Olaniyi Yusuf

CHAIRMAN, BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Mr. Olaniyi Yusuf is the Managing Partner and Social Sector Lead at Verraki Partners, possessing over 30 years of expertise in digital transformation and strategic change. Previously the Country Managing Director of Accenture Nigeria (2010–2019), he has been a pivotal figure in modernizing Nigeria’s financial infrastructure, contributing to the establishment of Interswitch, the CRC credit bureau, and the Banking Industry IT Shared Services. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Economics from Obafemi Awolowo University and a Graduate Diploma from the University of Wales, complemented by various professional certifications in IT governance and project management.

Beyond his professional practice, Yusuf is a prominent leader in Africa’s economic and social development sectors. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) and the Corona Schools Trust Council and holds leadership positions at Junior Achievement Africa and WIMBIZ. A Fellow of the African Leadership Initiative West Africa, he also serves as an Expert in Residence at Lagos Business School, where he focuses on his passion for education and entrepreneurship.

Wasiu Balogun

MD/CEO

Mr Wasiu Abolaji Balogun is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

Prior to establishing the company, Mr Balogun had over 12 years of vast experience in the banking Industry including Domestic Operations, Treasury Operations, Funds transfer, foreign, local and Global Trade. He worked with CSL stockbrokers, Standard Trust Bank, UBA Plc, Access Bank Plc and Access UK; He rose to level of Manager and Head of Global Trade in Access Bank Plc before resigning in 2013 to promote Polysmart Packaging Ltd.

He is an Associate member of the Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (ACA) May 2001, holds a Masters in Business Administration from Manchester Business School UK, and a graduate of Accounting from the University of Lagos Akoka (Graduated 1998). He attended different highly prized trainings both in Nigeria and abroad including but not limited to Insead Executive Education (Singapore), International Banking Operation training (Milan Italy), Trade finance for Africa (Cairo, Egypt). He is a Certified Documentary Credit Specialist (CDCS).

Sakeenat Bakare

NON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Mrs. Sakeenat Bakare is a seasoned C-Suite Executive and Board Director with nearly 20 years of experience driving strategy, transformation, and risk management within the financial services sector. Currently serving as an Executive Director at Tangerine Life Insurance and a Non-Executive Director for Tangerine General Insurance, she provides critical oversight on investment strategy, regulatory compliance, and enterprise risk. Her career is marked by a track record of delivering tangible results, including exceeding budget expectations by 46% and successfully launching profit-making entities in their first year of operation. A Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN), Sakeenat holds an MBA from INSEAD and a Second-Class Upper degree in Accounting from the University of Lagos.

Throughout her distinguished tenure at Standard Bank Group (Stanbic IBTC), Sakeenat held several high-impact leadership roles across pension management, asset management, and retail banking. She has been a pivotal figure in industry-wide advancements, serving as the pre-incorporation secretary of the Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria (PENOP) and contributing to the implementation of IFRS 17 standards. Beyond her commercial success, she is a dedicated advocate for talent development and governance, serving as a mentor for various women’s programs and as the Executive Sponsor for Tangerine’s ESG initiative. Her leadership style blends innovative thinking with a commitment to organizational culture, consistently building high-performing teams that sustain long-term growth.

Akeem Oyewale

NON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Mr. Akeem Oyewale is the Chief Executive Officer of Marble Capital Limited, a leading firm of Islamic fund Managers, engaged in Ethical funds, Asset Management and Shari’ah Advisory. He served as a Non-Executive Director of Stanbic IBTC Asset Management Limited and director of Equities Brokerage in the Standard Bank Group. He holds an MBA from Manchester Business School, United Kingdom and a B. Sc (Hons) degree in Accounting from the University of Lagos. He is a Fellow of both the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, and also an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria and the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria. He is an Arthur Andersen scholar. He has close to 15 years extensive Investment Banking experience and a vast experience in Credit/Marketing and Trade/Finance. He also managed the Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund, Nigeria’s largest mutual fund and was responsible for the launch of the Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund.

Previously, the CEO of Stanbic IBTC Asset Management Limited, Mr. Oyewale was nominated as “Young Manager of the Year in Nigeria” at the prestigious ThisDay Annual Awards 2006. He was also the pioneer CEO of Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers Limited from 2009 to January 2012. Mr. Oyewale has participated in numerous market developmental activities and was a Member of the SEC-appointed committee that crafted the 10 Year Master Plan for Nigeria’s Capital Market 2015 – 2025; and also a member of the Technical Committee for Financial Literacy of the SEC. He was a Council Member of The Nigerian Stock Exchange and also sits on the Council of The Chartered Institute of stockbrokers of Nigeria. He was a Vice President of the Association of Asset Custodians of Nigeria, and also served as a Technical Committee member for the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria. He is a Trustee of the United for Kids Foundation, a charity that seeks to bring smiles to the faces of Nigeria’s indigent children, one child at a time.

Adesuwa Okunbo Rhodes

NON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Adesuwa Okunbo Rhodes is the Founder and CEO of Aruwa Capital Management, one of the few women owned and managed, growth equity and gender lens funds in Africa. She has over 15 years of investment banking and private equity experience in developed and emerging markets from global institutions such as J.P. Morgan.

In 2023, Adesuwa won the 2X Global Woman Fund Manager of the Year award and was recognised as one of the 150 Eko Aspire Women by the Lagos State Governor and recognized as one of the 100 Laureates by Institut Choiseul (2021-2025) under the age of 40 shaping Africa’s future. Adesuwa is also the only female in Nigeria to raise over $10 million in a first institutional fund. Aruwa Capital has $55m in assets under management and growing, deploying capital into critical sectors such as healthcare, agri-processing financial inclusion, and renewable energy. She is married with children and enjoys travelling, tennis, and cooking.

Kafilat Balogun

BOARD OBSERVER

Mrs. Balogun is a Business Development manager who has tremendously improved the company’s market position by handling business relationships. As an astute professional, she is responsible for securing new business deals and exploring opportunities for the growth of the Company. Her specific duties cut across taking part in industry events, proposing business deals, making investment recommendations, maintaining business information confidentiality, and working to enhance the reputation of the Company. Her core competence weighs heavily on updating the technical and professional knowledge of the management team to achieve better results.

She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from the prestigious University of Lagos and has consistently built on that foundation by obtaining several professional certifications in line with her specific work schedule and professional inclinations. She has been and continues to be an indispensable asset to the Company.