edo gas-fired power plant.

• Negotiated key transaction agreements for the $237Million World Bank Partial Risk Guarantee (PRG) for the Azura- Edo gas-fired power plant.

• Negotiated key transaction agreements for the US$111.8Million World Bank PRG for gas supply to the Calabar power generation plant.

• Negotiated key transaction agreements for US$2.6 Billion privatization of Generation Companies and power distribution companies in Nigeria.

• Negotiated the US$183million-dollar Security Trust Deed agreement for power purchase obligations under NBET’s PPAs with privatized Generation Companies.

• Negotiated NBET’s US$4.2billion-dollar Payment Assurance Facility from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for payment to Generation Companies.

• Negotiated NBET’s US$350Million loan agreement with the Debt Management Office (DMO) for capitalization support, and an Investment Management Agreement with the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) for management of the funds.

• Led NBET’s engagements with the World Bank on the $750M World Bank Power Sector Recovery Operations (PSRO) loan facility to Nigeria, the negotiation of key agreements underpinning the facility and the successful drawdown of the funds predicated on achieving the disbursement-linked targets.

• Successfully administered a US$2Billion annual electricity trading portfolio at NBET.

• Led Nigeria’s cross-border electricity trade engagements with Niger, Benin, and Togo, and represented Nigeria in engagements with the West African Power Pool (WAPP) and ECOWAS Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERERA) on the development of key governance documents.

• Led the development of a strategic cooperation agreement between NBET and the Turkish Energy Exchange, Enerji Piyasalari Isletmi A.S (EPIAS), on the establishment of an energy exchange in Nigeria.

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