Aruwa Capital Management

It was a pleasure to recently speak at the 13th edition of the Leading Woman Series, hosted by Kemi Ajumobi of BusinessDay. This year’s theme, “The Audacity to Dare,” resonated deeply with me, celebrating the courage it takes for women to break barriers, challenge norms, take the road less travelled and create opportunities in spaces where women are often absent. As part of the panel, “Corporately Speaking, She Dared,” I joined inspiring women such as Kari Tukur of Mastercard Dr. Odiri Oginni, DBA, CFA of United Capital Plc Asset Management; and Ayodele Olojede FCA, MBA of Wema Bank Plc.. Moderated by Linda Uneze. MBA, MCIPM, SPHRi, ACC, HRPL of Maurice Xandra Solutions the discussion explored the bold decisions, resilience, and strategies that have shaped our journeys. I shared my story, reflecting on the challenges and daring moments that have defined my path—from founding Aruwa Capital Management pregnant at 29 years old, to driving change across the intentional investments we make everyday. The journey hasn’t always been easy, but daring to create my own opportunities has been instrumental in making an impact on the ecosystem. I also had the pleasure of inviting some amazing women in my network to share a table with me, as we listened to trailblazing women share their powerful stories. The room was filled with incredible energy, wisdom, and ambition, a testament to the collective strength of women daring to redefine industries and inspire change. Here’s to more women embracing audacity and daring greatly in their own journeys! #aruwacapital #theaudacitytodare #inspiringwomen #businessdayevents #womeninleadership #impact

It was a pleasure to be in Brussels today meeting with the EDFI Management Company EDFI ElectriFI - The Electrification Financing Initiative team discussing the Aruwa Capital Management journey and value proposition. I first met Quentin A. and Maud W. At the USAID Power Africa Nigeria Sector Program at an Investor Matchmaking event in May. I had the honour of being one of the funds that was spotlighted to present. Immediately after I finished the presentation highlighting our investment thesis for clean energy and our portfolio companies, Maud W. approached me about learning more about Aruwa Capital Management. In early November the EDFI ElectriFi team came back to Lagos to spend time with #teamAruwa and learn more about our approach and meet with some of our portfolio companies. It was a pleasure to meet with the CEO of the EDFI Management Company Rodrigo Madrazo Garcia de Lomana, Ph.D and the CIO Jean-Denis Collin, CFA today in Brussels with the rest of the EDFI ElectriFi team as we explore different avenues of collaboration and partnership with Aruwa Capital Management. My reflection today is the power of putting yourself out there, being visible and being authentic to your purpose, you never know who is watching. Thank you Lord for favour and opening doors I didnt know existed. #aruwacapital #teamAruwa #purpose #collaboration #partnership #investment #africa

Reliving the Brilliance of Mentor Matchup Challenge 6.0 ✨ The Mentor Matchup Challenge 6.0, hosted by 234Finance, was an indeed an inspiring platform where innovation and impact took centre stage. Our Founder, Adesuwa Okunbo Rhodes, brought her signature energy to the red carpet and profound insights to the conversation on strengthening local supply chains and how SMEs need resilience in these times. During the panel, Adesuwa shared actionable strategies to improve efficiency, reduce import dependency, and build resilience in local industries — showcasing Aruwa Capital Management’s unwavering commitment to driving inclusive growth and creating long-term impact. Relive the elegance of Adesuwa’s red carpet moments in this exclusive compilation by 234Finance — a celebration of leadership, vision, and purpose. Watch more highlights here: https://lnkd.in/dMSv2Wxw #aruwacapital #mentormatchup #teamaruwa #localproduction #supplychains #impactinvesting

At Aruwa Capital Management, we are proud to partner alongside other key stakeholders to democratise access to venture capital and drive transformative change across Africa. As part of the Included VC programme, we join a global movement that has spent the past five years unlocking opportunities for diverse and underrepresented talent in the venture capital ecosystem. This mission resonates deeply with our belief that representation matters—not just at the decision-making table, but across the entire investment value chain. Through this partnership with other valuable stakeholders, we are building pathways that empower Africa’s next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers. By working together, we aim to rewrite the rules of access and inclusion, ensuring that talent from all backgrounds has the opportunity to thrive and shape the future of our continent. Together, we’re not just imagining a more inclusive venture capital landscape—we’re creating it. 🚀 #aruwacapital #includedVC #venturecapital #diversityandinclusion #africainnovation

We were proud to have sponsored the recently concluded Green Conference for African Women Entrepreneurs, hosted by Impact HER Africa on December 11-12, 2024, in Abuja. The event was a resounding success, with over 1,000 women entrepreneurs from across Africa—including Chad, Cameroon, and Malawi—gathering to champion sustainable growth and eco-financing solutions. This year’s theme, “Igniting Africa’s Green Revolution: Empowering Women Entrepreneurs as Catalysts for Sustainable Growth and Access to Eco-Financing Solutions,” aligned perfectly with our mission to foster sustainability and support for female founded or led businesses. The conference featured impactful conversations, knowledge-sharing sessions, and networking opportunities that underscored the transformative role women entrepreneurs play in Africa’s green revolution. At Aruwa Capital Management, we remain committed to empowering women as leaders of sustainable growth, driving innovation, and creating lasting impact across the continent. Congratulations to Efe Ukala, Esq. and Impact HER Africa for hosting such a transformative event, and to all the incredible women who participated, inspired, and redefined what’s possible in Africa’s green economy! #aruwacapital #impacther #greenconference #womeninbusiness #sustainablegrowth #ecofinancing #teamaruwa

The Role of Pension Funds in Boosting Nigeria’s Private Equity Sector Pension funds have the potential to revolutionise Nigeria’s private equity landscape, creating pathways for SME growth, job creation, and significant economic transformation. With over ₦22 trillion / c$13 billion in assets under management, these funds hold the key to unlocking capital that could fuel sustainable development. However, challenges like currency risks and high allocations to fixed income persist. In this insightful article, Adegboyega Aderogba, Investment Analyst at Aruwa Capital, explores: - The current landscape of pension fund allocations to private equity in Nigeria. - Why private equity offers high real competitive returns, even amidst high inflation. - How strategic measures like local currency funds and enhanced transparency can bridge the gap between PE firms and pension funds, among other points. Private equity is not just an attractive asset class for pension funds, it is a catalyst for Nigeria’s long-term economic growth. Dive into the full article now to learn how these partnerships can reshape Nigeria's economic narrative. Read the full article here- http://eepurl.com/i5DD4g #aruwacapital #privatemarkets #pensionfunds #economicgrowth #impactinvesting #genderlens #sustainabledevelopment #financialinclusion

Today is D-Day! Aruwa Capital Management is at the 13th edition of the Inspiring Woman Series holding today at the Civic Center, Lagos. #aruwacapital #inspiringwoman #woweninleadership

Last week, I had the privilege of being invited by the African Development Bank Group to speak at the Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) Focused Dialogue Session at the Africa Investment Forum in Rabat, Morocco. Themed "Empowering Women in Business – A Catalyst for Investing in #TheAfricaWeWant," the session was a gathering of incredible minds showcasing the untapped potential of women on the continent. During the panel, expertly moderated by CNN’s Eleni Giokos, I had the honour of sitting alongside Wendy Teleki Head, We-Fi Secretariat at the The World Bank and Dipuo Phakathi (CEO, Denic Cabinets. Together, we delved into the transformative power of gender-lens investments, sharing our case studies and success stories. It was a pleasure to share how after a decade of sheer grit and persistence, Aruwa Capital Management has been able to mobilise $40m in global and local institutional capital targeted towards investing in female led and female focused businesses. We are now one of the top performing funds in the SME growth segment in West Africa with 7 partial exits out of 10 investments, 70% of our companies are female owned or led and we are supporting over 175,000 jobs. I am grateful to the African Development Bank Group team for their warm hospitality and for their commitment to fostering impactful initiatives like AFAWA. It was a privilege to engage with so many passionate stakeholders shaping Africa’s economic future. Sometimes, the work we’re called to do demands more than just commitment, it demands many trade offs, sacrifice, and a heart that’s fully present in multiple roles. I travelled to Casablanca at 5am from Lagos and left 11pm the same day driving to and from Rabat in between, just in time to join my husband the next morning cheer on my son, Samuel, at his end of year Christmas show. Balancing the demands of work and motherhood is never easy, but moments like these reaffirm that both roles are meaningful and deeply rewarding. To every woman wearing multiple hats, keep going, we got this by the special grace of God! Christine Looney Melissa Basque Roux Susan Okoh Leonard Kange Solomon Adegbie-Quaynor Alhassane Haidara #aruwacapital #afawa #impactinvesting #genderlens #womeninbusiness #theafricawewant #afdb

Aruwa Capital Digest: November Highlights! Welcome to the November edition of the Aruwa Capital Management Digest! This month, we spotlight impactful moments and remarkable achievements from across borders, showcasing Aruwa Capital's local and international impact. From Lagos, where we joined pivotal conversations at key events- Barclays Private Bank’s Psychology of Investing event, the Africa Prosperity Summit by Ventures Platform Fund, to London, where we proudly celebrated four historic wins at the prestigious Private Equity Africa Awards, November has been a month of extraordinary milestones. Discover all the highlights in this issue, including upcoming events and insights into our work driving sustainable growth, superior financial returns and gender equality. Read the full newsletter here and subscribe for more updates - http://eepurl.com/i5BVfU #aruwacapital #impactinvesting #genderlensinvesting #sustainablegrowth #aruwadigest #teamaruwa #diversityandinclusion

We’re thrilled to announce that our founder, Adesuwa Okunbo Rhodes,would be in Rabat, Morocco today, for the Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) Focused Dialogue Session at the Africa Investment Forum 2024. Tagged “Empowering Women in Business- A catalyst for investing in #theAfricawewant, this promises to be an insightful gathering of stakeholders from across Africa. Adesuwa will be speaking on a panel moderated by CNN’s Eleni Giokos, alongside Dipuo Phakathi, CEO of DeNic Cabinets and Wendy Teleki, Head of the We-Fi secretariat at the The World Bank. Together, they will discuss the transformative power of gender-focused investments in driving inclusive economic growth. This session, themed highlighting success stories, will spotlight actionable models and impactful solutions shaping the future of women-led enterprises across the continent. Showcasing the impact of Aruwa Capital Management on global platforms like Afawa highlights the power of collaborative efforts in driving inclusive growth and sustainable development. Aruwa Capital remains committed to creating lasting change through innovative investments that bridge the gender financing gap. Special thanks to the African Development Bank Group for the Afawa initiative, and for curating this impactful gathering of global leaders. Together, we’re charting a bold path for Africa’s economic transformation. cc: Africa Investment Forum African Guarantee Fund #afawaataif #aif2024 #roadto5billion #aruwacapital #genderlensinvesting #impactinvesting #womeninbusiness