On June 26, 2025, The African Catalyst convened another enriching edition of its flagship digital learning series, InfraWebinar 2.0, bringing together stakeholders from across the infrastructure ecosystem to engage in a focused conversation on engineering delivery in African transportation projects. Themed “Engineering Excellence in Transportation Projects: A Case Study of AEC Group,” the session served as both a platform for knowledge exchange and a corporate spotlight on AEC Group—one of Nigeria’s most prominent engineering and infrastructure services firms.

The session opened with warm remarks from Chisom Osunwa, who served as the host and moderator. In his introduction, he noted that infrastructure is more than physical structures—it is the connective tissue of economies, a key driver of development, and a reflection of technical capacity and social intent. The Founder & Project Director of The African Catalyst, Mr. Femi  Awofala, followed with a welcome address that emphasised the need for greater attention to the engineering dimensions of infrastructure delivery, which are often overshadowed by the finance-heavy narratives in the development space.

A key feature of the webinar was a curated video presentation from AEC Group, which showcased the firm’s portfolio and methodology, highlighting its footprint across highways, rail projects, and urban mobility systems in Nigeria. This set the stage for a robust and multidimensional panel discussion featuring senior AEC executives and engineers.

The panel included:

• Engr. Bolaji Atoloye, General Manager
• Engr. Oladunni Afolabi, Director of Infrastructure
• Engr. Olatinwo Tomilola, Director of Corporate Planning and Investments
• Engr. Duyile Adeyemi, General Manager, Spoak Nigeria Ltd.

Together, they unpacked ten key themes related to engineering excellence, including the importance of feasibility studies, technical innovation, risk management, regulatory navigation, sustainability, and future preparedness. One of the recurring insights was that engineering excellence in the African context must go beyond technical compliance—it must be adaptive, inclusive, and forward-looking. AEC’s experts spoke candidly about the challenges of data quality, institutional complexity, political interference, and funding gaps. Yet, they also shared how their firm has developed resilient systems to overcome these barriers through rigorous planning, stakeholder engagement, and investment in people and technology.

A particularly impactful moment in the discussion came when AEC representatives described how the firm incorporates sustainability at three levels—environmental, social, and economic. By utilising recyclable materials and low-emission construction techniques, as well as integrating local communities into the project lifecycle, AEC has demonstrated how engineering can serve as a force for both infrastructure and inclusion.

As the conversation drew to a close, the panelists reflected on the future of African transport systems, highlighting the firm’s efforts in integrating EV charging stations, solar-powered smart traffic systems, and autonomous design considerations into their current project pipeline. Through continuous training, international partnerships, and internal innovation hubs, AEC is actively preparing its teams to respond to the demands of a rapidly evolving mobility landscape.

In his closing remarks, Engr. Oladunni Afolabi reiterated AEC’s commitment to combining global standards with local realities, emphasising the firm’s investments in research, capacity building, and technology transfer. He affirmed AEC’s belief that engineering should be a tool for unlocking Africa’s human and economic potential, not just a means of physical construction.

Chisom closed the session by thanking the panellists and audience for participating in what he described as “a conversation that reminds us that engineering is not just technical work—it is nation building.” He also introduced participants to The African Catalyst’s DFIP (Developing and Financing Infrastructure Projects) program, encouraging aspiring infrapreneurs to learn more about how infrastructure projects can move from concept to bankability.

InfraWebinar 2.0 reaffirmed The African Catalyst’s mission: to convene, educate, and inspire the next generation of infrastructure leaders on the continent. It also demonstrated that engineering excellence is not a distant ideal—it is happening here, and it is being led by African firms ready to shape the future.