LAGOS, Nigeria — Sahara has appointed Chidilim Menakaya as Managing Director, giving her responsibility for leading the energy and infrastructure group into the next phase of its growth strategy under its Beyond XXX vision.

The appointment marks a significant leadership transition for the company as it seeks to strengthen innovation, sustainability, stakeholder value and long-term growth across its markets.

Menakaya brings more than two decades of experience in transformation, strategy and organisational leadership, with professional exposure spanning Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

Before becoming Managing Director, she served as Director of the Sahara Foundation, where she was responsible for advancing the group’s sustainability and social-impact agenda.

During her tenure, the Foundation expanded the reach of Sahara’s EXTRApreneurship initiative, strengthened partnerships with strategic stakeholders and increased its socio-economic impact in communities across the company’s operating locations.

Her experience in sustainability and social impact is expected to complement Sahara’s broader business strategy as the company seeks to integrate commercial growth with innovation and responsible value creation.

Menakaya is also recognised for her collaborative approach to leadership, strategic planning and organisational transformation. Her career has focused on developing high-performing teams, building institutional capabilities and translating strategy into measurable outcomes.

Sahara links appointment to Beyond XXX strategy

Commenting on the appointment, Ade Odunsi, Executive Director, Sahara, said the decision reflected the group’s confidence in purposeful leadership and its commitment to developing leadership capacity from within the organisation.

“For over three decades now, we have remained committed to our vision of bringing energy to life responsibly. Beyond XXX represents our commitment to shaping the future through bold thinking, innovation, sustainability, and shared value creation,” Odunsi said.

He added that Menakaya’s appointment was aligned with those ambitions and expressed confidence that she would help Sahara expand its impact and create sustainable value for stakeholders across its markets.

According to Odunsi, the leadership change also demonstrates Sahara’s determination to build a resilient and future-focused enterprise capable of responding to an increasingly complex global business environment.

Menakaya to lead growth and global expansion agenda

As Managing Director, Menakaya will provide strategic leadership for the implementation of Sahara’s Beyond XXX agenda.

Her responsibilities will include strengthening stakeholder value, supporting innovation and sustainability initiatives, and positioning the group for continued growth and greater global relevance.

The appointment comes as energy companies worldwide face a rapidly changing operating environment shaped by the energy transition, technological innovation, changing capital requirements and growing expectations around environmental and social impact.

For Sahara, the Beyond XXX strategy provides a framework for extending its business ambitions beyond its traditional energy focus while maintaining its commitment to responsible energy development and shared value creation.

Menakaya’s previous role at the Sahara Foundation gives her experience at the intersection of business, sustainability and community development, areas that are increasingly important to companies operating across emerging markets.

Global executive experience

Menakaya holds executive and professional qualifications from leading international institutions, including London Business School, INSEAD and Manchester Business School.

She is also a certified Human Resources Business Partner, Transformation and Reputation Manager, as well as a Prosci-certified Change Management Practitioner.

Her appointment positions her at the centre of Sahara’s next phase as the company seeks to combine operational growth with organisational transformation, sustainability and broader stakeholder impact.

The group said the leadership change is intended to reinforce its long-term ambition of building a resilient, innovative and globally relevant enterprise.

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