The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) has appointed investment and entrepreneurship expert, Surayyah Ahmad, to its board as part of efforts to strengthen private sector leadership and drive sustainable economic growth in Nigeria.
The appointment was approved during the organisation’s second-quarter board meeting held on May 12, according to a statement issued by NESG Chief Executive Officer, Tayo Aduloju.
Aduloju said the appointment reflects the organisation’s commitment to deepening evidence-based policy advocacy and supporting economic transformation through private sector innovation and inclusive development.
Ahmad is the founding partner of Sabou Capital, an investment platform that provides funding and technical support to high-growth small and medium-sized enterprises across West and Central Africa, with a strong focus on gender inclusion.
She also chairs the Laidlaw Foundation Women in Business Board and serves on several startup advisory boards across the continent.
Leading $300m Youth Enterprise Initiative
Ahmad is currently spearheading the operationalisation of the Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank Funds, a $300 million initiative backed by the African Development Bank, the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority and the Development Bank of Nigeria.
The initiative is aimed at expanding access to finance and technical support for youth-led businesses across Nigeria through wholesale and retail financing mechanisms.
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Ahmad holds a Master of Business Administration degree from University of Oxford, where she specialised in finance and impact investing.
She also served as Co-Chair of the Oxford Africa Business Alliance.
The NESG noted that Ahmad’s extensive experience in entrepreneurship, impact investing, youth enterprise development and private sector innovation would further strengthen the organisation’s strategic engagement in shaping policies for Nigeria’s economic growth and development.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.