In the world of finance and investment, some names stand out for their courage and vision. One of such names is Adesuwa Okunbo Rhodes. At just 35, she has built a reputation as a trailblazer in Nigeria’s investment space and is widely regarded as one of the brightest young voices pushing the boundaries of business and women’s empowerment in Africa.
Adesuwa is not just another fund manager. She is the founder of Aruwa Capital Management, a firm that puts women and impact at the heart of its investment strategy. Her journey from Lagos to London and back to Nigeria is one that many young people can look at and draw inspiration from.
She was born on February 16, 1990, in Lagos State, where she began her education at Chrisland Primary School in Opebi before moving on to Atlantic Hall. At the age of 11, her life took a new turn when she left Nigeria to attend boarding school at St. Lawrence College in Ramsgate, England. That early experience away from home shaped her independence and discipline, qualities that would later play an important role in her career. From there she went on to study Economics at the University of Bristol, where she earned her degree.
Like many young Nigerians studying abroad, Adesuwa started her career in London. She joined the demanding world of investment banking and worked with Lehman Brothers and later J.P. Morgan. She was part of teams handling multi-billion-dollar transactions, experiences that sharpened her skills and gave her solid knowledge of global finance. But while she was excelling abroad, her mind remained on Africa. She noticed that although women played a major role in African economies, very little funding was directed to them. This gap gave her a new sense of purpose.
Determined to contribute solutions, Adesuwa returned to Nigeria and co-founded Syntaxis Capital Africa. There, she led investments worth more than $200 million, gaining deeper experience about Africa’s private equity space. Yet, she wanted to do more, something that reflected her own vision and values. That personal dream took shape in 2019 when she founded Aruwa Capital Management, using her own savings to kickstart the firm.
Aruwa Capital was not set up as just another investment firm. Adesuwa designed it around the principle of gender lens investing. This meant the fund would focus on companies founded or led by women, firms with women in decision-making roles, or businesses creating products and services that support the female market. To her, empowering women is not just the right thing to do but also a smart business decision that delivers strong financial returns while solving real social problems.
In just a few years, Aruwa Capital achieved a breakthrough by raising more than 20 million dollars in its first institutional fund. That achievement placed Adesuwa in a rare position as the only female solo fund manager in Nigeria to raise such an amount for a first-time fund. The money has since been invested in healthcare, manufacturing, and technology companies that are creating jobs and supporting economic growth. Her work has proven that African women can be trusted to manage large pools of capital and deliver results.
Her efforts have not gone unnoticed. Adesuwa has been honoured both locally and internationally. She was named an Agent of Impact by Impact Alpha, and in 2023 she received the 2X Global Woman Fund Manager of the Year Award. The Lagos State Government also recognised her as one of 150 women contributing to nation building and gender equity in Nigeria.
Beyond her achievements, Adesuwa continues to be a strong voice for women in business. She believes that when women have access to capital, the ripple effects can be felt across families, communities, and the wider economy. Her story is already inspiring many young Nigerians, particularly women, to aim higher and believe in their own potential.
