Tonye P. Cole

Tonye P. Cole is the co-founder and executive director of the Sahara Group. An architecture alumni of the University of Lagos and Harvard Business School's Advanced Management Program (AMP186), Tonye Cole, together with his partners has grown the company, founded in 1996, from a single entity to a group made up of 10 companies across the energy value chain with presence in 8 countries on 3 continents employing 3,200 people and an annual turnover of over $12bn.

Tonye is also an active member of the World Economic Forum's Global Advisory Council for Energy and in recognition of the role his company has played in shaping the Indigenous play in the energy sector in Africa, was appointed to the UN's Sustainable Development Fund (SDG-F) private sector advisory group. He holds several key board position such as Chairman Greater Port Harcourt Development Authority, independent director, AtlasMara, Bloomberg TV Africa, Nigeria Shippers Council and Digital Jewels.

His passion for youth development and giving back to the less privileged led to the establishment of his foundation, the Nehemiah Youth Empowerment Initiative through which he regularly supports other foundations like the Down Syndrome Society, Slum2School Foundation, Bethesda School for the Blind, as well serving on the advisory boards of various youth focused charities such Africa 2.0, Sapinda Rainbow Foundation.

A motivational speaker, ordained minister, entrepreneur and firm believer in Africa's inherent greatness, he has travelled vastly delivering numerous papers to the continents youth. He is a regular columnist for Thisday Style and the author of Morning Reflections, an inspirational devotional.

He is married to Dr. Sylvia Cole with whom they have three children.