Behind the cool mien of the picture on this page, is an epitome of transformational leadership. Transformational in the sense that this persona has become one of the rising stars in the continent of Africa, creating positive changes in the socio-economic dynamics of their various countries. H.E. Gabriel Mbaga Obiang Lima, the Minister Delegate of Equatorial Guinea’s ministry of mines, industry and energy, has displayed incisive leadership in no small measure. Minister Lima, a charismatic apostle of change has shown in diverse ways that he believes in free market economy and adequate government intervention where necessary. He is harmoniously operating with his senior minister, H.E.   Marcelino Owono Edu and their team to steam up economic revolution in Equatorial Guinea, by positioning the oil and gas sector of the country to be stronger and able to yield more resources.

 Lima’s leaning towards participative and democratic style of leadership is so apparent in his words and attachment to team efforts. We had sent a letter of invitation to H.E. Excellency Gabriel Lima to be a Special Guest of Honor and Keynote Speaker in the upcoming 5^th Annual Sub-Saharan Africa Oil & Gas conference scheduled for 26^th April – 27^th April, 2012 in Houston. With a follow-up telephone call to confirm whether he will or not accept our invitation, the Minister’s succinct and engaging response was, “I have discussed your request with my team and we agreed that I will accept your invitation.”

 Gabriel Lima is very eclectic and draws knowledge beyond the realm of his Western degree in Economics which he obtained in United States. The young leader attended various leadership and management trainings. He is a frequent speaker in oil; gas and leadership forums globally with major focus on Africa and have developed panache for regional economic development especially for underdeveloped economies. In his visionary approach, Lima sees the future of Equatorial Guinea beyond oil and gas in which his country is the third largest producer in Sub-Saharan Africa (Gulf of Guinea), following Nigeria and Angola. As a member of the economic transformation team of Equatorial, and Chief Sales Officer of his ministry, Obiang Lima envisages an Equatorial Guinea where services will become a heavy revenue earner for the country.

 Imbued with  a savvier understanding that oil reserves of his country have the tendency to decline in the future, our personality of this season, working assiduously with the Equatorial Guinea economic team have commenced the process of diversifying the nation’s economic base and building commercial relationships and partnerships with countries and companies. To meet up the earnest challenges, Equatorial Guinea is investing heavily on infrastructure and training of her workforce. Lima professes a great anathema for the low ebb of involvement of Equatoguineans in running the oil and gas business which contributes about 87% of the national revenue. . His strategy goal is to encourage training and skill acquisition that would enable Equatoguineans to participate alongside international companies in the oil, gas and the emerging mining sector.

 The epiphany of this strategy would manifest in the national content policy of the country which is still in cradle and hopefully will come on stream very soon.  The outcome would cause more participation of the local people in oil, gas and mining business, partnership between local vendors and foreign operators, more employment opportunities, internal generation of wealth, improved standard of living, economic growth and peaceful smiles on the people of Equatorial Guinea.

 The same passion of seeing his nation walk away from monolithic poverty through economic reforms, creating structures and cultures that will propel Equatorial Guinea to become a hallmark of economic success and political stability in Africa, Lima also shares the same ardor for all countries in Africa.  The Minister Delegate, could not hold back his fervor to have Africa roll out of the conundrum of economic backwardness, when he took time during the Africa Energy Week in Ghana this September, to commend the government of Ghana for embarking on a colossal development of her human capital  before  starting the exploitation of  oil and gas. He went further to counsel Ghana to cautiously handle development of its oil and gas sector and admonished that rushing the process may gravitate the budding industry into chaos and instability.

 Lima in high optimism reveals in the future of his country becoming a gas and petrochemical hub in the Gulf of Guinea. He looks forward to Equatorial Guinea that will become the “Singapore of Africa” – a hub through which gas, crude oil and petrochemical products will be distributed to her neighboring countries.

The Delegate Minister of Mines, Industry
and Energy, Gabriel Mbega Obiang Lima.

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