Meet the team

Adebiyi Daramola, attended University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Nigeria for Bachelor’s degree (B.Sc, 1980). Thereafter, he proceeded to the University of Ibadan, Nigeria for Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Agricultural Economics (M.Sc, 1982 & PhD, 1987). Between 1990 and 1991 he was a Postdoctoral fellow at the Center for Advanced Training in Agricultural Economics, Department of Agricultural Economics and Business Management, University of New England, Armidale NSW 2351, Australia. He started his career at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Nigeria as an academic staff in 1986. He was appointed Professor of Agricultural Economics on October 01, 1999. He served as Chief Editor, African Journal of Agricultural Economics (AfJARE) between 2010 and 2013. He has held many influential positions within and outside the university among which include chairing several statutory committees and headship of departments. He has served as the sixth substantive Vice Chancellor of FUTA (2012 – 2017). Chairman, Committee of Vice Chancellors (CVC) and Association of Vice Chancellor of Nigerian Universities (AVCNU), two positions he held concurrently between 2015 and 2017.

He has undertaken many diverse engagements for many national and international organizations. The details of the assignments in terms of nature, complexity, diversity and duration can be found in his curriculum vitae. Some of the organizations consulted for include International Labour Organization (UN-ILO), Ford Foundation/Community Development Foundation (FF/CDF), Ciba-Geigy, KPMG (PMAO & Co), Chemonics Inc, Technoserve Inc, International Finance Corporation (IFC), Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Department for International Development (UK-DfID), European Commission (EC), National Resources Institute (NRI), African Development Bank (AfDB), World Bank etc. Given his wealth of experience, Prof. Daramola is currently serving as the Chairman of the Board at Blackstone Capital Limited.

Dr. Kennedy Okonkwo is a property and real estate entrepreneur. He is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Nedcomoaks Limited, a privately owned Nigerian based company incorporated in 2007 with specialist operations in construction, development and management.Dr. Okonkwo is regarded as a developer per excellence owing to his contribution to the development of the economy by providing employment and affordable shelter to Nigerians. His company, Nedcomoaks is one of the leading real estate companies engaged in the acquisition, development and management of properties across Nigeria with its properties highly diversified with respect to design and styles. From inception, Kennedy made it a policy and priority to build the best properties at affordable prices, which has elevated his company to be one of the best property development companies in Nigeria.

Featured by Forbes Africa as one of the leading property entrepreneurs in Nigeria, Kennedy is a property mogul making an impact on young real estate millennials in Nigeria with an unwavering commitment to training and empowering young entrepreneurs in the Real estate sector. Kennedy’s passion to see the Real estate industry blossom & positively affect the economy led to his PEMP Initiative (Property Education Mentorship Program), where he mentors young millennials seeking knowledge on how to establish themselves in the real estate business/industry. The initiative serve as a training and empowerment resource centre for real estate entrepreneurs in the economy. Dr. Kennedy is a Doctor of Science in Estate Development and Corporate Governance from the European American University.

Mrs. Offiong Ekang Daniel Ekpo hails from Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State and was born on 9th November 1959. She attended Ahmadu Bello University and obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting (BSc Accounting, Second class upper division) in 1983. She went ahead to complete the NYSC Progamme, with Central Bank of Nigeria, Calabar Branch, 1983 to 1984.

She was employed by Peat Marwick (Chartered Accountants), now KPMG in 1985, as a Trainee Accountant and subsequently qualified as Chartered Accountant in 1988. She also worked as Internal Auditor at Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka Lagos and was the First Head of Internal Audit Department of the college from 1988 to 1990.

She joined Central Bank of Nigeria in 1990 and retired meritoriously in 2018 after twenty-eight (28) years of service with the Bank (29 years including one-year NYSC period). She worked only in Financial System Stability Directorate during her service years and retired as Director in Other Financial institutions Supervision Department (OFISD), Port Harcourt Zone, of the CBN on the 1st June 2018.

Aliyu Ahmed Mohammed is a trained and experience Banking and Financial Specialist with a Bachelor’s degree in Banking and Finance and has spearheaded the successful financing and management of key projects in many sectors of the Nigeria economy including Telecommunication Industry as well as the Oil and Gas Industry.

With over thirty five years experience, twenty three of which were in the Banking and Finance Industry, particularly at Union Bank where Aliyu rose to the position of Top Management Staff that substantially impacted investment banking strategy of the Bank before he voluntarily diversified into the Telecommunication Industry as a consummate telecommunication administrator.

Aliyu was appointed as a Director of Tracom Nigeria Limited in 2005 and became the Managing Director of Haltrust Telecommunication Nigeria from 2015, and was subsequently appointed as the Chairman of Acorin Telecommunication Limited since 2006. Aliyu was also appointed as the Chairman of Duah Capital Services Limited (an oil and gas venture company which is fully registered with NIPEX and DPR). Aliyu as a Certified Management Consultant and a fellow of the International Management Consultant.

Elizabeth Kings-Wali (ACIB), started her Banking career in Lagos Nigeria in 2001, where she worked in some of the most respected Commercial Banks in Nigeria. Her work experience spans major business areas in commercial banks in Nigeria. Elizabeth’s uncommon exposure to and in-depth knowledge of the Commercial and Public sector businesses were pivotal in standing her out among her peers all through her 18 years Banking career.

Her stellar performance in the industry gained her several awards and recognitions, seeing her rise rapidly to the level of Regional Head Public Sector Group in the fastest growing Tier 2 Commercial Bank in Nigeria before her exit in 2018, when she decided to move on to other personal interests. Prior to her Banking career, Elizabeth had a short stint in the Oil and Gas services industry where she worked as a Human Resource Associate with Chevron Nigeria Limited. Her love for personal development led her to enrol for a second Master’s degree in Business Administration in the prestigious Prifysgol Bangor University, Wales and United Kingdom (UK) where she graduated from in 2016.
Elizabeth Kings-Wali (ACIB), started her Banking career in Lagos Nigeria in 2001, where she worked in some of the most respected Commercial Banks in Nigeria. Her work experience spans major business areas in commercial banks in Nigeria. Elizabeth’s uncommon exposure to, and in-depth knowledge of the Commercial and Public sector businesses were pivotal in standing her out among her peers all through her 18 years Banking career.

Elizabeth has garnered several professional qualifications over the years,
distinguishing herself as;
• Associate Member of Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN)
• Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers in Scotland (CIBIS), the oldest
banking institute in the world
• Member of the Institute of Information & Strategy Management(IISM),
• Certified Project Manager (PMI)
• Member of Chartered Institute of Finance & Control(CIFCN),
• Fellow of the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN),
• Member of the African Women in Leadership Organisation(AWLO).

Dr. Elizabeth is presently the Chief Executive Officer for Blackstone Capital Limited.

Yvonne is an accomplished HR Professional with over 20 years work experience 18 of which is in the Financial Services Industry. She is a Director with GAON HR Consulting Hub Ltd a Human Resources/ Recruitment firm in Lagos, Nigeria.

Prior to this, she worked with various banks including Zenith Bank Plc and UBA Plc where she functioned in various capacities and worked in teams that implemented vital business and HR strategies that drove key business results.

Her experience in Human Resources spans across Recruitment, Business Partnering, Employee Relations, Talent and Change Management. She possesses strong Entrepreneurial, Leadership, Project Management, Organisational and Communications Skills and displays a solutions-oriented approach to problem-solving. She holds a B.Ed in Educational Management /Economics from the University of Port-Harcourt and M.Sc Human Resources Management from ESUT Business School, Enugu. She is also an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM).

Deji is a corporate commercial lawyer with specialization and depth of experience in Banking and Finance, Technology, Real Estate, Intellectual Property, Mergers & Acquisitions, Venture Capital and other corporate commercial practices. He has advised on several landmark and award winning transactions both locally and internationally in Banking and Finance, Real Estate and Mergers & Acquisitions transactions. He advises clients principally on mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, corporate restructurings, debt/equity fund raising transactions and regulatory compliance. He has represented a diverse
clientele of top-tier indigenous, international and multinational clients in numerous industries including banking, technology, business advisory, securities offerings, business combinations, due diligence, competition and anti-trust, asset acquisitions and dispositions, joint ventures and public and private financing. He also advises boards of directors with respect to corporate governance and fiduciary duty issues.

Deji graduated from Obafemi Awolowo University and was qualified to the Nigerian Bar after attending the Nigerian Law School, Lagos. He is a member of the Nigeria Bar Association and the International Bar Association. He has facilitated and attended a plethora number of trainings, seminars and conferences both within Nigeria and outside Nigeria in finance documentation, mergers and acquisition, venture funds, technology, etc.
Deji has been a delegate and guest speaker at various seminars, workshops and conferences both at the national and international levels which include the African Tech Summit 2020 held in Kigali, Rwanda where he facilitated a masterclass for business and emerging companies.
Professional Qualifications:
• Nigerian Bar Association
• Nigerian Bar Association, Section of Business Law
• Nigerian Bar Association- Section on Business Law- Committee on Intellectual Property
• Certified mediator and negotiator
• International Trademark Association
• International Bar Association
• Intellectual Property Lawyers Association of Nigeria

Deji is presently the Company Secretary for Blackstone Capital Limited.

Femi is currently the Chief Finance Officer at Blackstone Capital Limited. He has over 12 years relevant working experience in the financial services. He was the Chief Finance Officer and Group Financial Controller at Sky Capital& Financial Allied International Limited (a member of SIFAX Group) and SCM Capital Limited (Formerly Sterling Capital Markets Limited) respectively. He worked as Fund Accountant at First City Asset Management Ltd (a subsidiary of FCMB Plc) before joining SCM Capital in 2014.

Prior to joining First City Asset Management Ltd (FCAM), Femi worked as the Settlement Officer at CSL Stockbrokers Limited (a member of the Nigerian Stock Exchange) with the institutional sales team. He has also worked with Reward Investments & Services Limited (a member of Nigerian Stock Exchange) where he started his career. Femi holds a Higher National Diploma in Accountancy from Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Yaba, Lagos. He is an associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (ICAN). Femi is presently the Chief Finance Officer for Blackstone Capital Limited.

A highly inventive, self-motivated, and resourceful professional with relevant experience in Marketing, Administration, Communication, Business Development. He holds a B.sc in Economics from the University of Calabar. He is a passionate Sales Executive and possesses exceptional leadership skills to take initiative and drive projects that increase organizational effectiveness.

He strategically leads the Business Development team at Blackstone Capital and he is responsible for the development of business and marketing strategies, business implementation, partner’s engagements and management.

Prior to joining Blackstone Capital, Emmanuel worked with Sterling Bank Plc. And United Bank for Africa. He has over the years demonstrated the passion of a vibrant sales executive. Emmanuel brings his experience in strategy, marketing, operation management and sales to drive the growth of the business.