Driving Africa’s Growth Through Infrastructure
Rachel Moré-Oshodi is shaping Africa’s future with massive infrastructure projects. She is the CEO of ARM-Harith Infrastructure Investments. Under her leadership, the company has managed more than 7 billion dollars in projects across energy, transport, and digital sectors.
Her work includes building power plants, expanding road networks, and improving broadband connections. She believes infrastructure is the foundation of economic growth and social progress. “Infrastructure shapes everything,” Moré-Oshodi says. “Who better to help shape it than the people most impacted by its failures?”
From Global Experience to Local Impact
Moré-Oshodi’s vision for Africa was shaped by her early life. She grew up between Europe and Nigeria. In Europe, she saw reliable electricity, running water, and well-funded schools. In Nigeria, she saw communities struggling with power outages, poor roads, and limited access to clean water.
“It created a kind of guilt in me,” she explained. “I saw what I had and what others didn’t. And I couldn’t unsee it.” This awareness guided her career choices. Before returning to Nigeria in 2012, she worked at the Inter-American Development Bank and the International Finance Corporation. Those experiences taught her how well-planned capital investments can change lives.
Building Landmark Energy Projects
One of Moré-Oshodi’s biggest achievements is the Azura-Edo Independent Power Project. It is Nigeria’s first privately financed power plant after sector reforms. The 450-megawatt facility took eight years to complete.
“We had to align Nigerian regulators, local pension funds, and financiers from Sweden, the UK, France, and Germany,” she said. “We had to align all of that to get the deal across the line.” This project now provides electricity to millions and stands as a model for future public-private partnerships in Africa.
Changing How African Pension Funds Invest
Moré-Oshodi has also transformed how pension funds in Africa view infrastructure investments. In the past, many funds avoided these projects because they take years to pay off. She developed new financial models that allow them to earn returns even during the construction phase.
“The idea was simple: give pension funds a way to earn returns during the construction phase, not just years later,” she explained. This approach has unlocked new funding sources for roads, power plants, and broadband expansion.
Leading as a Woman in a Male-Dominated Industry
Moré-Oshodi knows the challenges of leading in sectors like energy and infrastructure, where women remain underrepresented. “Cement. Steel. Finance. These are industries where women are more often absent than represented,” she said. “The question isn’t whether African women deserve to be at the table. The question is why we’re still asking that.”
Her leadership has earned recognition from Forbes Africa, GQ South Africa, and Fast Company. Yet, her focus remains on delivering projects that improve lives. She continues to push for solutions that combine local insight with global innovation.
