On May 30, 2025, a new chapter in Africa’s infrastructure and construction journey began with the inaugural general meeting of the ConstructAfrica Industry Advisory Board (CIAB). This milestone event marked the formal launch of an initiative aimed at reshaping how the continent thinks about and delivers construction, infrastructure and industrial development.
I am honored to serve as the founding chair of this board and join a diverse and talented group of executives representing the full spectrum of the construction and infrastructure ecosystem across Africa.
CIAB is comprised of accomplished individuals with deep expertise and leadership roles across education, professional trade associations, construction and engineering practices, development finance institutions, commercial and investment banking, private equity, and public service institutions. The diversity of experience across our board members is one of our strongest assets. Together, we represent the voice and vision of an industry undergoing transformation.
The inaugural meeting was an opportunity to formally set the agenda and clarify the Board’s mission, objectives and priority actions for the next 12 months. The Terms of Reference (ToR) have been thoroughly reviewed and formally adopted with minor suggestions to ensure clarity, consistency and accountability. With this foundational document in place, the Board unanimously agreed on a series of high-impact programs to be launched immediately as part of the 2025/26 Action Plan.
One of the most exciting outcomes of our first meeting was the approval of several major initiatives. These will form the basis of CIAB’s activities over the next 12 months and beyond.
African Construction Industry Leaders 100 Ambassadors Program: A network of influential African leaders who serve as ambassadors for innovation, excellence, capacity building and knowledge sharing. “Build a Better Africa” (BBA) Webinar/Podcast Series: A platform that brings together African and global experts to illuminate strategic topics and accelerate knowledge dissemination. The annual ConstructAfrica Summit and Continental Awards: A future hosting moment to celebrate excellence and align stakeholders on investment opportunities.
It was equally clear from the Board’s deliberations that CIAB must continue to evolve. A notable decision taken during the meeting was to expand the membership of the Advisory Board to include experts from key areas of expertise not yet formally represented, particularly construction law, insurance, technical and risk advisory services.
The Board resolved to actively engage with academic institutions, bilateral and multilateral development partners, regional economic communities, and think tanks. This outreach helps ensure that CIAB’s work is grounded in evidence-based research, supported by global best practices, and ultimately impactful in driving meaningful change across the continent.
As Chair of the CIAB, I am committed to keeping our focus on results. CIAB is not a talk shop. It is a platform for cross-sector engagement with a clear mission to enable the movement to “Build a Better Africa” through concrete action, strategic cooperation and tangible results.
Each board member expressed a strong desire to contribute to CIAB’s success and support ConstructAfrica’s goal of becoming a central hub for infrastructure information, policy insight, and investment promotion in Africa. Over the coming weeks, members will have their profiles published on the ConstructAfrica platform, showcasing how their expertise can contribute to achieving the mission.
Since CIAB’s formal launch, I have been encouraged by the numerous expressions of interest from individuals and institutions who share our vision. For anyone who believes in the power of African-led development, please contact the Construct Africa team at hello@constructafrica.com.
Africa stands at a pivotal moment. With a young population, expanding urban infrastructure and a growing appetite for infrastructure-led development, the time has come to unleash the full potential of the construction and infrastructure sector. Through CIAB’s work, we believe we can build not just buildings and bridges, but stronger foundations for inclusive prosperity and resilience.
Dr Nelson Ogunshakin Fullen, OBE, is a skilled and dynamic business executive, visionary business leader and strategic negotiator with over 35 years of global experience as an expert in infrastructure investment planning, finance, procurement, delivery and asset management. As Chairman of the Construct Africa Industry Advisory Board, he provides strategic leadership and guidance to advance construction intelligence across the African continent.
He is the Founder and Chairman of AEO Group, a specialist boutique organization specializing in delivering and advising on infrastructure investments, and was appointed by the Department for Transport in 2023 to the Board of High Speed 2 (HS2) Limited, a new rail transport investment between London and Birmingham with an estimated cost of £55 billion. He has chaired the investment committee of the ARM-Harith Infrastructure Investment $250 million fund (PE) since 2015, overseeing the implementation of a number of sustainable power generation and transportation investment projects in West Africa.
He was the immediate past Chief Executive Officer of the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC), where he had overall corporate responsibility for FIDIC’s global operations from July 2018 to September 2024. He was also Chairman and Chief Executive of the British Association of Consultants and Engineering (ACE) from 2004 to 2018.
Top photo: Construction of the Temane power project in Mozambique (Source: Globeleq)
