The Impact Investors Foundation (IIF) has strengthened its governance structure with the appointment of three new members to its board of Trustees, as part of efforts to deepen Nigeria’s impact investing ecosystem and mobilize capital for inclusive growth.
The new trustees are Ms. Adesuwa Okunbo-Rhodes, founding partner and Chief Executive Officer of Aruwa Capital Management, Dr. Godwin Ehigiamusoe, FCIB, founder and Chief Executive Officer of LAPO Group, and Adewale Ajayi, partner and head of tax for KPMG Africa.
IIF said the appointment reflect its commitment to advancing innovative financing solutions that support sustainable development and financial inclusion across the country. The foundation added that the combined expertise of the new board members would enhance its governance, strategy and advocacy work in unlocking impact capital in Nigeria.
Okunbo-Rhodes is a private equity executive and a leading gender-lens investors in Africa. Through Aruwa Capital Management, she has mobilized capital for women-led and women-focused enterprises across West Africa, with a focus on inclusive business models and women’s economic empowerment.
Ehigiamusoe is widely regarded as a pioneer of Nigeria’s microfinance sector. As founder of LAPO Group, he has spent over three decades expanding access to finance for low-income households through innovative microfinance and social enterprise models.
Ajayi is a tax and advisory professional with decades of experience advising corporate, governments and non-profit organizations. As a partner at KPMG Nigeria, he brings expertise in corporate governance, financial management and value creation.
Commenting on the appointments, Chairman of Impact Investors Foundation, Frank Aigbogun, said the new trustees would play a critical role in advancing the foundation’s mandate.
“We are honoured to welcome such accomplish leaders to our Board. Their depth of experience in gender-len investing, microfinance and governance with be invaluable as we work to position impact capital as a catalyst for inclusive economic growth and resilience in Nigeria,” he said.
With the new appointments, IIF said it remains focused on fostering an enabling environment for impact investors, intermediaries and social entrepreneurs. Working with its board of trustees and the Nigerian National Advisory Board for Impact Investing (NABII), the foundation aims to unlock more capital for social investments, promote financial inclusion and support sustainable development outcomes nationwide.
