Adebayo Ogunlesi on institutional allocation
From The Nigerian Who Bought Gatwick Airport, London. Adebayo Ogunlesi · · 67CEOs Foundation
“You talk to most institutions, they'll either tell you that infrastructure is their number one asset class. I think they're either infrastructure or private credit — those are the top two.”
On , Adebayo Ogunlesi, Founding Partner, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Global Infrastructure Partners, Senior MD and Director at BlackRock, spoke about institutional allocation during The Nigerian Who Bought Gatwick Airport, London. Adebayo Ogunlesi on 67CEOs Foundation.
About Adebayo Ogunlesi
In October 2025, Ogunlesi met with Nigerian President Bola Tinubu in Abuja, where he praised the administration’s economic reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies, tax reform, and the operation of a refinery exporting aviation fuel. He described Nigeria as “now a place that is exciting to invest in” and stated that his firm is exploring additional investment opportunities in the country, though he declined to specify them. Ogunlesi noted that Global Infrastructure Partners invests in energy, including LNG plants in Texas and Australia, and expressed interest in Nigeria’s gas sector, aviation, ports, and renewables. He remarked that his company operates ports in Cotonou and Lome but none in Nigeria, and said Tinubu encouraged him to bring port investment to the country. Ogunlesi stated that “when Nigerians in Nigeria and when Nigerians in the diaspora invest in Nigeria, it can only be a great signal for the international community to invest in us.” In a separate appearance in November 2025, Ogunlesi discussed the broader infrastructure investment landscape, describing infrastructure as an attractive asset class that provides steady yield, capital appreciation, and inflation protection. He cited the American Society of Civil Engineers’ infrastructure report card for the U.S., noting that the highest grade was a B-minus, and argued that demand for infrastructure investment is driven by digitization, energy transition, and the need for basic refurbishment. He stated that many institutions view infrastructure or private credit as their top asset class, and that the key is creating investable opportunities.