Mezuo Nwuneli

Position: Managing Partner
Categories: Impact First Team, Private Equity Team

Mezuo has more than two decades of experience across private equity, investment banking, and corporate finance. He launched Sahel Capital’s debut fund, the Fund for Agriculture Finance in Nigeria (FAFIN), in 2014, and the Social Enterprise Fund for Agriculture in Africa (SEFAA) in 2021. He provides oversight on the deployment of investment capital and the firm’s portfolio.

Mezuo serves on the boards of several of Sahel Capital’s portfolio companies. He is also on the board of the African Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (“AVCA”), Nigeria National Advisory Board for Impact Investing (“NABII”), and is one of the founding members and a director of the Private Equity and Venture Capital Association, Nigeria (“PEVCA”).

Mezuo was one of three partners that set up AFIG’s debut US$72 million generalist fund in 2008, working out of the Dakar office in Senegal. Mezuo started his career with the corporate finance team of the Sabre Group in Dallas in 1995, worked in J.P. Morgan & Co’s Mergers and Acquisitions Group in New York, and then subsequently in a range of finance roles with SecTrust (now Afrinvest), Ocean & Oil Holdings, and MTS First Wireless. Mezuo co-founded AACE Foods (a food processing company) and Sahel Consulting (an agriculture focused management consulting firm) in 2010, and subsequently Sahel Capital in 2013. He remains a non-executive director in both AACE Foods and Sahel Consulting.

Mezuo is an Eisenhower Fellow and an Archbishop Tutu Fellow. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a B.Sc. Industrial Management from Carnegie Mellon University. Mezuo received the 2021 Harvard Business School Alumni Achievement Award, the highest honor given by the school.

Mezuo has more than two decades of experience across private...

Mezuo Nwuneli

Managing Partner

Deji Adebusoye

Position: Partner
Categories: Impact First Team

Deji has more than a decade of work experience, of which 7 years were in operating roles in the FMCG, agrochemicals, and seed sectors. Since joining Sahel Capital in 2016, he has led investments and provided portfolio oversight across a broad range of crop value chains.

Deji previously worked with Syngenta Crop Protection AG and Proctor & Gamble; and has lived and worked in Nigeria and Switzerland. He sits on the Board of Directors of L&Z Integrated Farms and Coscharis Farms Ltd.

Deji is a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIAÂŽ) and is also certified as a Project Management Professional (PMP). He holds a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering (First Class Honours) from Obafemi Awolowo University, and an MBA from INSEAD Business School.

Deji has more than a decade of work experience, of...

Deji Adebusoye

Partner

Tosin Ojo

Position: Partner
Categories: Private Equity Team

Tosin has more than a decade of work experience, spanning investment research, asset management and financial advisory. Prior to Sahel, Tosin had worked with Chapel Hill Denham, CardinalStone and led Verboheit – a financial advisory firm she co-founded, where she led engagements to provide financial advisory, business planning, valuation and capital raising services to clients in the agribusiness, retail & renewable energy sectors.

At Chapel Hill Denham, she was an investment manager for the women-focused impact investment platform (SME.NG) and also worked as VP in the CEO’s office, providing analytical support on strategic projects. While at CardinalStone, she led the investment management team managing over $25million in stocks, eurobonds, money market instruments and direct real estate investment products. She also led sell side research analysts and held engagements with international buy-side analysts, portfolio managers and board level executives of listed companies.

Tosin is a CFA charter holder. She also holds a B.Sc. in Microbiology (First Class Honors) from Obafemi Awolowo University, and an MBA from Oxford’s Said Business School.

Tosin has more than a decade of work experience, spanning...

Tosin Ojo

Partner

Aicha Haidara

Position: Vice President
Categories: Impact First Team

AĂŻcha is a proven expert in impact financing with a 10-year experience in the agro-industry, impact debt and deals origination & structuring. Prior to Sahel Capital, AĂŻcha worked for Zira Capital- an impact fund sponsored by I&P, where she successfully developed a portfolio of high growth potential SMEs.

AĂŻcha previously led the Credit Analysis Department at Banque Atlantique Mali where she worked for 4 years. She worked at different capacities at SociĂŠtĂŠ de Financement Local and S.O Capital Advice in Paris.

AĂŻcha HaĂŻdara is certified as an expert in Business Strategy by HEC Paris. She holds a Master degree in Corporate Finance from Ecole SupĂŠrieure de Gestion de Paris and a she is also a graduate from Paris 2 PanthĂŠon Assas University in Economics.

AĂŻcha is a proven expert in impact financing with a...

Aicha Haidara

Vice President

Zaks Ngetich

Position: Vice President
Categories: Impact First Team

Zaks has more than 15 years of work experience, of which 10 years were in commercial bank lending environment working across four different banks in Kenya. Prior to Joining Sahel, Zaks worked for Samawati Capital Partners an advisory firm that facilitates impact oriented-investments and initiatives for clients across Sub-Saharan Africa as the Senior Investment Manager.

Zaks previously worked with Root Capital Inc as the Senior Portfolio Manager Sub-Saharan Africa for five years, where he developed a portfolio of high impact SMEs. He also worked as the Head of Agribusiness department at Sidian Bank Kenya, where he was instrumental in developing a new strategy for the Agribusiness portfolio.

Zaks has attended various professional courses in Agri-financing and has Diploma in project management. He holds a bachelor’s in business management from Mt. Kenya University and a master’s in development studies from Management University of Africa.

Zaks has more than 15 years of work experience, of...

Zaks Ngetich

Vice President

Yemisi Iwasanmi

Position: Vice President
Categories: Impact First Team

Yemisi is a credit risk professional with over a decade of work experience within the financial industry. She partners with the business development team to create a portfolio of investments with focus on impact and sustainability.

Prior to joining Sahel Capital in 2021, she worked with Sterling Bank for 13 years as a Credit Risk Analyst. She worked on various projects within Agriculture, Oil and Gas, Transport, Manufacturing and other viable sectors.

Yemisi has a B.Sc. Accounting from the University of Lagos. She is also an associate member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers.

Yemisi is a credit risk professional with over a decade...

Yemisi Iwasanmi

Vice President

Charles Osei

Position: Financial Controller
Categories: Corporate Services

Charles oversees finance and accounting at Sahel Capital. He has over 13 years of experience in accounting and financial control across different industries, and across multiple countries in West Africa.

Prior to Joining Sahel, he worked as the Finance Manager for Zest Weg Group Ghana Ltd, a global manufacturer of Electric Motors based in South Africa, and was responsible for financial reporting, compliance, and Tax. He was also responsible for managing receivables and accounts of clients of the company in over ten countries in West Africa. He previously worked in different capacities at Ideal Capital Partners, Oak Plaza Hotels, and Trasacco Estates Company Limited.

He has an M.Sc. in International Banking and Finance from the University of Salford, Manchester, UK; and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy from the University of Ghana. He is a Chartered Account and a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), UK.

Charles oversees finance and accounting at Sahel Capital. He has...

Charles Osei

Financial Controller

Romuald Bentefouet

Position: Senior Associate
Categories: Private Equity Team

Romuald is an investment professional with about 8 years of work experience spanning different roles in finance (audit, quantitative analyst and models validation)

Prior to joining Sahel Capital in October 2024, he worked at Credit Agricole, first at Inspection Generale, where he was in charge of evaluating credit and market processes, and then as a quantitative analyst reviewing internal models for capital reserves.

Romuald holds an MBA from INSEAD and a “Grande Ecole” engineering diploma from ENSTA PARISTECH. He also has both a master and a bachelor degree in mathematics from universities Paris 1 – Sorbonne and Paris 6 – UPMC respectively.

Romuald is an investment professional with about 8 years of...

Romuald Bentefouet

Senior Associate

Adedamola Adenaike

Position: Finance Manager
Categories: Corporate Services

Adedamola is a seasoned finance professional with nearly a decade of experience across various industries. Her expertise includes corporate reporting, budgeting, and financial analysis.

Before joining Sahel Capital, Adedamola served as the Acting Finance Manager at Transcorp Hotels Plc, where she was instrumental in corporate reporting, financial statement analysis, and investment modelling. Additionally, she recently held the position of Financial Controller at Transcorp Hotels Calabar Ltd, where she managed the company’s finance operations with a strong emphasis on cost optimization strategies.

Adedamola holds a B.Sc. in Accounting and Finance from Ajayi Crowther University and is an ACCA certified professional.

Adedamola is a seasoned finance professional with nearly a decade...

Adedamola Adenaike

Finance Manager

Chukwuka Oshiokpu

Position: Sustainability Manager
Categories: Corporate Services

Chukwuka is an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) professional with over a decade of hands-on experience. In this role, he has led and participated in numerous environmental and social sustainability projects across various sectors, including Power, Oil & Gas, Agriculture, Construction, Telecommunications, Manufacturing, Financial, and FMCG throughout Africa.

Prior to joining Sahel Capital in 2023, he had served as the Head of Susty People Practice at Environmental Accord, a leading sustainability consulting firm in Africa.

Chukwuka is an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) professional with...

Chukwuka Oshiokpu

Sustainability Manager

Nikita Khemani

Position: Associate
Categories: Private Equity Team

Nikita is an investment professional with about five years’ work experience across the alternative investment space, particularly, private credit and private equity.

Prior to joining Sahel Capital in January 2020, she worked for a private credit fund in India as an Associate Analyst, which was engaged in invested in companies that were on the verge of bankruptcy. She has also interned as an equity analyst in London and as a financial intern for an insurance firm in India.

She is a CFA charter holder. She holds an MSc. in Economics and Finance from King’s College London and a B.Com. in Accounting and Finance from the University of Mumbai.

Nikita is an investment professional with about five years’ work...

Nikita Khemani

Associate

Oluwafemi Kehinde

Position: Associate
Categories: Impact First Team

Oluwafemi is an Investment Associate at Sahel Capital with four years of professional experience in investment, spanning Venture Capital and Structuring & Origination.

Prior to joining Sahel Capital in 2023, he previously worked at Octerra Capital, where he excelled in sterring early-stage investments in high-valued tech startups within Africa, and he managed a portfolio of companies across various industries (including Fintech, Regtech, Freight and Logistics).

Oluwafemi holds a B.Sc. in Economics from Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria.

Oluwafemi is an Investment Associate at Sahel Capital with four...

Oluwafemi Kehinde

Associate

Toluwalope Gbenga-Oke

Position: Associate
Categories: Impact First Team

Toluwalope is an investment professional with over 7 years of work experience, including 4 years in deal advisory and transaction services.

Before joining Sahel Capital, she worked with PwC and KPMG Nigeria, where she provided transaction services to clients across a diverse range of sectors, including FMCG, agriculture, and oil and gas, with a focus on the African market.

Toluwalope is a Chartered Certified Accountant (ACCA) and a certified Advanced Financial Modeler (AFM). She holds a B.Sc. in Economics (First Class Honors) from Babcock University.

Toluwalope is an investment professional with over 7 years of...

Toluwalope Gbenga-Oke

Associate

Nana Aba Aikins

Position: Associate
Categories: Impact First Team

Nana Aba is a Associate with over three years of experience in credit risk assessment and portfolio management. She joined Sahel Capital in 2025, bringing extensive experience from her role at Access Bank Ghana, PLC.

At Access Bank, Nana Aba specialized in evaluating Credit Risks, Portfolio Management and Reporting. She also played a critical role in conducting due diligence during loan capital fundraising efforts, significantly enhancing the bank’s impact lending capacity.

Nana Aba holds an MBA in Accounting and Finance from the University of Professional Studies, and a BA in Economics with Mathematics from the University of Ghana. She is also an associate member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers, Nigeria

Nana Aba is a Associate with over three years of...

Nana Aba Aikins

Associate

Fikemi Onipede

Position: Fund Reporting Analyst
Categories: Impact First Team

Fikemi is an experienced finance professional with over 5 years of work experience in the financial service industry.

Prior to joining Sahel Capital in 2023, she was a senior financial reporting analyst at a leading asset management firm. She oversaw the fund accounting, finance operations, and financial reporting processes in her previous position.

Fikemi is a Chartered Accountant, a certified financial modeling and valuation analyst, and holds a bachelor’s degree in management and accounting from Obafemi Awolowo University

Fikemi is an experienced finance professional with over 5 years...

Fikemi Onipede

Fund Reporting Analyst

Gregory Matu

Position: Senior Analyst
Categories: Impact First Team

Greg is a Senior Investment Analyst at Sahel Capital, with over 5 years of experience in investment analysis, private equity, and banking. Before joining Sahel Capital, he worked as a Senior Investment Analyst at Samawati Capital Partners, focusing on deal origination, financial analysis, deal structuring, and due diligence, primarily in agribusiness.

Previously, Greg served as a Credit Analyst at Co-operative Bank of Kenya, where he assessed the financial strength of MSME and corporate clients for loan approvals, gaining exposure to industries such as real estate, technology, manufacturing, and renewable energy.

Greg holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) from the University of Cape Town and is a certified Corporate Credit Analyst, with additional certifications in corporate finance, valuation, ESG investing, and financial modelling.

Greg is a Senior Investment Analyst at Sahel Capital, with...

Gregory Matu

Senior Analyst

Laurent Ake Djoro

Position: Senior Analyst
Categories: Impact First Team

Laurent is a Senior Investment Analyst at Sahel Capital with six years of professional experience in cash management, credit risk analysis, and financial rating.
Before joining Sahel Capital in 2024, Laurent worked at Bloomfield Investment Corporation and Cofina CIV, where he focused on the credit risk of financial institutions and companies in various sectors, including energy, trade and agribusiness.
Laurent holds a bachelor’s degree from the Felix Houphouet Boigny Polytechnic Institute in Yamoussoukro and a master’s degree in Corporate Finance from ISAE-SupmĂŠca in Paris.

Laurent is a Senior Investment Analyst at Sahel Capital with...

Laurent Ake Djoro

Senior Analyst

Damilare Williams

Position: Financial Reporting Analyst
Categories: Corporate Services

Damilare is a Financial Reporting Analyst with Sahel Capital.

Prior to joining Sahel Capital in 2022, she worked as a Senior Accountant at Landmark and as Finance Manager at Lekki Gardens Realty Limited, overseeing all account-related activities.

Damilare has a B.Sc. Accounting (Second Class Upper Honours) from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye.

Damilare is a Financial Reporting Analyst with Sahel Capital. Prior...

Damilare Williams

Financial Reporting Analyst

Guy Prince Yomo

Position: ESG Analyst
Categories: Corporate Services

Prince is an Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) professional with over five years work experience. In this role, he has led and participated in many environmental and social studies of development projects, Including Water Supply, Manufacturing, Agriculture, Industry, Power, Road, Financial and Sustainability in Côte d’Ivoire.

Prior to joining Sahel Capital in 2024, he had served as the Environmental and Social Manager at Valency International Trading.

He holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Science and Management from Nangui Abrogoua University, CĂ´te d’Ivoire.

Prince is an Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) professional with...

Guy Prince Yomo

ESG Analyst

Johnson Adah

Position: HR/Admin Officer
Categories: Corporate Services

Johnson manages daily office operations at the Sahel Capital office in Lagos. In this role, he provides essential support for all teams and ensures seamless coordination of activities within the office.

Johnson has a degree in Accounting from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).

Johnson manages daily office operations at the Sahel Capital office...

Johnson Adah

HR/Admin Officer