Leadership

CHAIRMAN

Mrs. Olajumoke Akinwunmi is an astute Real Estate professional with over 20 years of experience.  She co-founded Alithea Capital, a business and real estate investment advisory and private equity firm. In the past decade the firm has made investments that engender financial inclusion through a financial services fund, environmental sustainability through a clean energy fund, and currently incubating a USD100m SME fund, anchored by AFDB and targeted at women owned businesses. 

In the last 6years, Mrs. Olajumoke worked with the Government of Ogun State leading initiatives as  Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing Development, General Manager of the State House Corporation, Director General of the Bureau of Lands and Survey. 

She was also an Interim Managing Director of the Family Homes Funds, a Federal Government

backed housing program whose multi-prolonged mandate, using housing delivery as an economic  stimulant, includes the development of local technical and manufacturing capacity in the housing sector. She was also the Managing Director at Avante Property Asset Management Services and also a portfolio manager at Shell Nigeria Closed Penson Fund Administrators. 

CEO & CO-FOUNDER

Olayide Agboola, also known as Laide or LA is a transformational Nigerian Entrepreneur and finance executive who has  driven impact across multiple corporations and in various roles---corporate finance, asset management, investment banking, real estate and now lifestyle development. He is a financial expert and thorough bred investment banker with diverse experience in the full array of investment banking and wealth management services. 

He has delivered significant business value through diversity and inclusion, excellence and talent development. He has  strengthened the finance pipeline of talent, capabilities, and culture by pioneering the design and implementation of  people development and mentorship frameworks, diversity and inclusion, and culture programs. 

Prior to joining Purple, Laide Agboola held various executive roles at IBTC Asset Management Limited (now Stanbic IBTC  Asset Management Limited, a subsidiary of Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc), Investment Banking and Trust Company Limited (now Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc), Stanbic Capital Limited, UBA Global Markets Limited (now United Capital Plc), Alitheia Capital Limited, BGL Plc and Managing Partner and Founder, Alternative Capital Partners Limited. 

He also served as Technical Assistant to a former Honorable Minister of State for Finance, Federal Republic of Nigeria  between 2007 and 2010 with a focus on financial and capital markets as well as special projects.  

Mr. Agboola holds a Master of Engineering degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Sheffield and also holds a Master of Science degree in Finance and a Diploma of Finance from the prestigious Imperial College Business School, London. 

Laide Agboola was the first Nigerian to be elected as International Students' Officer at University of Sheffield Students'  Union in 1999 by an overwhelming majority. He led the University of Sheffield International Students' Committee; served and represented on the University Senate and also served on the Board of SUSU Services Limited - the Union Corporate 

Entity. During this period, he also contested the National Union of Students United Kingdom National Black Students  Officer role (Runner-Up) and served as North East Area Convenor UK for the NUS Black Students. 

He is currently the co-founder and CEO of Purple Group; with a portfolio that includes PurpleMaryland (formerly  Maryland Mall), PurpleLekki and other residential developments as well as lifestyle brand and products. Purple aims to provide affordable lifestyle experiences for their consumers through principal investments in superior mixed-use facilities and services. 

Laide Agboola takes special care to ensure that he understands the need of every single client, and is always there for his  clients, whether it is during the business day, or after hours. He is passionate, trustworthy, communicates impeccably  with crystal clear vision for ‘the future is now’ an inspiration for the people across Nigeria. He has inspired others by his various achievements, but also by his attitude and values. He has made a lasting contribution towards creating a better world.

DCEO & CO-FOUNDER

Obinna Onunkwo is a seasoned securities specialist with almost 20 years of experience in investment management. He has a rich background in investment banking, asset management, agri-commodity exports, equities research and trading. He has over the years played active roles as lead fund manager in various corporate actions.

A serial entrepreneur, Obinna has been instrumental in the setting up of various financial houses including Guardian Express Trust, Alternative Capital Partners, Spring Capital Markets amongst others.

Obinna has an Executive MBA from Lagos Business School, a Cum Laude degree in Economics from the University of Port Harcourt and has also undertaken courses at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, California, USA.

He has played active governance roles on the boards of other companies including the board of Law Union & Rock Plc, where he headed the Risk Management board committee and the Technical Committee for corporate transformation.

Currently, Obinna is a Founding Managing Partner and Director at Purple, where he has spearheaded the company’s growth in real estate and especially financial services. He is a co-founder and Managing Director of “Purplemoney”, a CBN Licensed retail lending microfinance institution. Obinna is also a chief promoter of the Microfinance Development Company Limited a consortium of leading Microfinance Banks in Nigeria. 

Obinna is a member of the Institute of Directors, The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria and a Certified Microfinance Professional.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FINANCE, STRATEGY AND COMMERCIALS

Seyi is a highly accomplished, result-driven senior accounting and financial management executive with over a decade of progressive experience in finance operations management within startups and global organisations.

She is a graduate of Accounting from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi. After which she obtained her Master of Business Administration (MBA) from School of Management, Bradford University, UK.

As an Accountant and Auditor with Abraaj Group, Ernst & Young and Olayinka Osibodu & co., she  gained experience in improving the financial performance of organisations, optimising productivity and internal control as well as guiding finance teams, developing and implementing financial controls and processes. Her outstanding leadership, communication and interpersonal skills also makes her an asset to any organisation.

She is a Fellow of The Association of Chartered Accountants (ACCA), UK and an Associate Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria(ICAN). She currently functions as the Finance Director for Purple Group

ADVISOR TO THE BOARD

Olutola is an Accounting and Finance graduate of the State University of New York at Binghamton  (now Binghamton University) and holder of Master of Business Administration degree of the School of Management Studies (now Schulisch Business School), York University, Toronto, Canada. A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, he was the second person to be elected the President and  Chairman of Council of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers following the tenure of Mr Gamaliel  Onosode. 

From 2002 to 2006, he was an assessor and part-time member of the pioneer Board of the Investment  and Securities Tribunal. In 2000, he served as Chairman of the Securities & Exchange Commission Panel on the Re-activation of the Bond Market in Nigeria, a report that provided the platform for the re-introduction of Federal Government Bond issues. He was pivotal to the Debt Management Office's issuance of the 1st and 2nd FGN Bonds leading his Capital Bancorp's team as Advisers and Stockbrokers to the Issue. He had previously served on the Council of The Nigerian Stock Exchange. In 2004, he also served as a Consultant to the Senate Committee on Pensions in the drafting of the Pensions Reform Act 2004. He has served on many industry advisory panels on issues relating to the Capital Market and Investments.

NON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Sir Nnamdi Obi (Pharm) is the Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Embassy

Pharmaceuticals and Chemicals Limited which he founded in 1986. He serves as the President of APIN  (The Association of Pharmaceuticals Importers of Nigeria) a position he has chaired for several years. 

Sir Obi is also a Director at Purple Capital Partners Limited. His entrepreneurial values have been  highlighted by numerous awards including that for being the Most Compliant Importer.

INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR

Mr. Muhtar Bakare is a graduate of the Senior Executive Programme for Africa from the prestigious Harvard and Wits Business Schools. Mr Muhtar Bakare has a B.Sc. and an M.Sc. in Architecture, both from Obafemi Awolowo University. He is an ex-Banker and a renowned independent publisher.

He had 10 years experience at Citibank Nigeria, and was previously an Executive Director at Trust Bank of Africa (now Sterling Bank). He was also the Founder of Kachifo Limited, Publishers of Farafina and assisted in the creation and led the pioneer editorial department of the defunct Nigerian Newspaper NEXT in 2008.

He was the Managing Director of Pearson Education Publishing Limited Nigeria, the Nigerian operation of the leading education services provider in the world and is currently the Chairman of the Board of Noor Takaful Insurance Limited.c.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, COO

Sunkanmi has over 15 years’ experience in Corporate Finance, Fund raising, Transactions and deal advisory having worked with various companies such as, Diamond Bank, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and Synergy Private Equity Fund.

‘Sunkanmi is a Senior Vice President at Synergy Private Equity Fund (a $500m fund manager) responsible for deal origination, evaluation, investment making, monitoring and exit of portfolio companies.

At Diamond Bank (now Access Bank), he led the Structured Finance & Advisory Unit of the Corporate Banking Division with portfolio of over $1billion having participated actively in Reserved Based Lending, asset acquisitions, Club and Syndicated financing across the Energy, Infrastructure, Telecoms, Manufacturing Divisions .

‘Sunkanmi also worked as an Investment professional in the Corporate Finance Unit at PwC which involves providing various financial advisory services such as; Sell side/ Buy-side Advisory, Business plan documentation and review, Commercial and Financial Due Diligences, Valuation and financial modelling, fund raising etc.

‘Sunkanmi is an Associate Member of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ACA), a First-Class graduate (B.Sc.) of Finance from the University of Lagos.

He currently serves as non-executive director of Bell Oil & Gas Limited and Africa Terminals Limited

NON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Mr. Olatunbosun is currently the Managing Director of Network Hotels Ltd. Shortly after obtaining a  BSc Economics, he started his career in 1996 as Complex Manager at Maryland Shopping Complex as it was then called. He later joined John Holt PLC in 1998 as a Rental Sales Manager with Avis-rent-a-car. The following year Olatunbosun was transferred to Warri, Delta state as the regional Sales manager to oversee the regions ”vehicle sales and lease functions particularly with several multinational oil giants” shell and many government agencies and parastatals. He left John Holt in 2000 to pursue MSc programme in Advanced Information Technology at London South Bank University. On completion, he got joined monster.co.uk as project manager, one of the largest recruitment websites in the world. He headed the graduate recruitment for Her Majesty’s Prison service, England’s National Health Service (NHS) the largest and the oldest single-payer health-care system in the world. He is currently the Managing Director at Network Hotels Limited, a certified project manager and a member of the British Computer Society.

Non-Executive Director

Aminu Umar is the Founder and CEO of Sea Transport Services Nigeria Limited, a prominent Nigerian company in the clean petroleum products transportation sector. Sea Transport stands as West Africa's primary transporter of such products, boasting the distinction of operating Nigerian-flagged vessels with certified Oil Companies International Marine Forum Shipping Inspection Reports. Aminu's leadership has propelled the company's growth, evolving from a brokerage firm in 2000 to vessel charterer in 2004 and eventually acquiring its first vessel in 2008. Presently, the company boasts an impressive fleet of eleven vessels, offering top-tier vessel chartering services to cargo owners, traders, and financiers across West Africa covering a 25% market share of petroleum movement in Nigeria coming behind state owned NNPC that accounts for 33% of the market share.

Under Aminu's guidance, Sea Transport has earned a reputation for unwavering professionalism and innovative solutions within the Oil & Gas industry. He has been instrumental in shaping maritime policies for the Federal Government and various State Governments, garnering industry recognition and patronage from major players, including international oil companies like Total, Agip, and Addax.

Aminu Umar holds significant business connections with both local and international trading companies, such as Vitol, Glencore, Trafigura, Sahara Group, AYM Shafa, NIPCO, and NEPAL. Additionally, he actively contributes to the Nigerian Maritime Industry, serving as the President of the Nigeria Chamber of Shipping and the immediate past President of the Nigeria ShipOwner's Association. Furthermore, he holds key positions on several international committees and is pursuing an MBA in Shipping and Logistics from Copenhagen Business School in Denmark whilst currently holding a BSc. in Accounting from the University of Maiduguri.

Aminu is happily married with a family and remains a notable figure in the Nigerian business landscape.

NON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Dr Hilary Onyiuke has been a Director of Citibank Nigeria Ltd since June 2010. Dr. Onyiuke holds an MB,  B.S. degree from the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan and has more than 20 years professional experience as a Neurosurgeon across multiple continents.

INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR

Mr. Adedoyin Afun is a Partner at Bloomfield Law Practice, a leading multidisciplinary firm which

provides legal advice on all aspects of corporate and commercial law in Nigeria. His core areas of  practice are Corporate Finance, Maritime, Aviation & International Trade, Banking & Securities, Foreign Investments & Divestments, Insurance and Project Finance. Adedoyin holds a Bachelor of law degree from the University of Ibadan and a Masters of Law degree in International Commercial and Maritime Law from Swansea University, Wales. He is admitted into the Nigerian bar and also a solicitor of England and Wales. 

Mr. Afun is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, Law Society of England & Wales, International  Bar Association (Maritime and Transport Law Committee), The Association of Average Adjusters UK, Nigerian Maritime Law Association, amongst other associations.