Ireti Samuel-Ogbu is a highly regarded business leader with over 36 years of experience in international banking with Citibank. She assumed the role as Chairperson of the Board of Directors at Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) in April 2025, following her retirement as Managing Director and Citi Country Officer for Nigeria and Ghana in August 2024. Ireti led Citi’s institutional businesses in Nigeria and Ghana, with oversight across Banking, Capital Markets and Advisory, Securities Services, and Treasury and Trade Solutions. During this period, she steered the franchise through significant macroeconomic and regulatory headwinds, strengthening its strategic momentum and resilience. Her international career within Citibank spanned senior leadership roles across the United Kingdom, Nigeria, and South Africa. These roles comprised relationship, product and operations management for country clusters and 55 countries in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa region.

Her boardroom experience includes Citibank Nigeria where she was a Non-Executive Director for 6 years and Chair of the Risk Committee prior to becoming the Managing Director . She also served on the board of CHAPS Clearing UK, the high value payment system operated by the Bank of England and a UK-based charity, Opportunity International .

Ireti holds an MBA from the University of Bradford and a BA (Hons) in Accounting and Finance from Middlesex University in the United Kingdom. Her leadership and impact have been recognized with several accolades, including Financial Services Leader of the Year by the Black British Business Awards in 2019, inclusion in the Women in FinTech Power List by Innovate Finance in 2017, and the Best Professional Executive award at the 2009 Nigeria Achievement Awards in South Africa . She was named an Honorary Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers Nigeria in 2022.

Dr. Rita Ijeoma Sike serves as Director of the Financial Policy and Regulation Department at the Central Bank of Nigeria, where she leads the formulation of regulatory policies, licensing frameworks, and supervisory guidelines aimed at safeguarding the stability and integrity of Nigeria’s financial system. Her responsibilities include the proactive identification and management of systemic financial risks, as well as driving reforms to strengthen financial sector resilience.

Dr. Sike brings over two decades of experience spanning banking, accounting, supervision, and financial regulation. She holds a B.Sc. in Accounting from the University of Calabar, and both M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Management from Nile University of Nigeria. A Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), she has undertaken extensive executive education and professional training both locally and internationally, enhancing her expertise in regulatory strategy and financial system oversight.

Respected for her technical depth and leadership, Dr. Sike continues to play a pivotal role in shaping Nigeria’s evolving financial regulatory landscape.

Farouk M. Mujtaba is a seasoned central banker and investment professional with over two decades of experience spanning reserve management, strategy, and economic policy. He currently serves as Director of Reserve Management at the Central Bank of Nigeria, where he oversees the prudent investment and strategic allocation of the country’s external reserves. In this role, he leads portfolio diversification initiatives, optimizing reserve performance across a broad range of asset classes.

Farouk M. Mujtaba is also responsible for managing the Central Bank’s relationships with key financial counterparties, including global asset managers, multilateral institutions, custodians, central banks, and correspondent banks. Under his leadership, the Reserve Management Department has enhanced transparency, risk management, and portfolio efficiency in line with international best practices.

He joined the Central Bank of Nigeria in 2003 and has since held leadership roles across strategy, economic policy, and investment management functions. Mr. Mujtaba holds a strong track record in aligning macroeconomic objectives with institutional investment mandates, and he brings deep insights into sovereign asset management and global capital markets.

Roosevelt Ogbonna is the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank PLC. He has over 20 years of experience in banking cutting across treasury, commercial, corporate and investment banking. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, a Senior Executive Fellow of Harvard Kennedy School, an alumnus of Harvard Business School and a CFA charter holder. He holds a master’s degree in Business Administration from IMD Business School, an Executive Master’s degree in Business Administration from Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business and a Bachelor’s degree in Banking and Finance from University of Nigeria, Nsukka. In 2015, he was selected as one of the Institute of International Finance (IIF) Future Global Leaders. Mr. Ogbonna sits on the board of several institutions including, Access Bank UK Limited, Access Bank (Zambia) Ltd and Central Securities Clearing System PLC.

Soula has more than 30 years of financial services experience. She has a deep understanding of capital markets, fundraising, brand building and real estate. She has been an adjunct Professor at Johns Hopkins Carey School of Business and School for Advanced International Studies (SAIS). She is an independent non-executive director, consultant, and advisor to several organisations. She has extensive experience as board chair, committee chair (nominations, and compensation committees), committee member (audit and credit) of not-for-profit as well as commercial boards.

Ms. Proxenos received an M. B. A. from the University of Stellenbosch, in South Africa. Soula has an INSEAD certification in Corporate Governance.

Mr. Batchi Baldeh is an investment banker, infrastructure developer and utility management specialist, with over 33 years of professional experience across the power value chain and financing capital structure. Mr. Baldeh is currently the Director – Power Systems Development, at the African Development Bank (AfDB), which he joined in May 2017. He is also responsible for the management of the AfDB’s private sector energy loan portfolio. Prior to joining AfDB, Mr. Baldeh was the Director – Power Business, Investments Division, at the Africa Finance Corporation. He has also been a consultant to the World Bank, European Union / BizClim and Government of Lesotho; and was the pioneer Managing Director of Gambia’s National Water and Electricity Company, from 1995 – 1999. He is currently a Non-executive Director of the Development Bank of Nigeria; and served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Cabeolica S.A. and Cenpower Operations and Services Limited. Batchi holds an MBA from Boston University (USA) and BSc- Honours in Electrical & Electronic Engineering from Newcastle-upon-Tyne University (UK). He is a member of the Institute of Engineering & Technology (UK) and a Fellow of the Institute of Directors, Southern Africa.

Bolaji Jubril Lawal is the new MD/CEO of Ecobank Nigeria Limited. He has over 28 years deep involvement and experience in Digital and Retail Banking, Corporate and Commercial Banking, Credit Risk Management and Corporate Finance.

Prior to his appointment, Mr. Lawal served in different capacities at GT Bank Plc, including as a General Manager and Executive Director, where he led the team that envisioned and implemented GT Bank Plc’s Retail and Digital Banking strategy to achieve industry wide leadership over a ten-year period and introduced new products and solutions that have helped deepen payments and access to digital financial services in Nigeria.

Mr. Lawal holds a Master of Business Administration, University of Oxford, Bachelor of Laws (BL), Nigerian Law School and Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) from Obafemi Awolowo University.

He was appointed to the AFC Board on 1^st April 2022.

Ini Ebong was appointed Deputy Managing Director of First Bank in June 2024. Prior to this appointment he was Executive Director, Treasury and International Banking in January 2022. He was previously the Group Executive, Treasury and International Banking, a position he held from 2016 to 2022 after serving as the Bank’s Treasurer from 2011 to 2016. Before joining FirstBank as the Group Treasurer in 2011, Mr. Ebong was the Head of African Fixed Income and Local Markets Trading, Renaissance Securities Nigeria Limited, the Nigerian registered subsidiary of Renaissance Capital. He also worked at Citigroup for 14 years, starting in sales and trading within the Treasury Group, before rotating through a wide variety of trading roles across most treasury products, asset and liability management, treasury sales and marketing, treasury risk management, before becoming Country Treasurer and Sales and Trading Business Head in June 2003.

Mr. Ebong is a qualified architect and holds a BSc. and MSc in Architecture, obtained in 1990 and 1992 respectively, from the University of Ife, Nigeria.

Anthony Akindele Ogunranti, an Executive Director at Zenith Bank Plc, with a broad-based wealth of experience spanning over 30+ years in Banking & Finance, in both Nigeria and Ghana. Prior to his current appointment, he was MD/CEO, Zenith Bank Ghana, one of the largest banks in Ghana. A transformational and dynamic leader who has led various teams in different capacities to achieve outstanding results. A recipient of several awards; led Zenith Bank Ghana to receive the BANK OF THE YEAR AWARD (2020), CEO OF THE YEAR (Banking Category -2021), OUSTANDING BANKING & FINANCE CEO OF THE YEAR(2021), and also honoured by his alma-mater with the DISTINGUISHED GREAT IFE ALUMNUS AWARD (OAU IFE -2021) to mention a few. His extensive leadership and professional experience cut across; general management, business development, change & process management, credit and marketing, structured trade/project finance, and advisory services. He was also at various times General Manager/Group Head, Corporate Banking; Infrastructure &Power; Lagos Public and Private Sector Businesses (Ikeja & Apapa Zones) and Multilateral/Export Credit Agencies (ECAs). He has a strong passion for community service/CSR initiatives and has also been Guest Speaker at various local and international seminars. He holds a B.Sc. (Hons) in International Relations, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, an MBA in Marketing, and an MSc (Hons) Banking & Finance, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. He has also attended the Executive Education Programmes of the Wharton Business School & Harvard Business School, USA respectively. An Honorary Senior Member, Chartered Institute of Bankers, Nigeria (HCIB), Member, Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered), and Honorary Fellow, Chartered Institute of Credit Management, Ghana (FCICM). Until his appointment to the Board of Zenith Bank Plc, he was a member of the Board/Governing Council of the National Banking College, Ghana (NBC) and Executive Member, Ghana Association of Bankers (Body of Bank CEOs in Ghana).

Olumuyiwa Akinyemi is the Deputy Managing Director of United Bank for Africa (UBA). He oversees the bank’s business in Southern Nigeria and coordinates the corporate banking arm of the institution. Prior to this, Akinyemi who joined UBA in 2005, drove the bank’s energy bank business and was the General Manager, Corporate and Commercial Banking. He also headed the Wholesale banking arm between 2013 and 2015, where he was responsible for the bank’s business activities in various geographies where UBA was present at the time. He also headed UBA Kenya as the CEO/MD between 2010 and 2011. Before joining UBA, Muyiwa worked in Standard Trust Bank between 1998 and 2005, where he led in various capacities including Head Investment Banking, Head Energy & Telecoms Division and Structured finance groups. He had previously worked in Diamond Bank between 1994 and 1998. Muyiwa Akinyemi who is a Chartered Accountant graduated with a B.Sc. Accounting from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. He is also a member of several professional bodies including the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Chartered Instituteof Bankers of Nigeria, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, etc.

Kabelo Rikhotso is the Chief Investment Officer and Executive Director of the Public Investment Corporation (PIC). With a career spanning over 18 years within the financial services sector, Kabelo oversees a vast portfolio of assets totaling approximately U$147 billion in both listed and unlisted investment assets. Prior to joining the PIC as its CIO, he was an Executive and Fund Manager at Visio Fund Management. Kabelo pioneered the first black-owned investment firm to acquire minority equity stakes in asset management companies. He was the founder CEO and Executive Director of Royal Investment Managers, an investment holding entity with Assets Under Management of c.R80bn. In addition to his technical investment skills, Kabelo also sits on the boards of Visio Fund Management, Ethos Private Equity, Sesfikile Capital and Balondolozi. Kabelo Rikhotso served as the former Head of Portfolio Management at Investment Solutions (now Alexforbes Investments) for nearly a decade, where he managed over R250bn in retirement, medical aid and retail funds across different asset classes and investment products. His career highlight at Alexforbes was winning a Raging Bull award for the Income Fund.

Kabelo holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Cape Town in Mathematical, Physical & Statistical Sciences, a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) from the University of Cape Town in Financial Analysis and Portfolio Management and a Masters of Commerce (Financial Economics) from the University of Johannesburg. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst Holder.

Sherine El Sharkawy is the First Deputy Minister of Finance for Economic Affairs, bringing a wealth of expertise in economic policy, sovereign guarantees, and financial negotiations. She plays a pivotal role in managing key financial functions, including the issuance of sovereign guarantees, securing loans, and leading negotiations with various financial institutions and counterparties.

Sherine's leadership has been instrumental in achieving significant financial milestones for Egypt. These include the country's first Islamic/conventional loan, the second Islamic/green loan, and the issuance of the Samurai Bond. Her skills extend to developing commercial solutions for external disputes and resolving intergovernmental complexities.

Sherine has also been a driving force in advancing Egypt's financial agenda at international forums. During COP27's Finance Day, she advocated for financing solutions to support green and sustainable initiatives, underscoring her commitment to environmentally responsible finance.

With a robust background in corporate banking and finance, Sherine has held advisory and consulting roles, and has worked at leading financial institutions such as Ahli United Bank of Egypt, Concord International Investments, and Commercial International Bank. She represents the Ministry of Finance on the board of the Central Bank of Egypt and serves as a board member of the Egyptian Sovereign Fund.

Sherine El Sharkawy holds a Master of Arts in Finance and Investment from Exeter University, United Kingdom, and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the American University in Cairo, Egypt. Her academic credentials and professional experience make her a key figure in shaping Egypt's financial landscape.

Ali Güney is the Chief Executive Officer of Türk Eximbank and a member of its Board of Directors. His career spans over three decades, marked by expertise in both finance and Treasury management within the banking industry. Mr. Güney began his career in the Fund Management Department of Faisal Finance in 1990 and has since held various senior management positions in prominent Turkish financial institutions. He served in roles including Assistant Manager in the Fund Management and Treasury Department of ihlas Finance, Fund Management and Treasury Manager at Anadolu Finance and, Treasury Manager at Türkiye Finans Participation Bank. He has also held key positions as the Deputy General Manager responsible for Treasury and Financial Institutions at Türkiye Finans Participation Bank and Deputy General Manager overseeing Treasury and Strategy at Vakif Participation Bank.

Since October 17, 2019, he has been serving as a Member of the Board and CEO of Türk Eximbank, showcasing his extensive experience and leadership in the finance industry. In addition to his current roles, Mr. Güney is a distinguished member of the Board of Directors at Export Development Inc. and the Banks Association of Türkiye demonstrating his significant contributions in the Turkish finance sector.

Mr. Güney graduated from Marmara University with a degree in Economics and Administrative Sciences.

Ingrid van Wees is a seasoned finance and risk management professional and currently serves as an Independent Non-Executive Director on the Board of Africa Finance Corporation (AFC). She was Vice President for Finance and Risk Management at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) from 2016 to 2021, where she oversaw the operations of the Office of Risk Management, Controller’s Department, and Treasury Department.

Prior to her role at ADB, Ingrid was a Senior Director at the German Investment and Development Corporation (DEG) from 2004 to 2016. She began her career in the private sector, spending 12 years (1992–2004) with leading international companies in infrastructure and consumer goods.

Ingrid holds an MBA from INSEAD and an MSc from Delft University of Technology in The Netherlands. Since October 2021, she has served on the Board of Directors of the International Finance Facility for Immunisation (IFFIm). Her extensive expertise in risk management, governance, and development banking makes her a valuable contributor as an Independent Non-Executive Director.

Beatrice Hamza Bassey is an accomplished legal professional and corporate executive, currently serves as an Independent Non-Executive Director on the board of Africa Finance Corporation (AFC). She holds an LL.B from the University of Maiduguri, a B.L. from the Nigerian Law School, and an LL.M from Harvard Law School.

Her career includes leadership roles such as Group General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer at Atlas Mara Ltd., where she oversaw the acquisition and integration of several African banks. She has served on notable boards, including Union Bank of Nigeria Plc (as Chair), Vornado Realty Trust, and International Game Technology PLC.

Ms. Hamza Bassey is recognized for her expertise in corporate governance, compliance, and regulatory matters, contributing to global organizations across various industries.

Mrs. Yetunde Oni is a highly accomplished leader in the financial services sector and has a successful career spanning over 30 years. She is currently the Managing Director/CEO of Union Bank of Nigeria.

Before her appointment in January 2024 as Union Bank MD/CEO, she made history as the first female MD of Standard Chartered Bank Sierra Leone where she led the successful strategic sale of the bank to Access Bank Sierra Leone, attesting to her strong business acumen, exceptional leadership, and broad stakeholder engagement capabilities. Prior to this divestment, the bank, under Yetunde’s leadership achieved Year-on-year growth in income and profit before tax of 50% and 116% respectively in year 2022, while client deposits increased by 58%. This achievement was followed by additional 49% year-on-year growth and 43% year-on-year growth in income and profit before tax respectively in 2023, in a controlled and compliant business environment.

While at Standard Chartered Bank, she was also the pioneer head of Commercial Clients in Nigeria and later became Managing Director and Country Head of Commercial Banking in West Africa, achieving consistent average annual revenue growth of 15% from year one. Yetunde has also worked with Prime Merchant Bank and Ecobank Transnational where she was one of the bank’s five change agents.

She is a University of Ibadan graduate with a bachelor’s degree (Honours) in Economics and MBA from Bangor University. She is an alumnus of Oxford University, INSEAD Business School Singapore and honorary fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria.

A coach and a mentor par excellence, Yetunde is a dedicated leader who is passionate about empowering others and her amiable and unassuming nature has endeared her to many. She has leveraged these rare attributes to build and lead many high performing teams to navigate complex business environments.

A champion for African value capture, job creation and industrialization, Mr. Zubairu has corralled billions of dollars into transformative infrastructure over three decades of leadership. In his five years as President & CEO of the Africa Finance Corporation, Africa’s leading infrastructure solutions provider has almost tripled investments to $11.5 billion—including the biggest renewable energy acquisition on the continent— and doubled membership to 40 African nations, winning AFC the accolade of DFI of the Year for Europe and Africa at the recent IJGlobal Awards. As the pioneer CFO for Dangote Cement Plc, Mr. Zubairu launched Africa’s largest syndicated project finance facility for a local corporation and managed the watershed unbundling of Dangote Industries Limited to listed subsidiaries on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. Most recently, as CEO of Africapital Management Limited, Mr. Zubairu partnered with Old Mutual’s African Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM) to develop the Nigerian Infrastructure Investment Fund to drive private equity investment into infrastructure projects across West Africa.

Sameh Shenouda is the Executive Director and Chief Investment Officer. He leads origination, execution and portfolio management of transactions across a wide range of sectors and products. With over 27 years of experience in infrastructure investments, project development and fundraising in international capital markets, Mr. Shenouda has a deep knowledge of African markets, with specific experience in Power, Transport & Logistics, Industrial and Oil & Gas sectors. Prior to joining the Africa Finance Corporation, Sameh was the Chief Executive Officer of Zarou, a US$1bn developer, owner, investor and operator of infrastructure projects in Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Zarou was 100% owned by the Blackstone Group, one of the world’s leading private equity investors. Mr. Shenouda previously served as Head of Infrastructure at CDC Group Plc now known as the British International Investment (BII), the UK government owned development finance institution. He built the institution’s direct infrastructure equity business, investing over US$2 billion in Africa and South Asia across manufacturing, infrastructure, financial institutions, power and other sectors. Mr. Shenouda was the Natural Gas Industries Director at Orascom Construction Industries and Investment Principal at Actis, a leading US$15bn emerging markets private equity fund management business, with investments in 50+ countries. Sameh holds an MBA in Financial Management from the University of Exeter, UK and degrees from the American University in Cairo, Egypt in Development Studies and Economics. He is a graduate of INSEAD’s International Executive Program and a member of the institute of Directors, United Kingdom.

Banji is an Executive Board Member and Head, Financial Services at Africa Finance Corporation (AFC). He is responsible for leading several business lines at AFC, including Treasury & Funding, Financial Institutions & Trade, Syndications, Capital Mobilization & Partnerships and Financial Advisory. He was previously a Senior Director and Head of Treasury & Financial Institutions at AFC.

Banji joined AFC in January 2008 as the pioneer Treasurer of the Corporation. He was instrumental in setting up the Corporation’s treasury function and leading AFC to become one of the leading investment grade African credits in the international loan and debt capital markets. AFC has a credit rating of A3/P2 from Moody’s Investor Services. Banji is responsible for overseeing the prudent management of the Corporation’s balance sheet and providing strategic leadership for the implementation of AFC’s annual funding program. He has led several landmark transactions that AFC has executed in global capital markets, which enabled AFC to significantly diversify its funding sources and tap new sources of capital. He is also responsible for the management of AFC’s relationship with rating agencies, bankers, and asset managers.

Prior to joining AFC, Banji worked with the Fixed Income, Currencies and Commodities team of Citibank Nigeria and the Tax and Business Advisory Division of former Arthur Andersen.

Banji is a chartered accountant and CFA charterholder, with a first degree in Economics (University of Ibadan), a master’s degree in International Finance (University of Glasgow) and a master’s degree in International Business (International School of Management, Paris). He is also an alumnus of the prestigious Harvard Business School. He sits on the board of several companies including the Board of Governors of CFA Institute.

Ayotunde is the Senior Director & Chief Financial Officer at AFC responsible for core finance, operations and technology functions. Prior to this, he was AFC’s Head of Finance & Operations with strategic leadership responsibilities for all finance related activities comprising banking operations, financial reporting and control, product control and settlement. Ayotunde had joined the Corporation as the Vice President and Financial Controller in 2011. Before joining AFC, Ayotunde worked at Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria, where he held a number of positions within the Finance group and Internal Audit at national and regional levels. He was the regional Head of Wholesale Banking Finance at Standard Chartered Bank responsible for managing wholesale banking finance activities across West Africa. He has also worked as a consultant for KPMG. Ayotunde is a chartered accountant with more than 20 years post qualifications experience encompassing financial accounting, reporting and control, management accounting, financial risk management, process re-engineering and reviews. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

Ayaan brings to AFC, 27 years of visionary leadership and a strong track record in emerging markets investment, asset management, private equity, infrastructure, and climate change related financing products, with a particular focus on African and Asian Markets. Most recently, Ms. Adam headed the private sector arm of the Green Climate Fund (GCF), established within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Based in South Korea, she played a key role in building the mandate of the GCF Private Sector Facility and rapidly scaling its portfolio to US$ 2.1 billion in three years across Africa, Asia Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean. She previously was CDC Group’s Managing Director of Africa Funds and had a 17-year career with the International Finance Corporation, serving as a Chief Investment Officer among other roles. US-born and raised in Somalia and Tanzania, Ms. Adam holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sloan School of Management, and a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics, Summa cum laude from Clark University.

Mr. Johnson was promoted to Chief Risk Officer in 2016, after being employed at AFC as Vice President of Market Risk Management for the previous 5 years, during which time he has led a comprehensive review of all major risk management policies. Prior to joining AFC, he spent fifteen years working as a Risk Manager, Trader and Structurer at various international banks including Stanbic IBTC Bank, where he was Regional Head of Market Risk for West Africa and trained local risk managers to a level deemed competent by head office in South Africa; a Fund Derivatives Structurer at Rabobank where he provided structured finance solutions to investors including CPPI and total return swaps and WestLB AG, where he structured and traded structured finance transactions and managed market risks using Value at Risk methodology David holds an MSc in Business Systems Analysis and Design from the City University as well as in Mathematical Trading and Finance from the Cass Business School, both in London, and a BSc (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Lagos.

Patricia is a seasoned people and culture expert, with over two and half decades of visionary leadership in Talent Management & Development, Employee Engagement & Experience, Organization development and culture as well as Operations Management. Her demonstrable track record is evident in the pivotal roles she has held in various organisations and industries spanning over 40 countries across Africa, Middle East, Europe and America.

Prior to taking up her role at the Africa Finance Corporation, Patricia was the Group Head of Human Resources for United Bank for Africa, an international Bank operating in 24 countries, where she played a key role in fostering a diverse, multicultural, and inclusive environment. She has also held the role of Chief Operating Officer for an Oil & Gas firm and an IT Outsourcing firm, where she was instrumental in the expansion programme that saw the company’s growth from a UK-based entity to a Multinational Enterprise with footprint across 18 Countries in Europe.

Patricia holds a Master of Arts degree in Employment Relations and Law from Kingston University, United Kingdom, a Post Graduate Diploma in Personnel Management from South Bank University, United Kingdom, a Master of Arts degree in English Literature from the University of Ibadan and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Language and Literature from the University of Benin.

Rita holds a double honours degree (BSc & BA) in Computer Science and Economics from Smith College, Massachusetts, USA. In addition, she holds MA and PhD degrees in Economics from Clark University, Massachusetts, USA. Rita's most recent role was Director & Chief Economist, Sub-Saharan Africa at Barclays Investment Bank, London UK (October 2017 – December 2019). Before that appointment, she was Vice President and Senior Analyst at Moody's Investors Service (September 2014 – September 2017), Senior Economist on secondment at the Bank of England (November 2011 – April 2014), Desk Economist & Senior Economist at the International Monetary Fund (April 2003 – November 2011) and a Desk Economist at the World Bank Group (January 2002 – April 2003). Rita is a global macroeconomist, sovereign credit research analyst and financial markets economist with over 23 years of experience in the financial services industry, international development and policymaking institutions.

Vivienne Yeda is a seasoned professional with experience in strategic management, banking, international law, and finance.

Vivienne holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Nairobi, a Master of Laws (LLM) in International Business Law from University College London, and an MBA from Edith Cowan University in Australia.