A river cuts through rock, not because of its power, but because of its persistence
Adesuwa Rhodes is changing the face of investing and entrepreneurship in Africa one investment at a time
Adesuwa is a leading investment professional and CEO with over 14 years of experience in investment banking and private equity in developed and emerging markets across a number of sectors including healthcare, financial services, technology and consumer goods. Adesuwa is an entrepreneur, CEO, mother, investor and women’s empowerment advocate. She is one of the youngest female private equity fund managers running her own fund in Africa, having launched her fund at 29 years old. She is the Founder and Managing Partner of Aruwa Capital Management, one of the few women owned and led private equity funds in Africa investing into untapped investment opportunities in West Africa in the small to lower mid-market. Adesuwa is focused on using Aruwa Capital Management’s investments as a case study to make the business case to invest in women as fund managers, entrepreneurs, consumers and stakeholders in society. Adesuwa is a mission driven pioneer on a mission to unlock the power of private capital as a catalyst for change in her environment.
Learn More"I am on a mission to unlock the untapped potential of women as capital allocators, consumers, founders, board members, suppliers and across all levels of society, to unlock enhanced financial returns and positive social impact."
~ Adesuwa Rhodes
I had the privilege of being featured in the 13th Inspiring Women Series hosted by Kemi Ajumobi, Editor, BusinessDay. The event was a platform dedicated to spotlighting trailblazing women making remarkable strides in their industries. Recognised for Aruwa Capital’s pioneering work in gender lens investing, I shared the stage with fellow panelists committed to driving sustainable impact across Africa- Kari Tukur, Regional Vice President, Customer Solutions Mastercard Dr. Odiri Oginni, MD/CEO United Capital Ayodele Olejede, Divisional Head, Retail and SME, Wema Bank and moderated by Linda Uneze, Cofounder Maurice Xandra Solutions.
I had the pleasure of joining a fireside chat at the Gender Bonds Toolkit Dissemination Event in Lagos, hosted by FSD Africa. The discussion focused on how gender bonds can unlock capital for women-focused investments and drive financial inclusion across Africa. Moderated by Kate Perkins (BII), I was joined by Ojuru Adeniji, VP Origination & Structuring InfraCredit and Marlene Muller, innovation Manager Symbiotics. As gender bonds gain momentum, Aruwa Capital remains at the forefront, shaping the future of inclusive finance and expanding capital flows to women-led businesses
I was delighted to attend the Transitioning to Tech Demo Day, hosted by Africa Startup Factory, which has trained over 4,000 women in tech skills. I joined industry leaders from the United Nations, The World Bank, and Jobberman Nigeria to share insights with these talented women breaking barriers in tech. A highlight was receiving the Outstanding Women in Tech Award (OWITA), a recognition that reinforces Aruwa Capital’s commitment to driving gender inclusion in technology and high-growth industries.
It was an honour to attend the Women Allying Women event, hosted by the Queen Consort of Warri Kingdom, Olori Atuwatse III. This exclusive gathering, part of the Elevate Africa initiative, brought together inspiring Nigerian women leaders, creating a platform to share ideas, values, and experiences that drive impactful change. It was a privilege to engage in meaningful conversations with like-minded women committed to shaping a more inclusive and empowered future.
I had the privilege of participating in the Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) Focused Dialogue Session at the Africa Investment Forum 2024 in Rabat, Morocco. It was an insightful discussion alongside Dipuo Phakathi, CEO of Denic Cabinets, Wendy Teleki, Head of We-Fi Secretariat at The World Bank, and expertly moderated by Eleni Giokos, News Anchor and Correspondent at CNN. We explored strategies to bridge the gender financing gap, amplify women-led success stories, and unlock opportunities for women to drive Africa’s next wave of growth.
I had the pleasure of joining the local production panel at the Mentor Matchup Challenge 6.0 in Lagos, hosted Ezinne Nwazulu Managing Partner, 234Finance. I sat on a panel alongside Melat Nebiyou, Founder of Maribela Production and Melat Perfume, Olanrewaju Ogundipe, CEO of Imperial Education Technology Limited, expertly moderated by Kenneth Akan, Head of Sales and Revenue Growth at PaidHR. It was a great discussion on strengthening Nigeria’s supply chains and fostering a more resilient local industry.
I had the privilege of attending the 13th Annual Women in Private Capital Dinner, hosted by Runa Alam of DPI in partnership with PEWIN, alongside accomplished female leaders and executives from around the globe. The evening’s discussions were both inspiring and insightful, covering macroeconomic trends, geopolitical dynamics, and the resilience of private capital managers in turning challenges into opportunities.
It was indeed an unforgettable evening for me, to be called up to the podium 4 times as Aruwa Capital emerged winners of the most awards at the 12th Annual PEA Awards in London. Being celebrated on such a prestigious platform reaffirms the transformative vision we’ve championed over the last five years. This milestone is a testament to the collective effort of our incredible team in Lagos, the trust of our p artners, and the unwavering support of a community that believes in the power of purpose-driven investments. These awards are more than accolades; they symbolise the journey we’ve undertaken to drive inclusive growth and lasting impact across Africa.
I had the pleasure of attending the Private Equity Africa Leading Ladies Lunch, a gathering of nominees for the 2024 Leading Lady Award, held in Clifford Chance, London ahead of the PEA Awards. Sharing the room with trailblazing women like Ann Wyman, Senior Partner, AfricInvest, Françoise Chan, Executive Director, Intercontinental Trust Joy Chakanyuka, Chief Financial Officer, DPI, Isata Jawara- Client & Market Development, Clifford Chance and Montserrat Petit, Head of Marketing & Comms, Mediterrania Capital Partners was truly inspiring. Hosted by Gail Mwamba, Editor, Private Equity Africa, the lunch provided a meaningful platform to reflect on the strides women are making in shaping the future of private equity across Africa and beyond.
It was a pleasure to attend the Africa Prosperity Summit, hosted by Ventures Platform, under the theme “Funding the Next Billion: Africa’s VC Investment Landscape in a Post-ZIRP Era.” On a key panel tagged “Gender Lens Investing”, alongside Biola Alabi, General partner, Acadia ventures, Maria Rotilu, Founding partner, Openseed VC and moderator Dolapo Morgan, Snr. Investment Associate, Ventures Platform, we explored how investing in women-led businesses drives financial returns and catalyses innovation and social impact across Africa.
"I believe the way to effectively provide women with more seats at the table is for us to create our own tables. More women succeeding as capital allocators means more women getting funded, more mentors, more torch-bearers, and more examples to follow. Investing in or with funds like Aruwa Capital Management is a practical way to narrow the gender funding gap and making money while you do so."
- Adesuwa Rhodes
Adesuwa is the Founder & Managing Partner of Aruwa Capital Management an early stage private equity fund investing in rapidly growing businesses in West Africa. With Aruwa Capital and her own personal investments, Adesuwa is focused on uncovering untapped investment opportunities that are typically overlooked and underserved. Adesuwa is passionate about showcasing the natural competitive advantage women allocating capital have when investing in businesses for women and by women. Through a gender lens investment strategy, Adesuwa is focused on generating enhanced financial returns whilst delivering positive social impact with a multiplier effect across societies and economies.
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