Aruwa Capital with the Most Wins at the 2024 PEA Awards

Aruwa Capital with the Most Wins at the
2024 PEA Awards, London

A Story of Grit, Vision, and Excellence

Every great achievement begins with a story of hard work, and determination. For us at Aruwa Capital, a journey that began five years ago has blossomed through thick and thin into a thriving testament to resilience and purpose. What started as a bold vision: to transform lives through impactful investments and make a compelling business case for diversity and inclusion, has grown into a story of resilience, innovation, and transformative success.

On November 19th, 2024, at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London, where the 12th Annual Private Equity Africa (PEA) Awards took place, Aruwa Capital made history, winning four awards, the most wins of the evening. PEA known as the industry’s leading platform for recognising excellence in private equity and venture capital, the PEA Awards shine a spotlight on organisations driving meaningful change across the continent.

The Awards Won:

Portfolio Awards: Portfolio Company of the Year – Social Impact

This award, earned through our investment in Agroeknor, celebrates the measurable impact we’ve achieved by supporting this innovative company. Agroeknor’s growth has been transformative since our investment, not only in driving value creation but also in fostering sustainable social outcomes for female smallholder farmers in Northern Nigeria. Our investment has enabled Agroeknor to significantly scale operations, create jobs, enhance local agricultural value chains and generate export earnings, demonstrating the true potential of impactful investing. Well done to the Agroeknor management and team for their flawless execution and dedication, we remain excited about whats to come.

Individual GP Awards: Female Founder Award

This recognition celebrates Adesuwa Okunbo Rhodes’ trailblazing leadership and innovative efforts to close the gender funding gap across all levels of society. As the driving force behind Aruwa Capital, Adesuwa’s vision and dedication have redefined what it means to be a female leader in an industry that is still predominantly male. It was extra special for Adesuwa to be presented this award by Kate Perkins, the Head of Gender & Diversity Finance at British International Investment, the UK Development Finance Institution.

Individual GP Awards: Decade Recognition- Private Equity Leading Lady

This award honours Adesuwa’s relentless commitment to championing diversity and inclusion. Over the years, despite the setbacks and challenges, Aruwa Capital under Adesuwa’s visionary leadership has become a beacon of hope for numerous female fund mangers in Africa and beyond. Through Aruwa Capital’s success and achievements, Aruwa Capital is a source of inspiration and motivation for other women looking to set up their own funds and businesses. Aruwa Capital is showcasing how female capital allocators that integrate a gender lens investing strategy can deliver both financial returns and societal transformation, making a compelling case for the inclusion of underrepresented groups in the private equity space. It was an honour for Adesuwa be recognised as amongst other leading ladies from DPI, AfricInvest, ITL Group and Trident Trust.

Individual GP Awards: People’s Choice Award (Industry Voting)

This award was voted by peers across the industry and the world, this award is a testament to the respect and admiration that Adesuwa has earned in the industry in a short space of time. Adesuwa’s work not only inspires but also sets a benchmark for innovation, impact, excellence, resilience, hardwork and integrity in private equity.

A Night to Remember

The evening was not just about accolades; it was about celebrating a shared vision for Africa’s future. Surrounded by industry peers, mentors, partners, and colleagues, we reflected on how far we’ve come since we launched 5 years ago, and how much further we aim to go. Winning these awards is a testament to the collective effort of our team, investors, portfolio companies, investment committee and partners. It’s a reminder that when persistence meets opportunity, success is inevitable.

Thank You for Believing in Us

To everyone who has been part of our journey, thank you for believing in our mission. These recognitions fuel our commitment to driving sustainable change, fostering inclusive growth, and building a brighter future for Africa.

Stay tuned as we continue to lead with purpose, passion, and persistence.