BY NGOZI ONYEAKUSI

In a bid to reposition for infrastructure opportunities in Nigeria and across Africa,
the Board of Directors of United Capital Plc has announced the appointments of
four highly experienced, infrastructure investment experts as independent
members of the investment Committee of the United Capital Infrastructure Fund
(UCIF). With investments in power, industrial recycling and renewable energy, UCIF
continues to deliver superior results, achieving a year-to-date gross return of
24.62%. The appointments have been confirmed following the ratification and
clearance by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Commenting on the announcement, Mr Peter Ashade, the Group Chief Executive
Officer of United Capital Plc, said:
“These appointments were made to further deepen the Fund’s governance and
ensure that UCIF continues to drive sustainable impact through its investments. I
welcome the newly appointed members of the Investment Committee and
charge them to ensure sustainable growth and impact, while delivering consistent
value to our investors.”
The appointees bring fresh perspectives, multinational exposure, and decades of
multi-sector experience across infrastructure and investments. The appointees are:
De Buys Scott appointed as Chairman. Other independent members are
Olubunmi Akinremi, Bola Bamidele and Obinna Ufudo. They join other members of
the Investment Committee who are Odiri Oginni, UcheNna Mkparu and Adeyinka
Jafojo. Mr Samuel Nwanze has exited the Investment Committee, following the
completion of his tenure. United Capital Group expresses its profound gratitude to
Samuel Nwanze for the wealth of his insights and contributions to rigorous investing
processes during his tenure.
Also commenting on the announcement, UcheNna Mkparu, Chief Investment
Officer and Fund Manager at UCIF, said:
“We are delighted to welcome the new members to the Investment Committee
and would be counting on their track record, wealth of experience across multiple
jurisdictions and impeccable professional reputations to steer UCIF’s strategic
direction as we scale investments that deliver competitive returns across Nigeria
and Africa.”

Investment Committee Member Profiles
De Buys Scott – Independent Member & Chairman
De Buys is the Managing Partner at Cornerstone Infrastructure Advisors and former
Senior Partner, Infrastructure at KPMG (South Africa). He is a qualified Chartered
Accountant with vast African and International experience specializing in PublicPrivate-Partnerships (PPP); Corporate & Project Finance; Capital-raising in various
sectors including transportation, passenger rail, healthcare, and mixed-use real
estate.
Olubunmi Akinremi – Independent Member
Bunmi is the CEO of Tocam Capital, a Project Development firm focussed on
natural resources and associated infrastructure. He has over 30 years’ experience
in investment banking and corporate finance across Nigeria, USA, and the UK and
has raised over $5 billion for the Nigerian market. He served as Senior Special
Adviser to two past Nigerian Presidents on economic policy and has held NonExecutive Director and Audit Committee roles for companies in the financial
services and real estate sectors. He holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of
Essex, an MBA from Cranfield University and is an Associate member of the Institute
of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
Bola Bamidele – Independent Member
Bola, until her retirement from the World Bank Group after nearly 25 years, was the
Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Lead, Transaction Advisory & Equity Mobilization at
the International Finance Corporation (IFC). Bola is experienced in originating and
structuring impact investments and has working experience in Sub-Sahara Africa,
Latin America, Asia and Europe. She is also skilled in International Business, M&A
Advisory, Infrastructure, Structured & Project Finance.
Obinna Ufudo – Independent Member
Obinna is a seasoned board director and executive with over 30 years’ experience
spanning banking, investment, infrastructure, energy and social impact. He is
Chairman of Loanbook Limited and Atiat Limited, and a Non-Executive Director of
Abbey Mortgage Bank. He previously served as President/Group CEO of
Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc (Transcorp), leading a successful
turnaround that delivered over US$1 billion in shareholder value within three years.
He is the Founder & Chairman of Sir Pius Ufudo Foundation, a Fellow of the CIBN, a
British Chevening Scholar, an alumnus of Wharton AMP and IESE Executive MBA.
About United Capital Infrastructure Fund (UCIF)
The United Capital Infrastructure Fund (UCIF) is a SEC-licensed, ₦150 billion closedended fund designed to finance and support infrastructure and related projects in Sub-Saharan Africa. The fund targets key sectors, including
agribusiness, industrial recycling, renewable energy, gas infrastructure, healthcare,
and manufacturing. UCIF is committed to delivering competitive returns to
investors while financing high-impact, sustainable projects that contribute to economic growth and development.