Tony Ojobo, a former telecommunications regulator with extensive experience in policy, regulation, and market development, has joined GreenPlinth Africa Limited as Chief Business Development Officer (CBDO), marking a strategic transition from telecommunications into climate change and climate finance.
Dr. Ojobo’s appointment signals GreenPlinth Africa’s intention to deepen its strategy, partnerships, and market-facing activities as climate action increasingly intersects with finance, regulation, and economic development across Africa.
From Telecoms Regulation to Climate Strategy
Dr. Ojobo spent years working within Nigeria’s telecommunications regulatory ecosystem, where he was involved in shaping policy frameworks, managing scarce national assets, and enabling market growth through regulation. He describes his move into climate as a continuation of systems thinking rather than a departure from his previous career path.
“After years working as a telecommunications regulator, driving policy, regulation, and market development, I have made an intentional transition into climate change and climate finance,” Dr. Ojobo said.
Drawing parallels between the two sectors, Dr. Ojobo noted that radio spectrum in telecommunications and carbon in the climate economy share similar characteristics: both are intangible, finite, measurable, and capable of unlocking economic value when properly governed.
“In telecoms, radio spectrum is an invisible, finite, and regulated asset, yet it drives enormous economic value. In the climate economy, carbon plays a similar role,” he explained.
According to Dr. Ojobo, this asset-driven and regulatory perspective shaped his work at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and now informs his approach to climate strategy.
Climate Change as an Economic and Development Issue
Dr. Ojobo emphasised that climate change has evolved beyond an environmental concern into a broader developmental, economic, and competitiveness challenge, particularly for African economies.
“Climate change is no longer only an environmental issue. It is a developmental, economic, and competitiveness challenge, especially for Africa,” he said.
He added that solving the problem requires solutions that are not only ambitious, but also practical, scalable, and finance-ready, capable of attracting investment and delivering measurable outcomes.
GreenPlinth Africa’s Focus
At GreenPlinth Africa, Dr. Ojobo will lead business development efforts across the company’s climate and sustainability initiatives, including clean cooking solutions, nature-based projects, carbon finance, and corporate decarbonisation strategies.
The company positions itself at the intersection of climate action and finance, with a focus on translating sustainability goals into bankable projects that deliver environmental and economic value.
Dr. Ojobo said GreenPlinth’s approach aligns with his belief that climate ambition must be backed by systems, governance, and measurable impact.
“At GreenPlinth Africa, we are translating climate ambition into measurable outcomes,” he said.
Applying Systems Thinking to a New Sector
Dr. Ojobo views his move as applying experience from one highly regulated, asset-driven sector to another that is rapidly shaping global development priorities.
“This transition is not a departure, but a continuation, applying experience from one regulated, asset-driven sector to another that is shaping the future of global development,” he noted.
As Africa positions itself within global climate finance flows and sustainability frameworks, industry observers say leadership that combines regulatory insight with market development experience could prove critical in turning climate commitments into investable opportunities.
