The task of marketing Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, to the investing public— foreign investors in particular—appears to be seemingly difficult as the country on several occasion attract global attention for all the wrong reasons.
On a daily basis, the news about insecurity in many parts of the country; several fraud cases and the government falling to play its part in fulfilling obligations in contracts, make headlines in dallies thereby fuelling the sour perception in which investors have about the Nigerian economy.
These shortcomings have made investors either shrugs off decisions to invest in Nigeria by stashing cash into other smaller African markets or ask for a higher risk premium before they can pump in dollars into Nigerian assets.
Direct investments into the country have also slowed down on government’s ability to take necessary reforms in various sectors of the economy. These have made the government cashstrapped and nearly incapable of carrying out its fiscal obligation
To think of it that these was happening at a time in which the country is in dire need of investments to boost liquidity, create jobs and lift the over 90 million of its people leaving in poverty, based on data tracked from the World’s poverty clock.
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Notwithstanding the above challenges and inspight the odds standing in the way of building investors’ confidence, many have taken it upon themselves to set the country on a positive light for investment.
One of such notable fellow is Oluwatoyin Sanni, chief executive officer of the Emerging Africa Capital Group, a company that provides innovative and investing solutions to African investors and issuers.
Sanni is a titan and among the very few persons who believe Nigeria is a great nation and must take the fore front ahead of other African nations in the scheme of things.
Oluwatoyin Sanni overtime, devoted her time, experience and network to focus on facilitating investments in Africa, nay Nigeria.
Whether it is via expressing her positive thoughts in writing about investing in Nigeria or displaying emulating attitudes by speaking and educating investors in conferences, workshop or symposium, Sanni is known for her drive in seeing that Nigeria attracts the needed investments that would spur inclusive growth.
These have earned her several awards and recognition both domestically and internationally, making her one of the leading voices in the Nigerian investment landscape.
Prior to joining Emerging Africa Capital Group (EAC) as the CEO, Sanni held the position of Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of United Capital PLC for four years. She also served as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of United Capital Trustees limited which is a subsidiary of United Capital Plc.
During her reign as CEO of United Capital, Sanni was reckoned with a stellar record of achievements and attainments; which includes her developmental work in the areas of women in finance, standardisation of ethics and practice ethos for the corporate and individual investor space, corporate financing, empowerment initiatives and opportunities for the youth, and development of products and services to benefit a changing market space
During her tenure, she played leading roles in landmark deals such as the multi-trillion naira Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON)BOND Issues, the Lagos State Bond Programme, the Lafarge WAPCO, UPDC and Flour Mills Debt Issues amongst many others. In 2007, she led the establishment of UBA Global Investor services the Custody arm of the UBA Group, which rapidly became a leading Nigerian Custodian and secured the mandates of major Global Custodians amongst others.
These series of engagements has led to United Capital Plc becoming one of the best overall companies on the Nigerian stock exchange (NSE) in the last four years.
In 2017, Sanni was named the All African Business Woman of the Year 2017 by CNBC Africa; and Nigeria’s CEO of the Year by Pearl Awards becoming the first female CEO to win the Award in its 22-year history. She also led her company to win the best corporate governance, highest dividend yield and sectoral award categories, clinching the Best Overall Company Award. Toyin also won the Businessday Top 25 CEO on the NSE Award in 2014, 2015 and 2016, amongst many other awards.
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Toyin Sanni’s literally works
As earlier noted, Toyin Sanni is a renowned writer, popularly known for her works on investing and on women empowerment.
Her most recent book on investment that has gotten the widespread attention from the investing public was titled “Riding the Eagle – A Guide to Investing in Nigeria”.
The book which was aimed at serving as a guide for both local and international investors seeking to exploit the unique opportunities in the Nigerian economy, learn from the success stories of leading investors in Nigeria, as well as how to navigate the potential pitfalls and risks, has sold millions of copies and counting.
For Sanni, investment flows into a country today are to a modern economy, as impactful and life-giving as blood is in the veins of a human body and for a developing or ailing economy, as vital and life-saving as a blood transfusion for an anaemic or haemorrhaging patient.
She noted in the book that one of the hallmarks and greatest effects of globalization is the increased mobility of funds across national and regional barriers. These include both Foreign Portfolio Investments (FPIS), at the extreme end of which you have what is derogatorily referred to as “hot money” and the more “sticky” flows involved in Foreign Direct Investments (FDIS).
This book sought to make a contribution to the imperative of making Nigeria a sustainable and preferred destination for FDI flows by providing detailed yet concise information on the Nigerian market via a roadmap or guide for foreign, domestic, institutional and individual investors alike. It also examines the challenges currently faced by the Nigerian economy across sectors and by its investment markets, proffering solutions to some of the nation’s economic and development challenges.
Other works written by her include ‘Yes, You Too can’ maximize Your Life; and ‘Get to the Top’. Both works are inspirational books aimed at empowering the next generation of women leaders.
Background
Toyin has over twenty-five years cognate experience in investor services, law and finance; having served for eight years as CEO of Cornerstone Trustees (CTL), a council member of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators Nigeria ( ICSAN), a Fellow and VicePresident of the Association of Pension Funds of Nigeria (APFN), and President of the Association of Corporate Trustees Nigeria (CTN) and The Association of Investment Advisers and Portfolio Managers (IAPM).
She took her law degrees from the Obafemi Awolowo University and the University of Lagos; and has attended courses at the IESE as well as at Harvard and the Lagos Business School.
She is a prominent Investment Banker, Public Personality & Speaker who derives satisfaction from grooming future leaders and from proffering capital solutions for financing & investment challenges of African governments, businesses & individuals.
From a background in securities law and extensive experience in corporate finance, trusts & asset management, she leverages networks and relationships across markets and her extensive experience working on leading transactions to achieve her goals.
Toyin sits on multiple boards including Transnational Corporation of Nigeria PLC (Transcorp); and is currently the president of the Association of Corporate and Individual Investment Advisers (CIIA), the official trade group recognized by the Securities and Exchange Commission for all registered investment advisers in Nigeria. She also chairs the Financial Literacy Technical committee under the Securities and Exchange Commission and is the Founder/chairperson of Women in Finance ng (WIFNG), a non-profit organisation aimed at women advocacy and development. She is also the past president of the Association of Investment Advisers and Portfolio Managers of Nigeria (IAPM).
She is a frequent Speaker at conferences such as the Howard University USA & Imperial College, UK African Business Conferences, the Global Custody Forum, Network Managers Conference, World Intellectual Property Organisation African Ministerial Conference among others.
