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 had the pleasure of attending the Food and Energy Security Conference, co-hosted by NSIA, Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), White & Case LLP, and Afrexim bank. The event brought together stakeholders to explore strategies for strengthening Nigeria’s food and energy resilience. A key highlight was the signing of an MoU between NSIA and AFC to co-develop cold chain and dry storage facilities—an essential move for bolstering Nigeria’s food value chain.
It was a pleasure to represent Aruwa Capital at the 2nd West Africa Deal Summit, which held at the Civic Centre, Lagos. On Day 1, I showcased Aruwa’s investment journey at the Impact Fund Showcase and joined a panel led by Lamide Adeosun of Kuramo Capital, to discuss fund mechanisms and sustainable growth in West Africa. On Day 2 was equally impactful as I delivered a goodwill message on behalf of Aruwa Capital and presented the award to the 2024 Impact Investor of the Year and award which Aruwa won in 2023.
Honoured to have spoken at Barclays Private Bank’s “Psychology of Investing” event, held at Gaia Africa House in Lagos. Alongside Catherine Fisher, Alex Joshi, Urvi Shah, and Alia Malik, we explored the evolving role of women as wealth custodians in family businesses, the unique psychology of investing, and the behavioural biases that influence financial decisions. It was a thought-provoking evening, delving into themes that underscore the pivotal role of women in advancing purposeful and impactful investments.
I was honoured to join the FCDO Women’s Network Women’s Week celebration, hosted by Deputy British High Commissioner, Gill Lever, to discuss “The Prospects of Women in Leadership and Entrepreneurship.” Alongside my fellow panelist Mrs. Ibukun Awosika, we explored some of the most pressing challenges women face in leadership and access to capital, highlighting the critical steps needed to create more inclusive opportunities for women in business.
I had the honour of serving as a guest judge at the Funding Opportunity Pitch Day hosted by the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria (HFN) and the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC). This event showcased transformative business proposals from innovators across Nigeria’s healthcare sector, all aimed at enhancing healthcare delivery nationwide.
I was honoured to participate in the transformative Elevate Africa Conference, hosted by their Royal Majesties, The Olu of Warri kingdom, Ogiame Atuwatse III, and the Queen Consort, Olori Atuwatse III. This gathering brought together leaders, visionaries, and stakeholders from across the continent to reshape the narrative of Africa. I had the pleasure of moderating an all-women key panel titled "Elevating African Trade: Through Regional Partnerships and Collaboration," Where I steered an interesting conversation alongside women leaders across diverse industries- Serah Makka, Executive Director for Africa, The One Campaign, Dr. Jane Kimemia, CEO Optiva Capital Partners Juanita Sheppard, VP of Foundation & Government Partnerships, United Way of Greater Atlanta, Dr. Melinda Harris Barrow, Chairman and Executive Director 6th Region Global Chamber of Commerce.
It was a pleasure to return to the 3rd Annual Black Women in Asset Management (BWAM) Conference, where I was honoured as one of BWAM's 40 Under 40 in 2022, as a speaker. I joined one of the panels to discuss a crucial topic “Gender Lens Investing: Driving Impact and Returns’. I had a great conversation with visionary leaders- Mandy Nyarko MBE, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Sahara Impact Ventures Tara Sabre Collier, Climate and PSE Practice Lead, Chemonics International under the insightful moderation of Vona Aghoghovbia-Ezichi, MD, Head of Finance, Nuveen as we explored key strategies for driving both impact and returns through intentional, gender-focused investing.
I had the pleasure of participating on two pivotal panels at the Women's Private Equity Summit Europe, held at the Fairmont Windsor Park. In the first panel, "Putting Capital to Work", moderated by Aoifinn Devitt, CIO, London LGPS CIV Limited. I joined Frances Houweling, Partner, IK Partners and Rebecca Gibson, Partner, Oakley Capital to discuss innovative strategies for capital deployment across regions. The second panel, "Investing in Africa", moderated by Anne Fossemalle, Director, Equity Funds EBRD focused on Africa's potential as a key investment destination. Together with Mogkadi Maunatiala, Head of Sustainability & Impact Adenia Partners and Kriston Wilson, Managing Partner Innovate Africa Fund, we explored the continent's unique challenges, including political stability, currency fluctuations, and inflation, and how these factors shape fundraising strategies.
Honoured to have spoken at the PEWIN - Private Equity Women Investor Network meeting in New York. Alongside Ingrid Teigland Akay and Adele Oliva, we discussed “The Global Landscape for Female Funders and Founders,” moderated by Marilyn Adler. We highlighted breaking barriers and shifting capital towards women globally. While in New York, I got to connect with female fund managers from across the globe and had the opportunity to meet with LPs, including a visit to the Ford Foundation, advancing discussions around Aruwa Fund II. It was a momentous occasion as I got to receive the award for Aruwa’s recognition as the Female-Founded Emerging Manager, emerging as the winner out of 9 global nominees.
It was a pleasure to host and moderate an insightful webinar in conjunction with one of our largest institutional investors- Mastercard Foundation Africa Growth Fund titled "Advancing Growth: Enabling Gender Equity & Inclusive Investment in Africa." The discussion centred on the reality of our impact report through the lens of our portfolio companies. The panelists—Timi Oke, MD/Co-Founder of Agroeknor; Natalie Casey, Chief Commercial Officer of Koolboks; and Priya Amarnani, Founding Team Member and Head of Product at OmniRetail—shared valuable insights on the impact of Aruwa across their companies and the entire value chain of their businesses.
It was a pleasure to join one of the panels at the Choiseul Africa Summit in Geneva. The panel discussed a crucial topic- "Strengthening Local Value Chains: Reconciling Sustainable and Social Impact”. I shared Aruwa Capital's focus on supporting businesses at pivotal points in their growth and scale journey, and also highlighted our commitment to sustainable investments that drive social impact, aligning with our vision to create lasting value across local economies.
An incredibly proud moment for me as Aruwa Capital releases its inaugural impact report to mark our fifth-year anniversary. As I reflect on the last five years, I am filled with nothing but gratitude as to how far we have come as a firm in a short space of time. It’s been five years of making impactful and meaningful investments that are driving positive change and reshaping the investment landscape in Africa.
It was a pleasure to join one of the panels on the insightful webinar hosted by MiDA Advisors and Standard Bank Group to discuss a critical topic, “Invest in Africa- The time is now” where I discussed Aruwa’s gender lens investment strategy and its trickle-down effect on gender diversity across the value chain of businesses we invest in. I also emphasized our focus on investments in proven businesses that are at a pivotal point of their growth and how Aruwa is providing the much-needed growth capital to help them scale up. The panel expertly moderated by Thembi Matabiswana, Senior Consultant at Riscurra, included other trailblazing fund managers across the continent- Jesmane Boggenpoel, Co-founder & Managing Partner- AIH Capital, and Sheila Kyarisiima, Partner - NISK Capital.
Thrilled to have represented Aruwa Capital at the Power Africa Nigeria Power Sector Program Investor Matchmaking event hosted by USAID. The event aimed to bridge the gap between investors and developers in the on-grid and off-grid space. It was an honour to present Aruwa Capital’s investment strategy as well as our criteria for investing in the renewable energy sector.
Thrilled to have joined one of the panels at the recent Kreston Pedabo breakfast seminar. The event was themed 'Unlocking Financial Potential: Funding Opportunities for Nigerian Businesses,' a topic that resonates deeply with me. My panel was tagged- Capitalizing Growth: Navigating the Financial Landscape for Business Success in Nigeria. It was an enriching experience to exchange ideas alongside industry leaders such as Albert Folorunsho, Managing Consultant at Kreston Pedabo, Gbadebo Adenrele, MD Investment Banking at United Capital Plc, Abolore Solebo, Executive Director at Fidelity Bank PLC.
I had the pleasure of joining a webinar hosted by the Tuck School of Business in Dartmouth as a panelist. The webinar was tagged- Doing Business in Africa, and my panel discussed a significant topic- Making profit sustainable and sustainability profitable. The panel was moderated by Oruare Ovbiagele, a Centre for Business, Government and Society Fellow at Tuck. It was an insightful panel which had notable speakers in attendance, and we shared unique perspectives on reshaping the narrative of doing business in Africa.
Excited to announce my new role as a Board of Trustee member at United Way Greater Nigeria, affiliated with United Way the world’s largest non-profit organisation with a network of over 1,800 affiliates globally. United Way Greater Nigeria (UWGN) is dedicated to addressing critical societal challenges in education, youth productivity, women's empowerment, and food security. Our collaborative efforts aim to enhance UWGN's capacity to make a tangible difference in the lives and communities of Nigeria.
I am honoured to have been recognized at the 2024 Eloy Awards as one of the 50 power people who embody resilience, leadership & advocate for women’s empowerment and inclusion in Africa. The list was put together in collaboration with Eloy Foundation, Africa Women CEOs network and powered by Exquisite Magazine.
It was a pleasure to join the Mentor Intro Africa IWD webinar hosted by Fola Niyi- Duale, Founder/CEO Mentor Intro Africa with the theme- She breaks barriers: Empowering Women through Mentorship. I joined two other amazing women- Adaku Ijara, MD/CEO Emerging Africa Asset Management Limited and Hauwa Shakir, CEO of Kulu Abuja. I discussed the transformative power of mentorship using insights from my personal and professional journey.
It was great to attend the ImpactHer International Women’s Day event themed “Inspire Inclusion: Unlocking Opportunities Using Digital Skills and Market Expansion”. I had the pleasure of joining the keynote panel session where we discussed the urgent need for technological adaptation, and the critical importance of integrating technology into daily business operations particularly for women. I was honoured to speak alongside notable women like- Oluwatoyin Aralepo Director of Finance at Mastercard Foundation, Adaku Ijara, MD/CEO Emerging Africa Asset Management Ltd., Dr Oluseyi Olanrewaju, CFO Digital Reality, Onyeche Elisabeth Agbiti-Douglas, Project Manager, BRAVE Women Nigeria, the session was moderated by Ayishat Olanrewaju, Founder, Corporately Lucid.
It was a pleasure to join host- Nsembo Udoh on the Hub one Insider Series webinar hosted by FCMB with the topic- Raising Investment Amid VC Funding Crunch, where I shared tips on how to overcome obstacles posing challenges for founders seeking funding and how to navigate the current VC crunch and winter.
It was a pleasure to join the webinar hosted by Mastercard Foundation Africa Growth Fund in celebration of International Women’s Day with the theme- Inspire Inclusion hosted by Vymala Thuron, Deputy MD, MFAGF. I was honoured to speak alongside other female fund managers- Joyce-Ann Wainana, Managing Partner, Chui Ventures, Nneka Eze, Managing Partner, Vested World, Kim Kamarebe, Managing Partner, Inua Capital. Together we addressed pressing questions about the progress of gender equity in impact investing, sharing insights from the perspective of our respective journeys.
I was honoured to have been invited by Aelex Law Firm to speak at their in-house event celebrating International Women’s month. I had the pleasure of sharing my journey from my early years to starting my professional investment banking journey and how that led to founding Aruwa Capital. It was an uplifting event with a warm atmosphere where we could have open and heartfelt discussions.
I had the pleasure of joining host- Tochukwu Ezekuwu, Regional Director, Avpa and fellow panelist- Dr. Ola Brown, Founder, Health Cap on the African Venture Philantrophy Alliance webinar tagged- ‘What the Data and Trends Say, And What They Mean For Funding Flows And Venture Builders’. We had an eye-opening and impactful session which focused on crucial data and trends affecting investment decisions, especially in West Africa.
I had the pleasure of joining one of the panels at the Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria (PENOP) IWD Celebration with the theme: Inspire Inclusion. The panel which was moderated by Adaobi Okoye was tagged – ‘Driver’s Seat: The Role of Women in Digital Transformation’ had esteemed speakers in attendance – Olayinka Ajayi, Executive Director, Zenith PFC, Nike Bajomo, Executive Director, Stanbic IBTC PFA, Ugochukwu ‘Ugodre’ Obi-Chukwu, Founder and CEO Nairametrics.
I had the pleasure of being a panelist at the Nigerian British Chamber of Commerce’s IWD celebration themed - ‘Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress’. My panel which was expertly hosted by Rolake Akinkugbe-Filani comprised of noteworthy individuals- Adeniyi Adekoya- Deputy MD of Snyperpet and Weston Limited, and Kemi Awodein, MD of Investment Banking at Chapel Hill Denham discussed a powerful topic - ‘Empowering Women in Finance’ where we explored ways we can continue to champion women’s voices and drive meaningful change.