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AfDB and partners’ innovative Room2Run securitization will be a model for global lenders

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Room2Run, the African Development Bank, AfDB and partners’ innovative US $1 billion synthetic securitization of a portfolio of seasoned African Development Bank private sector loans, will serve as a model for other lenders, help reduce costs, and shorten execution time, finance experts told participants at a workshop on Saturday.

The landmark securitization instrument, a first for any multilateral development bank, has been described by investors as a “strong market fit.” The instrument offers other multilateral development banks and investors a roadmap for innovative financing and new ways to explore the release of much-needed capital to impact financing and catalyze private capital in developing markets.

“This is particulat, asrly importan it opens the door for significant scale in the future, both in Africa and in other continents where your institutions are present and financing development projects,” said Swazi Tshabalala, the Bank’s Vice President of Finance.

About 70 participants from the international finance community – investors, bankers and other financial institutions, attended the workshop entitled “A Look at Optimizing MDB Balance Sheets Through Securitization, “organized by the African Development Bank and the Mariner Investment Group, LLC (Mariner), a key investor in the deal. The participants heard presentations on the structure of the securitization, challenges and lessons learned, followed by a question and answer session.

The workshop took place on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank annual meetings and the 2018 Global Infrastructure Forum in the Indonesian island of Bali. The AfDB’s Chief Risk Officer Tim Turner said the meeting was convened in response to massive interest from sister development institutions following the announcement of Room2Run in September, 2018.

The Bank, the European Commission, Mariner Investment Group, LLC (Mariner), Africa50, and Mizuho International plc announced the pricing of Room2Run on 18 September in Ottawa, Canada – the first-ever portfolio synthetic securitization between a Multilateral Development Bank (MDB) and private sector investors, pioneering the use of securitization and credit risk transfer technology to a new and previously unexplored segment of the financial markets.

Tshabalala said Room2Run was timely in the light of new regulations in banking that would see more traditional commercial bank lenders scaling back some of their activities in the project finance and trade finance markets. “These regulations will make investments in regions such as Africa more expensive and capital intensive, and this is why we have to find new avenues to crowd-in non-traditional sources of funding, ” Tshabalala said.

Describing Room2Run as the “crown jewel of our impact activity, Andrew Hohns, Lead Portfolio Manager of the IIFC Strategy, Mariner Investment Group, said that there is a common misconception about the performance of MDB’s loans as unattractive; but the risk perceptions were often unbalanced”, he said.

“These assets have performer pretty well,” Hohns, said, giving reasons for Mariner’s global involvement with impact financing – nearly US$14 billion of infrastructure assets covering 1,250 projects world-wide. Hohns said the investor’s decision to partner with the Bank rested on its strong track record. The Bank is by far the most positioned of institutions on the continent to offer this kind of securitization, he said and synthetic securitization deals such as Room2Run were a “strong market fit.”

“The level of interest in taking exposure to the assets within the MDB’s is high,” Hohns said.

Kay Parplies, Head of Unit Investment & Innovative Financing, European Commission, said Room2Run was “catalytic” and hoped its involvement would attract other private investors and rating agencies to refine their approaches to African assets. Parplies said our experience over two decades had shown many in the investor community that actual risks (in African investments) were often lower than the perceived risks.

Other presenters at the workshop included Juan-Carlos Martorell Co-Head of Structured Products Solutions, Mizuho International and Nicole Giles Director General, International Finance and Development, Finance Canada.

Room2Run Roadmap to be shared with MDB’s

Turner said the Bank would soon publish a detailed journey of the Room2Run initiative, including all the documentation involved in its set up, to encourage other MDB’s to consider adopting synthetic securitization models to free up capital and create new pathways for institutional investors to support development. The document would be a “technical manual” to help others lower the cost and shorten the time to develop similar transactions.

“There is no need for our development partners to redo what we did. This is a knowledge sharing session of learnings from the school of hard knocks,” Turner said.

By creating new pathways between those with savings and those needing capital for development projects, Room 2Run would generate excitement within investment spaces normally far removed from development financing.

“Imagine a pensioner in Toronto knowing that his retirement investments are financing a power plant that was giving electricity to a family in Yopougon (Cote d’Ivoire). It’s a win-win.”, Turner said.

Structured as an impact investment, Room2Run is designed to enable the African Development Bank to increase lending in support of its mission to spur sustainable economic development and social progress.

Synthetic securitization and other similar models are intended to bring together public and private capital to finance development.

“MDB’s need to look at more than the financial return,” Bank Director of Syndication & Co-Financing, African Development Olivier Weck said, adding that the Bank had itself invested time to educate its board about the deal. “We needed to demonstrate additionality and the development outcome,” Eweck said.

Room2Run, positions the Bank as an innovative leader in providing lending in pursuit of the global development agenda, which prioritizes its own High 5’s and the Sustainable Development Goals. Freed-up capital will be directed toward renewable energy projects in Sub-Saharan Africa, including projects in low income and fragile countries.

“The Bank is treating this (Room2Run) as a pilot project,” Hohns said. “Mariner is very much interested in doing more.”

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Oyo: Oseni Celebrates Dotun Sanusi, Lauds Contributions to Society

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate for Oyo South and Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Hon. Aderemi Oseni, has congratulated Ibadan-born businessman and philanthropist, Chief Jubril Dotun Sanusi, on his 58th birthday, commending his contributions to enterprise, youth development and community advancement.

In a birthday message issued on Friday by his media aide, Idowu Ayodele, Oseni described the occasion as an opportunity to reflect on Sanusi’s entrepreneurial journey and commitment to using personal achievements to advance the common good. He wished the celebrant good health, renewed strength and greater accomplishments in the years ahead.

Oseni noted that Sanusi’s transition from petroleum engineering to business and investments across various sectors demonstrated the value of vision, perseverance and strategic thinking. He said the businessman’s career reflected how identifying opportunities beyond conventional professional boundaries could drive business success, stimulate economic growth and create opportunities for others.

The APC chieftain particularly commended Sanusi’s investments in hospitality, agriculture, education and sports, including Ilaji Hotels and Sports Resort, Ilaji Farms and the International College of Arts, Science and Technology (ICAST). He noted that such investments could stimulate economic activities, generate employment and support community development, particularly by providing young people with opportunities to acquire skills and pursue productive ventures.

According to Oseni, the significance of entrepreneurial success extends beyond the businesses established and wealth accumulated to the opportunities created and lives positively impacted. He said Sanusi’s investments and initiatives demonstrated the importance of private enterprise in supporting economic development and improving livelihoods.

“Chief Dotun Sanusi’s birthday provides an opportunity to celebrate the value of enterprise and the importance of investing in people. Businesses become more meaningful when they create jobs, support education and open doors for others to fulfil their potential. These are important contributions to society, and I wish him continued success in his endeavours,” he said.

The lawmaker also acknowledged Sanusi’s philanthropic engagements and commitment to youth development, stressing that sustainable progress required deliberate investment in education, skills acquisition and initiatives that promoted self-reliance.

He added that government alone could not meet every developmental need, making responsible private-sector participation and community-focused interventions essential to improving livelihoods.

Oseni further recognised Sanusi’s involvement in Ibadan’s traditional institution and his connection to Yoruba cultural heritage. He stressed the importance of preserving indigenous traditions and values, noting that cultural influence was more meaningful when accompanied by service, peaceful coexistence and a commitment to the welfare of the people. He also urged young Nigerians to draw inspiration from Sanusi’s journey by embracing hard work, discipline, continuous learning and patience in pursuing their ambitions.

The lawmaker prayed for God’s continued protection over Sanusi and his family, wishing him many more years of good health, wisdom and fulfilment. He expressed the hope that the businessman would continue to expand his investments, support initiatives that improve lives and contribute to the economic and social development of Ibadan, Oyo State and Nigeria.

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‘Senators Are Not Governors, Council Chairmen’ – Oseni Explains Legislative Responsibilities

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Oyo South Senatorial District, Hon. Aderemi Oseni, has called on Nigerians to elect competent and accountable lawmakers, urging voters to understand the constitutional responsibilities of senators ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Oseni warned that misconceptions about the role of senators could undermine effective political representation, particularly when lawmakers are judged primarily by their ability to provide infrastructure, tackle poverty or distribute money to constituents rather than their performance in lawmaking, oversight and representation.

He spoke on Thursday at a political conference organised by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ido Local Government Chapter, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The conference, themed “The Importance of Senatorial Governance and Representation in a Federal Democratic System,” brought together Christian leaders, political stakeholders, professionals, traditional rulers, youths and women to discuss the role of the Senate in Nigeria’s democratic development.

Oseni, who represents Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, identified three major challenges confronting senatorial representation: the election of unsuitable candidates, the failure of some elected senators to discharge their responsibilities effectively, and widespread misconceptions about the office.

He said these challenges underscored the need for greater public awareness of the constitutional duties of senators.
The Chairman of the House Committee on the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) cautioned against holding senators solely responsible for youth unemployment, poverty, inadequate infrastructure and other development challenges without considering the respective responsibilities of the federal, state and local governments.

He also faulted the expectation that senators should routinely return from Abuja with large sums of money to distribute among their constituents.

“A senator is neither the Chief Executive of a senatorial district nor a replacement for the Governor or Local Government Chairman,” Oseni said.

He explained that the primary responsibilities of senators included making laws, conducting legislative oversight, representing their constituents’ interests and advocating policies, projects and programmes capable of improving their welfare.

According to him, effective representation goes beyond occupying a seat in the National Assembly, as senators are expected to serve as a link between their constituents and the Federal Government.

He added that their responsibilities included influencing national policies, advocating development projects, facilitating access to legitimate federal programmes and ensuring that the concerns of their constituencies received adequate attention in national decision-making.

“A senator is the people’s voice at the federal level,” he said, stressing that effective representation required ensuring that constituents’ concerns were heard and considered in decisions affecting the country.

Oseni described the Senate as a critical institution in Nigeria’s federal democratic system, given its responsibilities for lawmaking, accountability and national development. He noted that the choice of a senator had implications not only for the immediate interests of a constituency but also for the country’s broader political and developmental direction.

He said the CAN conference provided an opportunity to promote informed political participation, correct misconceptions about legislative responsibilities and encourage voters in Oyo South to make informed choices ahead of the 2027 elections.

The APC chieftain urged voters to assess senatorial candidates based on their understanding of the legislative process, commitment to constituency representation, ability to scrutinise government policies and willingness to hold public institutions accountable.

He maintained that a better understanding of the Senate’s constitutional responsibilities would enable voters to set realistic expectations, demand accountability and evaluate their elected representatives more effectively.

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‎Oyo South: Sheikh Olafimihan Hails Oseni for N10m Inyass House Donation

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The APC Senatorial Candidate for Oyo South, Hon. Aderemi Oseni

‎Fadilat Sheikh Abdul Rasheed Olafimihan, the Balogun Faiydah of Yoruba Land, has commended  the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Oyo South Senatorial District, Hon. Aderemi Oseni, for donating N10m towards the development of Sheikh Ibrahim Inyass House in Modinat Elekuro, Ibadan.

‎Olafimihan, who organised a programme at the religious centre on Tuesday, said the donation was appreciated by the Inyass Unity Organisation, which is affiliated with Zumuratul Faiydah Tijaniyah Ibrahimiyyah of Nigeria.

Oseni, who represents the Ido/Ibarapa East Federal Constituency and chairs the House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), attended the event, where he made the donation towards the development of the facility.

In a letter of appreciation dated October 13, 2026, the organisation thanked the lawmaker for his presence and financial support.

The letter partly read, “On behalf of the Inyass Unity Organization affiliated with Zumuratul Faiydah Tijaniyah Ibrahimiyyah of Nigeria, we sincerely appreciate your presence and generous donation at the event held at Sheikh Ibrahim Inyass House, Modinat Elekuro, Ibadan, on October 13, 2026.”

The organisation specifically acknowledged the N10m contribution, stating that the money was donated towards the development of the religious centre.

“We are deeply grateful for your donation of N10,000,000.00 (Ten Million Naira Only) towards the development of Sheikh Ibrahim Inyass House,” the letter added.

‎Olafimihan also offered prayers for the lawmaker, asking Allah to reward him for his contribution and grant him success in his public service.

‎“May Almighty Allah (SWT) reward you abundantly and grant you success in your service to humanity,” the letter stated.

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