During the just concluded Africa Construction Law Conference 2023, held in Lagos, Nigeria on the 5th and 6th of June 2023, Omonigho Oyoma Brown graced the stage as a Panelist during a session titled: “Mitigating the Adverse Effects of Currency Fluctuations, Inflation, Supply Chain Disruption, and Taxation on Construction Contracts & Projects in Africa”. At the session, she brought her over 15 years of multinational experience across Infrastructure, Construction, Oil and Gas, and Financial Services across Africa, contributed profoundly to the dialogue, addressing some of the pain points that affect businesses across the African continent, and made salient recommendations on how businesses can navigate turbulent times to get the desired outcomes.
The subject was particularly important in view of the volatile nature that the African business environment takes, where currency fluctuations, inflationary pressures, supply chain disruptions, and unpredictable tax regimes can undermine the success of even the most robust construction contracts, projects, or business. Speaking to an audience of seasoned professionals from across Africa including Project Managers, Engineers, Quantity Surveyors, Supply Chain Managers, Commercial Managers, Procurement Specialists, Contract Administrators, Financial Analysts and Business Lawyers, Omonigho shared insights into practical clauses, mechanisms, and strategies to mitigate these risks. She discussed how implementing tailored contract clauses, such as price adjustment formulas and force majeure provisions, could protect businesses from unforeseen financial losses. She also advised on financial hedging strategies, smart sourcing techniques, tax planning mechanisms, and collaborative contracting to ensure project stability and continuity, even in turbulent times.
Her contributions were underpinned by the rich blend of business acumen, commercial savviness, and legal prowess she built through a combination of vast multinational experience in overseeing critical projects of national importance from a project execution and performance perspective including construction of roads, bridges, buildings, manufacturing plants, financing and development of oil and gas asset; her advanced professional certifications in Lean Project Management, Commercial and Contract Management, Six Sigma, Scrum, and her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in law. The combination of these qualifications empowered her to give an integrated view on how to combine strategic business planning, project financing, and contract management in safeguarding infrastructure projects against adverse economic conditions.
Drawing from her vast experience in her current role as the Head of Contract Management in Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, and as Sub-Saharan Africa Senior Contracts Analyst and Legal Officer at the global Oil and Gas giant Schlumberger and Guaranty Trust Bank Plc respectively in the past, were priceless to help participants and businesses understand how to secure financing, adopt proactive procurement strategies that align with wider business objectives, and hedge against volatility risks. Her track record in contributing to the financing, acquisition, and development of oil and gas assets across multiple African countries and other infrastructure assets in Nigeria further highlighted her ability to navigate complex international business landscapes and mitigate risks effectively.
By sharing these strategies at the conference, Omonigho not only fortified businesses in the infrastructure and construction sectors but also contributed meaningfully to the economic development of Nigeria and African countries. Her insights offered a lifeline to companies looking to prevent revenue leakage, complete projects on time and within budget, and drive transformative improvements in performance. Her involvement also underscored her pivotal role in shaping the strategic direction of her current employer and aligning project execution with business goals to drive growth and sustainability across Africa’s infrastructure and construction industry.
Through her participation in such high-level discussions, Omonigho has continued to elevate Africa’s standing in the global business arena, helping to attract responsible foreign investments and create resilient, sustainable growth pathways for the continent’s infrastructure and construction industry.
