On a mission to be the most trusted financial services group in Africa, one relationship at a time

Trust, Built with Purpose

At Mulberry Partners Limited, trust is the foundation of everything we do. We are a premier financial services group providing investment banking, trusteeship, asset management, brokerage, principal investing, and finance solutions to individuals, corporates, and governments across Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Guided by excellence, integrity, and innovation, we help clients unlock opportunities, preserve value, and achieve sustainable growth through enduring partnerships.

Backed by more than five decades of experience, our promoters have originated, structured, and executed landmark transactions across bonds, security trusts, ESOPs, escrow services, and loan agency mandates, with transaction exposure exceeding ₦5 trillion.

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VISION

Africa's pre-eminent trust company, connecting clients, market and capital.

MISSION

To give credible African businesses and governments the structure to compete globally, ethically, and sustainably.

Where we are going and why we exist.

OUR CORE VALUES

These are the values that define us, our standard for how we work, how we show up, and how we earn the trust placed in us.

Partnership

We work alongside our clients, not just for them. Every mandate we take on becomes a shared commitment. When you win, we win.

Ethics

Trust runs on conduct. We hold that standard on every transaction, regardless of size.

Leadership

We take the lead in transactions, in the industry, and in shaping finance across Africa.

Advancement

We drive continuous growth through innovation and forward-thinking solutions.

Respect

We treat every client, colleague, and partner with dignity, fairness, and professionalism.

The Promoters

Suru Daniels (Bsc; FCA; ACS; ACIB; MCSI (UK); M. CloD)

Suru Daniels is an investment banking practitioner with almost twenty years experience in investment banking, consulting and project management. He has advised clients across the private and public sectors and is a notable subject matter expert in the fields of Mergers and Acquisition, Project Finance, Capital Issuance and public sector advisory.

Suru has led several issuances and M & A transactions in the Nigerian capital market and has successfully closed transactions valued at over US$ 2b n (>NGN 3 trillion) in his banking career. His understanding of structured project and trade finance has been pivotal to the support he has provided to clients in sectors such as Oil and Gas, hospitality, Telecoms, Media and Technology, real estate, banking, insurance, agriculture and Infrastructure .

Suru has led formidable teams of investment bankers across both bank affiliated and non- bank affiliated investment banks having worked at PanAfrican Capital Holdings Plc (Formerly Spring Capital Markets Limited), Greenwich Trust Limited, Coronation Merchant Bank Limited and Afrinvest Capital Limited, where he served as the Managing Director of the business. He has repeatedly proven his mettle as a strategic market leader by crafting and successfully executing strategic visions and business plans.

In most cases, he has grown revenue 4x and sustained revenue growth year - on -year. He is an ex- officio member of the Association of Issuing Houses of Nigeria (AIHN) where he served as the Director of Publicity. He studied Accounting at the Lagos State University, Ojo and graduated with a Second Class Upper with Honors. He gained the Fellowship of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria in 2019 and is Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers of Nigeria. He is also a full member of the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investments, UK.

Suru is an Authorised Dealing Clerk of the Nigerian Stock Exchange and has been a member of the Board of Advisors of the American Biographical Institute since 2004.

Oyewale Odekhiran (LL.B; BL; ACIB) M.CIOD

Oyewale Odekhiran is an Investment Banker and a Corporate and Commercial Solicitor with over 20 years of professional experience. He is skilled in investment and commercial banking and is a sponsored individual with the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC). His strategic acumen and exceptional skills in business development and wealth management has positioned him as a forward- thinking leader, constantly evolving and upskilling to provide high value for every organization he has worked with.

Oyewale has initiated new business initiatives especially in the areas of wealth creation and preservation for UHNIs and HNIs. He has also managed assets valued over #500 Billion for UHNIs, HNIs, Corporate organizations and public and governmental institutions.

Oyewale has been involved in formidable teams of investment and commercial bankers in both bank affiliated and non - bank affiliated investment banks having worked with Intercontinental Bank Trustees, Access Bank Plc (post - merger with Intercontinental Bank ), Pan African Capital Trustees Limited and Afrinvest West Africa Limited where he was the pioneer Managing Director, Institutional Business Sales.

He was also the Acting Managing Director of Afrinvest Trustees Limited.He is a business strategist with strong entrepreneurial and business development skills.

Oyewale was a one -time Assistant General Secretary of the Association of Corporate Trustees (ACT), the umbrella body of Corporate Trust firms in Nigeria. He bagged an LL. B (Hons) from Ogun State University and was called to the Nigerian Bar as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria over 2 decades ago. He is also an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria.

The Management

Kate Isabota

Kate Isabota is Head of Investment Banking at Mulberry Advisory Services Limited. She has spent over 14 years in investment banking and corporate finance, working across capital markets, financial advisory and transaction execution.

She joined Mulberry in 2025 to lead the firm's investment banking practice, advising clients across sectors on strategic finance and capital raising. Before Mulberry, she was Assistant Vice President at Afrinvest Capital Limited (2021 to 2025) and Senior Associate at Afrinvest (West Africa) Limited (2018 to 2021). Earlier in her career she spent over seven years as an Associate at Dunn Loren Merrifield Group, after completing her National Youth Service with the Benue State Ministry of Finance and starting out as a Graduate Trainee at Vetiva Capital Management Limited in 2010.

Kate holds a Master's degree in Development Finance with Distinction from the University of Lagos and a First Class Honours degree in Economics from Covenant University. She is an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) and the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI), UK, and a Member of the Society for Corporate Governance Nigeria. She has also completed the Senior Management Programme at Lagos Business School.

Her deal experience spans debt capital markets, corporate finance, valuation, restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, and infrastructure financing. Recent work includes commercial paper programmes for SKLD Integrated Services Limited and Coleman Technical Industries Limited, independent valuations for Vitavisco Nigeria Limited and Vono Furniture Products Limited, and advisory mandates covering renewable energy, infrastructure development and corporate recovery.

She has worked on some of the Nigerian market's largest transactions, including Dangote Industries Limited's ₦300 billion dual-tranche bond, Fidelity Bank's ₦75 billion bond, Emzor Pharmaceutical's ₦13.897 billion Series I bond, River Jamieson SPV Limited's ₦24.5 billion bond, Axxela's Series I and II issuances, and commercial paper for Greenwich Merchant Bank Limited and Afrinvest (West Africa) Limited. Earlier deals include the ₦15 billion UAC of Nigeria Rights Issue, the ₦2.45 billion May & Baker Rights Issue Programme and financial advisory on the restructuring of the Tinapa Business and Leisure Resort.

Saheed Okubena

Gloria Kazeem

Bassey Ekpenyong

Meet Advisory Board

Alhaji Sani Muhammed Utai

Alhaji Sani Muhammed Utai is a seasoned entrepreneur and board leader with extensive experience in logistics, container management, and terminal operations. He brings over three decades of progressive leadership across corporate management and private enterprise, underpinned by deep operational knowledge, strategic oversight, and a strong track record in building and scaling logistics‑related businesses in Nigeria.

Alhaji Utai began his professional career at Zaki Services Company as an Administrative Manager before joining Inland Containers Nigeria Limited (ICNL) in 1993. Over the course of his tenure at ICNL, he rose through the ranks from Assistant Marketing Manager to Deputy Depot Manager, and subsequently Depot Manager in 2012. His career progression reflects a consistent record of operational excellence, proactive leadership, and commitment to continuous professional development, providing him with a strong foundation in depot management, stakeholder engagement, and organizational leadership.

Building on his corporate experience, Alhaji Utai founded the Blackhorse Group, an indigenous enterprise with interests across logistics, terminal operations, agri‑processing, and related sectors. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Crescent Rice Mill Limited, Terra Oil Mills Limited, BlackHorse Logistics Limited, and Blackhorse Terminals. In addition, he holds directorship positions at Tambari TV and MK Oceanic & Logistics Limited. Through these roles, he provides strategic oversight, governance leadership, and disciplined capital allocation across diverse businesses.

Alhaji Utai holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maiduguri, as well as a Postgraduate Diploma and a Master’s degree in Management from Bayero University, Kano. He has completed numerous executive and professional programmes in international trade, corporate planning, marine logistics, and organisational efficiency, including an international study visit with the South African Railway Corporation focused on terminal management best practices. He currently serves on the Advisory Board of Mulberry Partners Limited, where he contributes his experience, industry networks, and commitment to governance excellence.

Ms Funke Feyisitan Ladimeji

Funke Feyisitan Ladimeji is a seasoned global financial services executive, Board Chair, and Non‑Executive Director with deep expertise in strategy, governance, transformation, and value creation across Banking and Financial Services. She brings over two decades of international experience spanning Asia (Hong Kong, Tokyo), North America (New York), Europe (London), Africa (South Africa), and Nigeria, with a distinguished career across investment banking, capital markets, and public and private financial markets.

Funke’s executive career includes 14 years at JPMorgan Chase, where she served as an Executive Director with global responsibilities and played senior roles in multiple complex, multi‑jurisdictional mergers and integrations, including the combinations of JPMorgan and Chase, and the acquisitions of Bank One, Bear Stearns, and Cazenove. Her experience spans a broad range of asset classes and client segments, as well as oversight of critical governance‑related functions including technology, operations, financial control, compliance, and human capital, giving her a strong enterprise‑wide risk and control perspective.

In Nigeria, she served as Director and Chief Operating Officer of FBNQuest Merchant Bank Group, leading significant balance‑sheet expansion, revenue growth, strategic acquisitions, and institutional modernization. She later served as an Executive Director at Coronation Merchant Bank, with oversight of multiple business lines and enabling functions. Across these roles, Funke has led organizations through transformation, integration, culture change, and performance improvement, with a strong focus on sustainable growth, resilience, and long‑term shareholder value.

Funke currently holds board and advisory roles, including Board Director at Mobihealth and Advisory Board Member at IDC Africa. She recently completed her tenure as Chairman of the Association of Women Bankers of Nigeria, where she strengthened governance, enhanced financial sustainability, and elevated institutional relevance. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England & Wales and holds a Master’s degree in Globalization from Queen Mary University and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Brunel University. An alumna of IBM’s Generative AI for Business Leaders and MIT’s AI Strategy & Leadership programmes, Funke brings a forward‑looking perspective on technology, innovation, and governance to the boardroom.

Mr. Hakeem Oguntola

Hakeem graduated with a first-class honours degree in Agricultural Economics from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and also holds an M.Phil from the same institution. He is a member of different professional accounting bodies in Nigeria, Canada and United Kingdom and has won many academic laurels.

An economist and chartered accountant with more than 20 years’ experience in finance, strategy and administration with multinational corporations in Nigeria, Canada and Ghana.

Prior to this appointment, Hakeem was the Finance Director of Cadbury Ghana Limited, Ghana. He has performed in senior management roles in the finance and strategic functions of Cadbury Nigeria Plc, Nestle Canada Inc, and Coca Cola (Nigeria) Bottling Company Plc.He currently serves as the Group Executive Director (Finance) of Mutual Benefit Assurance Plc

Ms. Ijeoma Q Emmanuel-Ayira

Ijeoma Q. Emmanuel‑Ayira is an experienced governance, people, and culture leader with over two decades of senior‑level experience across highly regulated and complex industries. She brings deep expertise in workforce governance, ethical leadership, organisational culture, and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI)—capabilities that are increasingly central to sustainable business performance, regulatory confidence, and stakeholder trust.

Her career includes leadership roles within global organizations such as Shell and Cummins Inc., as well as advisory engagements across finance, energy, FMCG, marine, and communications sectors. She has supported executive teams and boards on succession planning, leadership capability, conduct risk, organisational effectiveness, and cultural transformation, with a track record of strengthening governance outcomes and aligning people strategy with business priorities.

Ijeoma currently serves as Lead Consultant at BVLQ Topaz, partnering with boards and executive leadership to design and implement people, culture, and DEI strategies that meet regulatory expectations and support long‑term enterprise resilience. She is particularly valued for her ability to translate culture, behaviour, and ethics from abstract concepts into practical governance levers that enhance board oversight, risk management, and performance accountability.

Beyond her executive and advisory work, she is the founding Chair of a private trustees’ board and continues to serve as a Trustee, providing stewardship on governance, fiduciary standards, and stakeholder engagement. She also contributes to the advisory boards of several not‑for‑profit organisations, shaping conversations on leadership development, sustainability, and inclusive organisational practices. An alumna of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, with advanced strategic studies from Cornell University, she holds the GPHR ( Global Professional in Human Resources ) and SHRM‑SCP ( Society for Human Resource Management – Senior Certified Professional ) certifications and is a member of leading global HR and governance professional bodies.

Ms Omobola Makinde

Omobola Makinde is an accomplished corporate executive and legal practitioner with over 20 years of post–Call to Bar experience in consulting, legal practice, financial services, and real estate. Her career reflects a consistent record of strategic leadership, organizational transformation, and governance excellence across diverse sectors.

She currently serves as Managing Partner at O.J. Makinde & Co., where she provides executive leadership and strategic direction for the firm’s operations, ensuring the delivery of top-tier legal and advisory services.

Prior to this, she held senior executive roles within the Greenwich Group, including the Group Company Secretary/Head of Legal at Greenwich Merchant Bank Limited, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of GTL Trustees Limited (now Greenwich Trustees Limited) and Group Head HR & Admin and Group Head/Company Secretary and Compliance at Greenwich Trust Limited (now Greenwich Merchant Bank). In these capacities, she led corporate restructuring initiatives, guided multi-entity governance frameworks, managed stakeholder relations, and spearheaded business growth strategies that strengthened organizational performance and compliance.

A results-driven leader, Omobola possesses deep expertise in corporate governance, strategic planning, business development, legal advisory, trusteeship, and human capital management. She has successfully overseen high-value transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and the establishment of legal and governance frameworks that align with both local and international best practices.

Omobola is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN) and an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Directors, Nigeria (IoD). She is also a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Society of Corporate Governance of Nigeria, and a Sponsored Individual of the Securities and Exchange Commission.She holds an LL.B from the University of Ilorin, a B.L from the Nigerian Law School, and is currently pursuing a Master of Laws (LL.M) at University College London. A passionate mentor and advocate of ethical leadership, Omobola is committed to advancing good governance, institutional integrity, and sustainable business practices in Nigeria and beyond.

Mr. Gafar Kayode Animashawun Jnr

Mr. Gaffar Kayode Animashawun, Jnr. is an accomplished legal practitioner and board‑level business leader with over three decades of experience across law, telecommunications, construction, national infrastructure, and real estate investment. He is a Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and a Barrister of the Middle Temple, London, bringing strong regulatory insight and governance experience to the boardroom.

He has held senior executive roles across multiple sectors, including Managing Director of Roger Renaud Nigeria Limited, where he led major residential construction projects; Founder of Villa Communications Nigeria Limited, which executed national‑scale telecommunications and spectrum‑monitoring initiatives; and Founder/CEO of Communication Information Technologies (C.I.T) Limited, a long‑term technical partner to Deutsche Telekom and several federal agencies. His leadership has supported landmark projects in national security communications, satellite infrastructure, defence‑grade systems, and telecoms engineering.

Mr. Animashawun is currently the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Kayotunde Investments Limited and serves on the boards of Montgomery Security Vaults Nigeria Limited, Bridge Clinics, Vanguard Newspapers, and IGI Insurance. He is also a co‑promoter of Range Mercantile Limited and a Non‑Executive Director of Docuscan Africa Limited.

He holds LLB and LLM degrees from the University of Buckingham and completed professional training at the Inns of Court School of Law and the Nigerian Law School. Mr. Animashawun brings deep strategic acumen, cross‑sector experience, and a strong track record of institutional stewardship and business transformation.

Promoters' Transaction Experience

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