Aipec Group is applying its trading and supply-chain expertise to industrial-scale mining, energy infrastructure, and strategic minerals in Nigeria.
Few companies reinvent themselves while preserving the commercial discipline that made them successful. Since 2015, Aipec Group has grown from an oil and gas trading business into a diversified resources company spanning energy infrastructure, industrial-scale mining and strategic minerals. Aipec has moved higher up the value chain, from trading commodities to developing assets that create long-term value within Africa. Co-founders Tayo Awogboroand Christopher Ibru launched Aipec through a joint venture with Swiss trading company Gunvor, establishing a presence in petroleum imports before completing a management buyout in 2019. International commodity markets built expertise in logistics, financing and global supply chains that would underpin its next chapter.
Foreign exchange volatility exposed the limitations of an import-dependent model. Aipec responded by moving into minerals, applying its expertise to exploration, production and infrastructure development. “We studied commodity markets and supply chains first, then committed capital to exploration,” says Awogboro. “The biggest transformation was moving from importing products to exporting value.”
Today, Aipec’s operations span gold mining in the South West, tin mining in the North and preparations for lead, zinc and silver production in eastern Nigeria. The company has focused on industrial- scale mining from the outset, embedding traceability, governance and responsible sourcing into its model. “We wanted to be ESG traceable from day one,” Awogboro says. “No shortcuts. Just scalable, responsible production.” That approach has earned recognition from international buyers. Aipec has completed responsible sourcing audits with global trading houses and finalized an offtake agreement with Glencore, reinforcing confidence in its standards. “We’re not just mining metals; we’re mining trust,” he says.
The company’s trading heritage remains a competitive advantage. Commercial networks, logistics expertise and buyer relationships developed in energy now support its minerals business, while Nigeria’s deep-water ports provide export advantages. Aipec’s ambitions extend beyond extraction. With access to natural gas resources and investments in energy infrastructure, the company is exploring mineral processing and smelting, seeking to capture more value within Africa rather than exporting raw materials.
As electrification, battery manufacturing and supply-chain security intensify demand for critical minerals, Aipec
is positioning itself as a producer of strategic metals and infrastructure owner connecting African resources with global buyers. It is a striking inversion:a company built on importing energy into Nigeria is increasingly focused on exporting value from it.
