Skip to content Skip to footer
Sign up
Login
Close

Leadership

DR. YINKA ADEDEJI

Chairman
KAYODE FADAHUNSI

Vice Chairman
SAMSON ADEKUNLE

Non-Executive Director
LOTANNA UZOKA

Non-Executive Director
ADEBAYO ODEYALE

Non-Executive Director
DR. HAUWA BABAKOBI

Non-Executive Director
BOLANLE EKANIM

Non-Executive Director
KAYODE FADAHUNSI

MD, AVA Capital PLC
ABIOLA HAMMED

Head, AVA Capital PLC
ADEKUNLE ODEBIYI

Ag. Managing Director
ONIMITEYIM UGWI

Head, Northern Region,

ADEJOKE GANIYU

Ag. Managing Director & Executive Director
MOYOSOREOLUWA DUROJAYE

Head, AVA Trustees Limited
FAITH ALAYA

Trust Advisor & Legal Officer, AVA Trustees Limited

History

2018 – 2019

  • The AVA Capital Group (“The Group”) commenced operations with 2 companies – Elixir Capital Partners Limited and Helix Securities Limited implementing the roadmap and business model pre-determined prior to the commencement of

operations.

  • The Group added ‘Nachtwey Limited’ which was created to provide customized fund and asset management solutions to our clients based on our understanding of their needs and objectives. The business through innovative and disruptive product and services currently has Assets under Management in excess of ₦7 billion.
Show More
Show Less

2020 – 2021

  • Our businesses had a rebrand. The result from this are; Elixir Capital Partners Limited became AVA Capital Partners Limited, Helix Securities Limited became AVA Securities Limited, and Natchwey Limited became AVA Global Asset Managers Limited.
  • During the fourth quarter of 2020, the group added to its bouquet of financial services, AVA Trustees Limited. In 2021, AVA Trustees Limited officially kicked off.
  • The Group successfully closed out of several private-sector mandates in the capacity of Joint Issuing House. From Series 2 ₦6.5 Bn Green Bond Issuance by NSP Power SPV Plc; Transcorp Hotels Plc ₦10 Bn Rights Issue and the VFD Group Rights Issue and a host of other public sector transactions.
  • In 2020, AVA Capital Partners was awarded the FMDQ Most active Transaction Sponsor.
Show More
Show Less

2022 – 2023

  • In 2022, AVA Capital Partners Limited for the second time was awarded the FMDQ Most active Transaction Sponsor.
  • Our asset management team successfully delivered top-of-the-line investment management services to our clients, with Assets

Under Management (AUM) currently in excess of ₦60 billion.

  • Our Asset management team (AVA GGAM) received SEC approval to launch the AVA Infrastructure Fund, with a program size of ₦200 billion. The company has successfully opened and closed the first series of the fund, valued at ₦4.075 billion..
  • AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund was listed by the Nigeria Exchange Group as top 2 for the best fund return performance by the end of 2023.
Show More
Show Less

2024

  • AVA GAM got an A+ credit rating “Data Pro” and a BBB rating from “Augusto and Co “
  • Over the last 5 years, AVA GAM have successfully managed a cumulative sum of over ₦121bn, paid out over ₦71bn in capital repayments, and over ₦11.7bn in investment returns to our

clients with zero regulatory infractions or sanctions.

  • In the third quarter of 2024, AVA Global Asset Managers successfully listed the ₦4.1bn AVA Infrastructure Fund Series 1 Issuance on the Nigeria Exchange Group and rang the closing gong.
Show More
Show Less

Adedeji Adeyinka,PhD

Chairman, Board of Directors

Dr. Adeyinka Adedeji is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of AVA Capital PLC, responsible for providing strategic leadership and governance oversight across the Group’s multi-entity investment and financial services operations.

His career spans banking, finance, and digital transformation at the highest levels of the African financial sector. Most notably, he was Group Divisional Head of Digital Banking at UBA Group one of Africa’s largest and most systemically significant financial institutions, where he led the development and deployment of large-scale digital banking infrastructure, strengthening operational capabilities and expanding service delivery across multiple markets.

At AVA Capital, Dr. Adedeji’s role as Chairman is to set the governance tone for the entire Group. He guides the Board in establishing long-term strategic direction, reinforcing institutional discipline, and ensuring that the Group’s decision-making processes remain aligned with the expectations of regulators, investors, and stakeholders. His oversight is integral to maintaining the integrity and credibility that underpin AVA Capital’s market reputation.

Dr. Adedeji holds a PhD in Polymer Physics from Case Western Reserve University, an MBA, and a Master’s degree in Finance from the State University of New York an academic foundation that reflects both the precision and the breadth of thinking he brings to institutional leadership.

Kayode Fadahunsi

Vice Chairman

Olukayode Fadahunsi is the Vice-Chairman of the Board of AVA Capital PLC, responsible for supporting strategic governance and contributing to the direction of the Group’s investment and capital markets businesses.

With over two decades of experience in capital markets, investment management, and financial services, he brings a depth of industry understanding that is directly relevant to the Group’s core business. His experience encompasses the structuring of complex financial transactions, building institutional relationships, and navigating the regulatory and market dynamics of Nigeria’s financial sector.

In his capacity as Vice-Chairman, he provides experienced counsel to the Board on matters of market strategy, business development, and long-term growth, ensuring that governance deliberations are informed by practical, on-the-ground market intelligence.

He is an alumnus of Harvard Business School and Lagos Business School.

 

 

 

SAMSON ADEKUNLE

Non-Executive Director

Samson Adekunle is a Non-Executive Director of AVA Capital PLC, providing independent oversight and governance counsel with a specialised focus on risk management, internal control, and regulatory compliance.

He is a Certified Risk Analyst, a SEC-Sponsored Compliance Officer, and an Associate Chartered Stockbroker; a combination of credentials that positions him as a credible and technically grounded voice on matters of institutional risk and compliance at the board level. He also holds an Executive Certificate in Innovation and Commercialisation from MIT, reflecting an understanding of how financial institutions must evolve in a rapidly changing market environment.

His contribution to the Board is centred on ensuring that AVA Capital PLC maintains robust governance structures, sound risk frameworks, and the regulatory discipline that investors and clients rightly expect from a financial institution of this scale.

Lotanna Uzoka

Non-Executive Director

Lotanna Uzoka is a Non-Executive Director of AVA Capital PLC, bringing over two decades of cross-sector leadership experience to the Board’s governance and strategic advisory functions.

Her professional background spans aviation, business consulting, investment management, and outsourcing; sectors that demand the same qualities required of any well-governed financial institution: operational discipline, stakeholder alignment, and the ability to manage complex organisational structures under pressure. This breadth of experience allows her to contribute independent strategic insight that complements the Group’s investment and capital markets focus.

As a Non-Executive Director, she plays an important role in ensuring that board-level deliberations benefit from perspectives that extend beyond the financial sector, strengthening the overall quality of the Group’s governance.

Adebayo Odeyale

Non-Executive Director

Adebayo Odeyale is a Non-Executive Director of AVA Capital PLC, contributing to board-level governance with experience drawn from a distinguished career spanning banking, healthcare, and oil & gas.

A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) and the Nigerian Institute of Management, he brings a multi-disciplinary perspective to institutional decision-making; one that encompasses both the human capital dimensions and the broader organisational dynamics that determine how financial institutions sustain performance over time.

His engagement at the board level reflects a commitment to governance that is not only technically sound but operationally grounded, supporting the Group in building the internal structures and culture necessary for long-term institutional credibility.

 

Dr. Hauwa Babakobi

Non-Executive Director

Dr. Hauwa Babakobi is a Non-Executive Director of AVA Capital PLC, providing independent governance oversight and strategic guidance rooted in an extensive background in law, public policy, and corporate administration.

She is a Fellow of the Institute of Corporate Administration and the Africa Institute of Public Administration;  institutions that represent the highest standards of governance practice across the continent. Her expertise in regulatory environments, policy frameworks, and institutional accountability makes her a valuable voice on matters of corporate governance, legal risk, and stakeholder engagement at the board level.

Her role within the AVA Capital Board is to provide the kind of independent, rigorous scrutiny that strengthens institutional credibility and ensures that the Group operates with the transparency and accountability that investors, regulators, and clients expect.

BOLANLE EKANIM

Non-Executive Director

Omobolanle Ekanim is a Non-Executive Director across AVA Capital PLC and AVA Trustees, bringing specialised expertise in human capital management and organisational development to the Group’s governance structure.

She is a Full Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management and an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Directors, with cross-sector experience spanning both domestic and international institutions. Her professional grounding gives her a detailed understanding of how talent, culture, and institutional structure interact to drive or undermine organisational performance.

In her board capacity, she provides governance oversight on matters relating to human capital strategy, organisational effectiveness, and institutional culture ensuring that the foundations on which AVA Capital’s businesses are built are as robust as the investment strategies they support. She is an alumna of Lagos Business School.

 

 

Kayode Fadahunsi

MD, AVA Capital PLC

Olukayode Fadahunsi is the Managing Director of AVA Capital PLC, with overall responsibility for the Group’s strategy, performance, and operational leadership across its investment banking, asset management, securities, and fiduciary services businesses.

He brings over two decades of experience in capital markets and investment management, during which he has developed a strong track record in structuring complex financial transactions, building institutional platforms, and driving sustainable commercial growth. His understanding of Nigeria’s investment landscape, its opportunities, its regulatory environment, and its competitive dynamics informs both the Group’s strategic positioning and its day-to-day execution.

As Managing Director, he is responsible for translating the Group’s long-term vision into operational reality. He works closely with the leadership teams of each subsidiary to align business objectives, strengthen governance frameworks, and ensure that AVA Capital consistently delivers value to its clients, investors, and stakeholders. His leadership is characterised by a focus on institutional discipline ensuring that growth is pursued on a foundation of sound processes, strong compliance, and a clear understanding of client needs.

Olukayode is an alumnus of Harvard Business School and Lagos Business School.

ABIOLA HAMMED

Head, AVA Capital PLC

Abiola Hammed leads AVA Capital PLC, the Group’s investment banking and structured finance business, where he is responsible for originating, structuring, and executing transactions across capital raising, mergers and acquisitions, private placements, and financial advisory mandates.

He has accumulated extensive experience working with sub-national governments and institutional clients, and has led transactions exceeding ₦65 billion spanning infrastructure financing, debt capital markets, and equity transactions across key sectors of the Nigerian economy. His work sits at the intersection of financial engineering and strategic client advisory, requiring the ability to understand complex client objectives and design solutions that are executable within the constraints of the market and regulatory environment.

His approach to investment banking is grounded in analytical rigour and a deep familiarity with capital markets dynamics; qualities that allow him to structure transactions that balance client ambition with investor appetite, and that hold up under the scrutiny of sophisticated counterparties.

Abiola holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, one of the most rigorous and globally respected credentials in investment management and a Master’s degree in Energy Economics from the University of Ibadan.

KUNLE ODEBIYI

Ag. Managing Director

Adekunle Odebiyi is the Acting Managing Director of AVA Global Asset Managers, where he is responsible for investment strategy, portfolio management, and the overall growth of client assets under the firm’s management.

He brings over 14 years of experience across asset management, corporate finance, and lending, with particular depth in fixed income markets, debt structuring, and risk management. Prior to joining AVA, he held senior roles at Trives Finance Company Limited, Devonsley Limited, and Guaranty Trust Bank — institutions where he built hands-on expertise in credit assessment, structured lending, and portfolio construction across multiple sectors of the economy.

In his current role, he oversees the investment decision-making process, portfolio performance monitoring, and the client relationship frameworks that ensure AVA Global Asset Managers delivers returns aligned with client mandates. His leadership is defined by investment discipline — the commitment to process-driven decision-making, rigorous risk management, and the kind of consistency in execution that allows clients to trust that their assets are being managed with both competence and care.

Adekunle is an alumnus of Lagos Business School and Harvard Business School. He holds a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University and is currently pursuing an MBA at the University of East London.

Onimiteyim Ugwi

Head, Northern Region

Onimiteyim Ugwi leads AVA Global Asset Managers’ Northern Region operations, where she is responsible for regional business strategy, revenue growth, and the management of key relationships with institutional investors and high net worth clients across Northern Nigeria.

She brings over a decade of experience in investment and business development, spanning asset management, financial advisory, and accounting. Prior to joining AVA, she served as Regional Branch Head (North West) at United Capital PLC, where she led operations and business development across seven states — demonstrating the ability to build and sustain institutional presence across a geographically complex and commercially competitive landscape.

Her expertise encompasses portfolio advisory, investment structuring, and client relationship management, supported by a strong technical understanding of both local and global financial markets. She has a demonstrated track record of originating and executing high-value transactions for institutional clients and senior stakeholders, and brings to AVA’s Northern Region the commercial judgment and relationship depth required to grow the business in one of Nigeria’s most strategically important markets.

She holds a B.Sc. in Economics and Statistics from the University of Benin and is currently pursuing an MBA at Ahmadu Bello University.

 

Adejoke Ganiyu

Ag. Managing Director & Executive Director

Adejoke Ganiyu is the Acting Managing Director and Executive Director of AVA Securities Limited, where she holds executive responsibility for the firm’s operations across stockbroking, asset management, fund management, and financial technology.

She is a SEC-sponsored Chartered Stockbroker with over 13 years of experience in Nigeria’s capital markets; a tenure that has given her a comprehensive understanding of both the regulatory architecture and the commercial dynamics that define the industry. Her expertise spans the full range of capital markets operations, from client advisory and order execution to regulatory compliance and internal process management, making her a well-rounded leader capable of driving performance across multiple business lines simultaneously.

Her leadership at AVA Securities is focused on building an operationally disciplined, commercially effective, and fully compliant securities business; one that can serve both retail and institutional clients with the reliability and expertise that the Nigerian capital markets environment demands.

She is currently a participant in the Senior Management Programme at Lagos Business School and holds a background in Sciences and an MBA in Finance.

MOYOSOREOLUWA DUROJAYE

Head, AVA Trustees Limited

Moyosoreoluwa Durojaye leads AVA Trustees Limited, where she is responsible for the full scope of the firm’s fiduciary services spanning trust administration, estate planning, wealth transfer structuring, and client relationship management across both individual and institutional mandates.

Her professional background encompasses corporate law, asset management, and investment analysis; a combination that is directly suited to the technical and relational demands of fiduciary work. She approaches trust management with both legal precision and financial understanding, ensuring that structures are not only correctly established but properly administered over time and aligned with the evolving needs of clients and beneficiaries.

In a business where clients are entrusting AVA Trustees Limited with the protection and orderly transfer of their most significant assets, her role is fundamentally one of stewardship. She is responsible for ensuring that every engagement from initial structuring through to ongoing administration and compliance reflects the highest standards of fiduciary responsibility, regulatory adherence, and client service. Her leadership reinforces the credibility and reliability that define AVA Trustees Limited as a serious and trustworthy institution.

She is an alumna of Harvard Business School Online and Lagos Business School.

Faith Alaya

Trust Advisor & Legal Officer

Faith Alaya is a Trust Advisor and Legal Officer at AVA Trustees Limited, responsible for providing legal and advisory expertise across the full lifecycle of trust and estate management for individuals, families, and corporate clients.

Her professional profile combines a solid legal foundation with specialised experience in trust administration, fiduciary compliance, and wealth structuring. She is directly involved in the structuring and drafting of Wills and Private Trust Deeds, client onboarding and KYC processes, investment execution within trust arrangements, and the ongoing administration and reporting that ensures each trust operates in full compliance with regulatory requirements. She has successfully administered over six Public Trusts, demonstrating the operational capability and attention to detail that the administration of complex fiduciary arrangements demands.

Beyond administration, she provides legal and regulatory compliance advisory to both private and corporate clients, helping to identify structural risks, strengthen governance frameworks, and ensure that trust arrangements achieve their intended purpose without legal or administrative complications.

Her areas of focus include estate planning, succession planning, long-term wealth structuring, and the implementation of governance frameworks for complex family and corporate trust structures. Faith holds a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) from Ajayi Crowther University and a Barrister at Law (B.L) from the Nigerian Law School.