The Nigerian National Advisory Board for Impact Investment is the leading national body established to strengthen the Impact Investment market in Nigeria. Its main purpose is to build a dynamic ecosystem for impact investment in Nigeria that delivers measurable and improved outcomes at scale for society, the environment, and the economy while increasing equitable access to capital.
The Nigeria NABII has a three tiered structure – comprising a 15-member board, a second tier consisting of four working groups: The supply of capital, demand for capital, Intermediaries and policy working groups and the NAB Secretariat, the Impact Investors’ Foundation.
Ibukun Awosika is the former Chairperson, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Nigeria's premier and most valuable banking brand. She is also the founder and CEO of The Chair Centre Group. The companies in the group are involved in manufacturing, retail and bank-way security systems services. Ibukun chairs a number of corporate and not-for-profit boards amongst which are: d.light Design Inc., Convention on Business Integrity (CBI), Digital Jewel Limited, House of Tara International and Afterschool Graduate Development Centre (AGDC), a facility which she promoted to help address youth employability and enterprise issues in Nigeria. She sits on the boards of Cadbury Nigeria Plc., Imperial Gate School and Peniel Apartments Limited. She was Chairman, GEMS Africa Limited, FBN Life Assurance Limited, FBN Capital Limited and Kakawa Discount House Limited. She also served on the board of Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) With high interest in social issues, including women, Ibukun is a co-founder and past chairperson of Women in Business, Management and Public Service (WIMBIZ). She is the President of International Women's Entrepreneurial Challenge Foundation (IWEC). An ordained Pastor and founder of the Christian Missionary Fund, Ibukun, through this faith-based organization works with hundreds of missionaries spread across Nigeria to change lives with the provision of medical, educational, and other supplies. Ibukun is a multiple award-winning entrepreneur and the 2020 recipient of the Forbes Woman Africa Chairperson Award. She was also the first Nigerian recipient of the prestigious International Women Entrepreneurial Challenge (IWEC) Award as a nominee of the US Department of State in 2008.
Afolabi recently retired as Executive Director of Africa Capital Alliance (ACA) after almost 30 years of service to the organization. Prior to joining ACA, he spent most of his career with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) where he served in various capacities, culminating in his appointment as Group Executive Director. He gained in-depth industry knowledge through various postings to OPEC, Mobil USA and Total France. Mr. Oladele served on the board of Niger Delta Exploration & Production (NDEP) PLC in 2016 and currently sits on the Board of Addax Petroleum Corporation. He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and the Nigerian Academy of Engineers. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering and post-graduate certificates in petroleum economics and management
Oguche is currently the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria (PenOp). In this role he leads the efforts of the $ 28 billion pension industry in Nigeria in engaging the government, regulators, the media, the financial markets and other stakeholders in ensuring that the interests of the pension operators are protected and promoted and that the pension industry has a positive impact on National Development. Before this appointment, Oguche was Nigeria’s Regional Director for OurCrowd, a crowdfunding, venture capital and impact investment firm with headquarters in Israel. H6e was the Chief Investment Officer/Executive Director of a start-up integrated real estate/alternative asset management company and social enterprise, where he was in charge of engaging local and foreign investors and lenders on behalf of the firm. Prior to this, he worked as a Special adviser to Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment. His portfolio was “Access to Finance”. In this role, he advised on and implemented policies and programmes that could help to increase access to finance to start and grow local businesses. Along with a team of others, he was involved in the formulation and implementation of Nigeria’s most ambitious industrial revolution plan, christened- The Nigeria industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) Prior to this, he worked with Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) as an Associate Director in their Lagos office, where he was in charge of the credit quality of a portfolio of assets worth USD 7 billion dollars. In SCB, he had short term assignments in South Africa and London, working in the Risk management, Credit and Corporate Finance functions. In his 14-year stint with SCB he held various roles spanning operations, Risk management & Credit, financial institutions and strategy.
Mezuo Nwuneli is the Managing Partner, Sahel Capital Agribusiness Managers Ltd., a food and agriculture focused private equity firm which invests in mid‐sized agribusinesses. Sahel Capital oversees $65.9 million in assets through its fund – Fund for Agricultural Finance in Nigeria (“FAFIN”). He is also the Co‐Founder of AACE Foods, a food processing company which produces spices, seasonings, and packaged food. He has worked for 25 years in corporate finance, investment banking, and private equity; and since 2010 has focused on the agricultural sector in West Africa. Mezuo is on the Board of Directors of a range of companies in Nigeria, was selected as an Archbishop Tutu Fellow, and is an Eisenhower Fellow. He holds a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from Harvard Business School, and received a B.Sc. in Industrial Management, with a minor in Information Systems, from Carnegie Mellon University.
Toyin Sanni is Founder and CEO of the Emerging Africa Capital Group, Co-Founder of the Africa Investment Roundtable as well as Board Chairman at Emerging Africa Asset Management Limited. A prominent Investment Banker, Public Personality & Speaker, she derives satisfaction from grooming future leaders and proferring capital solutions for financing & investing challenges of African governments, businesses & individuals. With a background in securities law and extensive experience in corporate finance, Investment banking and asset management, she leverages networks across markets and her extensive experience working on leading transactions to achieve growth objectives. She leads a team of experts who provide advisory & capital raising solutions across Africa to achieve sustainable economic growth. Toyin sits on several boards and committees including Transnational Corporation Plc, the Off Grid Energy Fund - Financing Energy Inclusion (OGEF-FEI) sponsored by the AfDB and other International Development Finance Institutions, NEPAD Business Group Nigeria and the Pearl Awards Governance Board. She chairs the Technical on Financial Literacy of the Nigerian Capital Market and is Ambassador/Co-chair for the Africa CEO Forum Network for Nigeria. She is also the Founder and Chairperson for the Women in Finance Nigeria Network and Founder, WIFNG UK. Toyin was declared the All African Business Woman of the year 2017 by CNBC Africa, & Nigeria's CEO of the Year 2017 by Pearl Awards. In 2020, she won the Africa Influencer (CEO) Award by Tech Times Africa. Toyin has written three published books including Riding The Eagle - A Guide to Investing in Nigeria. Her past roles include President, Association of Investment Advisers (CIIA), President, Investment Advisers and Portfolio Managers (IAPM), and President, Association of Corporate Trustees. In addition to a Master’s degree in law, Toyin holds professional qualifications as a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, Fellow Chartered Institute of Secretaries and Administrators, and Member, Chartered Institute of Securities and Investments, United Kingdom.
Uloma Ike is Group Head, Microenterprise Division at Bank of Industry (BOI), Nigeria’s largest and most successful development financing institution. She is a leading expert in sustainable finance with over 15 years' experience in banking, microenterprise and development finance and has worked with institutions such as Access Bank Nigeria, Visa International and IFC. Uloma is passionate about creating access to finance for women and SMEs through sustainable and innovative products and services that promote financial inclusion. She is co-chair of African Women on Board, a network that seeks to champion the economic, political and social rights of African women.
Habiba has been in the renewable energy industry since 2005. She co-founded the Developmental Association for Renewable Energies and sits on the Board of Trustees, She worked as national coordinator there and has supported the progress of the Clean Development Mechanism project Efficient Cook Stoves for Nigeria, the Solar Lamps Assembly and sales training program, and the solar dryers for healthy foods project. Habiba founded and is the CEO of Sosai Renewable Energies, which offers efficient, reliable and sustainable products including solar lamps, solar home systems and water filters to the people of the rural and peri-urban communities of Northern Nigeria. Habiba manages a partnership with C-Quest LLC to implement a nationwide Programme of Activities for improved cook stoves in Nigeria with 50,000 cook stoves installed. She was the Premier Vice President of the Renewable Energies Association of Nigeria holding this position for 3 years before August 2020, She is a member of the Clean Cooking Alliance, the Nigerian Alliance for Clean Cook Stoves, and the Nigerian Energy Network. Habiba was named a Cherie Blaire mentee in 2016 and a Cherie Blaire mentor in 2019. She has also been named a Vital Voices GROW fellow, Winner UNSDG WeEmpower for Africa, The Global Leadership Awards Honoree in Economic Empowerment for 2019, a World Bank Women fellow and is a graduate of the Cherie Blaire Road to Business Growth program. Habiba holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting, a master’s degree in banking and finance, and is currently a dissertation-level PhD student in management (finance). Habiba sits on the Board of the Netherlands Institution Alumni Association of Nigeria, a Board member on the MainStream Foundation and the Founding Member of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Alliance. Through her work with the Environmental Rights Action, Habiba is one of the stakeholders spearheading the Bill on Renewable Energies in Nigeria.
Ayodeji Balogun is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of AFEX Commodities Exchange Limited where he is leading a team of experts leveraging technology, innovative finance, and inclusive agriculture to connect agriSMEs and smallholder farmers to commodity and financial markets. He holds an MBA from Lagos Business School; Global CEO – Africa from IESE Business School and a certificate in Creative Leadership from the THNK School of Creative Leadership. Ayodeji has almost twenty years’ experience trading across West Africa as well as in building and scaling businesses across Sub-Saharan Africa. He serves on several capital market boards and works with several institutions on food security and financing agriculture. With a marked focus on food security, as a personal and life-long mission, Ayodeji has been a pivotal member of several impact-oriented projects and organisations, including being the West Africa Chapter Coordinator for the Aspen Network for Developing Entrepreneurs from 2011 to 2013; the Technical Advisor for the Food and Strategic Grain Reserve on National and Regional (ECOWAS) Food Security from 2014 to 2015; a Member of the National Agribusiness Development Council in 2016; a Member of the Advisory Board of Synergos Nigeria from 2017 to 2019; and currently serving as the Chairman Steering Committee of the Smallholder and Agri-SME Finance and Investment Network (SAFIN, IFAD); Board Member, Capital Market Development Fund; and Member Board of Trustees, Association of Securities Exchange in Nigeria. His corporate career, prior to his current role, has included work as an analyst with Unilever Nigeria Plc.; an associate role at Doreo Partners, where he contributed to the development of Nigeria’s Agriculture Transformation Plan (in 2011) and the design of Doreo’s flagship impact investment – Babangona – a farm franchise out-grower scheme currently with 20,000 farmer membership that has witnessed a tripling of farmers yield and an increase in their income levels by over 200% since launch. He has also served as a visiting consultant to DFID (GEMS3) and the Ministry of Agriculture on value chain development where he was part of the design of a 30,000Ha plantation and the Ministry’s Staple Crop Processing Zones.
Nneka Eze serves on the Investment Committee of Vested World, an Africa-focused venture capital firm delivering impact and returns in agriculture, consumer goods, and enabling technology. She has worked to deepen investment in African businesses and entrepreneurs having worked at Dalberg for over a decade including as the Nigeria Director/founder and as the co-lead of Dalberg’s Global Agriculture and Food Security practice. At Dalberg, Nneka led multiple market landscaping studies on impact investing, social impact, and policy in Nigeria and across the continent including the initial strategy for the Impact Investors’ Foundation of Nigeria. She also developed a launch Dalberg’s first venture deal and developed a strategic partnership with the Dutch business foundation, IDH (the sustainable trade initiative) on local sourcing in Africa. Over the course of multiple years Nneka has worked with African SMEs and helped to build the ecosystem for impact investing. Nneka has also invested personally in multiple businesses in Africa as an angel investor. Nneka has written multiple strategies and contributed to policies on behalf of the Government of Nigeria, including the job creation and youth employment strategy, investing in regional innovation hubs, and the medium term national development plan (in addition to serving on a technical working group for the medium term national development plan 2021-2025). She serves on the board of the Impact Investors’ Foundation of Nigeria, the board of The Resolution Project – an organization supporting and funding social entrepreneurs, and on the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE) West Africa Steering Committee. She previously worked at McKinsey & Company in the USA and in Nigeria. Nneka studied Economics and holds an AB in Economics cum laude from Harvard and was selected as an Associate Fellow of the Nigerian Leadership Initiative. She is fluent in English and proficient in French.
Chairman of the Board of Directors of Citibank Nigeria, Dr Yemi Cardoso is a financial and development expert with over thirty years’ experience in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors. His private sector experience includes an illustrious career with Citibank, Chase and Citizens International Bank. In 1999 upon return to civilian democratic rule, Yemi was appointed the first commissioner/ cabinet member for economic planning and budget for Lagos state. In this capacity, he wrote and monitored the implementation of the blueprint which catalysed economic development in the world’s sixth largest megacity. He has served on the board of several leading companies including Texaco and Chevron Oil Plc. He is a member of the Belgian-based Cities Alliance Think Tank which aims to shape and influence policy and decision making on urban development in Africa and has strong relationships with key international donor agencies. Yemi’s first degree is from the University of Aston, United Kingdom and his second degree from Harvard University, USA. In 2017, he was awarded an honorary doctorate degree in business administration by his alma mater, Aston University, in recognition of “his outstanding contributions to business and society”.
Ms. Thelma Ekiyor has over 21 years experience working in the development sector, as an Impact Investor, donor, philanthropic advisor, and social entrepreneur. She has experience working in 22 African countries. She has pioneered, founded and led a number of organisations and initiatives focused on impact investing and women’s economic empowerment. In 2020, Ms. Ekiyor was listed as one of the 50 most influential women in the development sector in Africa. Ms. Ekiyor is currently the Managing Partner SME.NG – Nigeria’s Impact Investment Platform, which has set up two impact funds for women entrepreneurs. She is the Co-Founder/Chairperson of Afrigrants Resources and also served as its pioneering CEO. At Afrigrants, she led the establishment of “Market Women’s Quick Cash” – A financial inclusion solution to provide micro-loans to women in disadvantaged communities. She also founded Afrigrants Foundation dedicated to the socio-economic advancement to girls and women. She also led the conceptualization of “The Ebi Fund” – an impact fund for women entrepreneurs. Ms. Ekiyor is also is Founder & Co-Convener of The Funding Space – a mentoring and access to finance platform for social entrepreneurs in Africa. Prior to establishing Afrigrants, Ms. Ekiyor was the pioneer CEO of TY Danjuma Foundation, and grew an endowment of $100 million. Before that, She served as the Pioneering Executive Director of the West African Civil Society Institute (WACSI), which was established by the George Soros Foundation’s Open Society Institute for West Africa. She supervised investments and interventions in 15 countries across West Africa. Ms. Ekiyor has received several awards and citations for her contributions to women’s economic empowerment and philanthropy in Africa.
Abubakar Suleiman, fondly called Abu, is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience working in the banking industry. He is the Chief Executive Officer of Sterling Bank Plc. Currently, his top priority is to optimize the impact of financial intermediation in critical sectors that can catalyze growth and create a future of shared prosperity for all Nigerians. These priority sectors are Health, Agriculture, Education, Renewable Energy and Transportation, and are at the H.E.A.R.T of Sterling. Before his current role, he served as an Executive Director and Chief Finance Officer of the bank and was the executive sponsor of the Bank’s non-interest banking business (Sterling Alternative Finance). Abu holds a bachelor’s degree (B.Sc) in Economics from the University of Abuja and a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Major Programme Management from the University of Oxford. His previous work experience includes tax advisory at Arthur Andersen, management training at MBC International Bank (now First Bank) and financial markets with Citibank Nigeria. He is a firm believer in the role of efficient markets, emerging technologies and small businesses in unlocking productivity, improving national competitiveness and driving inclusive economic growth. He currently serves on the Governing Council of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), and the Advisory Boards of Lagos Business School (LBS) and Enterprise Development Center (EDC). When he is not on the job, which is rare, he enjoys poetry, driving and music.
His Highness (HH) Muhammad Sanusi II is the 14th Emir of Kano; turbaned on the 8th of June 2014 and reigned till 9th March 2020. Prior to ascending the throne, HH was the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. He was also at a time the Chief Risk Officer and Group CEO of First Bank of Nigeria Plc. He was awarded Central Bank Governor of the year in 2011 due to his laudable anti-corruption campaign which salvaged and reformed the crumbling financial sector. HH Sanusi II is passionate about the welfare of the girl-child, quality education, women empowerment, economic growth and good governance. He was appointed by the UN Secretary General as one of the 17 SDG Advocates in 2019 and has been focused on advancing the global goals with a focus on SDG 4, 5 & 8 (Quality Education, Gender Equality, Decent Work & Economic Growth). He also serves as the Chairman, Advisory Board of 1Million Teachers (a Canada based social enterprise that provides access to high quality teacher education to underserved communities around the world) His Highness, Muhammad Sanusi II has been awarded various honorary doctorate degrees from reputable Universities across the world and is a recipient of numerous global awards. He currently serves as Chairman and member on various national and international boards which include, Babban Gona (an agricultural social enterprise), The MTN Group, Black Rhino Group to mention a few.
Laoye is currently the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), a private sector led non-profit, non-partisan think tank organisation with a mandate to promote and champion the reform of the Nigerian economy into an open, globally competitive economy. As CEO, he is a member of the Board of the NESG. He also serves on the Board of Nigerian Improving Business Environment for prosperity (NIBEP), and sits as Chairman of Kainos Edge Consulting Limited. Mr. Jaiyeola runs a budget of N1 billion, 60% of which is sourced locally and the remaining 40% is sourced externally via grant to address socio economic issues cutting across all sectors of the economy along 13 Policy Commissions, 45 thematic areas, 5 roundtables and 3 Communities of Practice, all towards national development. Prior to becoming the CEO of NESG, he had served as a volunteer of the NESG for over 20 years. He is an innovative, energetic and visionary leader with over 30 years banking experience and exposure, both in the local and international financial markets. He worked with the Central Bank of Nigeria for over 15 years and then moved to the private sector where he rose to become the MD/CEO, Kakawa Discount House Limited (now FBN Quest) for about a decade. He is a past president of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), a trustee of the Financial Markets Dealers Association, and a Pioneer Board member of FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange.
Chris Ogbechie is Dean and Professor of Strategic Management at Lagos Business School and Visiting Professor at Strathmore Business in Nairobi, Kenya and the University of Kigali, Kigali, Rwanda. Professor Ogbechie holds a first-class honours degree in mechanical engineering from Manchester University, an MBA from Manchester Business School and a PhD in Business Administration from Brunel Business School in the UK. He has vast experience in marketing, strategy and corporate governance derived from his work as Head of Marketing/Sales at Nestle Nigeria and from his consulting work with Nigerian, Ghanaian and Kenyan firms over the years. While in Nestle, he held international positions in Malaysia, Singapore, and Switzerland. Professor Ogbechie teaches strategy, sustainability and corporate governance at the Lagos Business School and Strathmore Business in Nairobi, Kenya; he is also the founding Director of the School’s Sustainability Centre. His research interests are in strategy in turbulent environments, strategic leadership, board effectiveness, and corporate sustainability. Professor Ogbechie has been involved with several start-ups, he was Chairman, Board of Directors, Diamond Bank Plc and is on the board of several private and public companies including; Red Star Express Plc (FedEx), National Salt Company of Nigeria Plc. (NASCON), Health Partners, Hubmart Stores Ltd, and Palton Morgan Holdings. He has several publications in financial services marketing, strategic planning, corporate social responsibility, and corporate governance.