Adesuwa Okunbo Rhodes is a name that resonates deeply in the world of African investment. As the founder and managing partner of Aruwa Capital Management, a Lagos-based private equity fund, she has dedicated herself to advancing economic empowerment and unlocking potential across Africa. With a background that blends finance, investment, and a personal commitment to empowering women and underserved businesses, Rhodes has become a powerful force in reshaping investment on the continent.
Born into a family of trailblazers, Adesuwa learned early the value of ambition and resilience. Her journey began in the traditional financial sector, where she gained experience working with global investment banks such as J.P. Morgan and TLG Capital in London. Yet she couldn’t ignore the funding challenges facing African businesses—particularly women-owned or women-led enterprises—and the vast potential these businesses held for generating both social and economic returns.
Driven by a desire to address these challenges, Rhodes returned to Nigeria and launched Aruwa Capital in 2019, becoming one of the few female founders in Africa’s private equity landscape. With a focus on investing in early-stage growth businesses in sectors like healthcare, consumer goods, and education, Aruwa Capital aims to make a difference where it counts. Rhodes’ investment strategy emphasizes supporting businesses that serve the mass market, with a special focus on those led by women or impacting women through job creation, financial inclusion, and access to essential services.
Under her leadership, Aruwa Capital has already begun to fill a significant funding gap. Rhodes recognizes that African women face unique barriers to accessing capital, both as entrepreneurs and as consumers, and she sees immense untapped potential in companies that can meet their needs. By investing in these businesses, she believes not only in the promise of financial returns but in the creation of lasting social change. Rhodes has spoken widely about the importance of gender-lens investing, not just as a moral imperative but as a sound business strategy with the potential to transform economies by driving sustainable growth and creating wealth.
Adesuwa Okunbo Rhodes’ impact reaches beyond her portfolio. Through her work, she is setting an example for future African investors, especially women, showing that private equity can indeed create inclusive growth. Her vision has inspired many, and she continues to push boundaries, opening doors for those often overlooked by traditional funding pathways. In Rhodes’ own words, her journey is just beginning, but her commitment to championing African-led and women-focused enterprises is already reshaping the future of African investment.
