Leading pan-African investment company, Heirs Holdings, has announced the appointment of Obinna Ufudo and Sola Yomi-Ajayi as Non-Executive Directors, a move the company says will further strengthen its corporate governance framework and deepen strategic oversight across its expanding portfolio.
In a statement released on Monday January 26, 2026 in Lagos, Nigeria, Heirs Holdings described the appointments as a reflection of its continued commitment to building a strong and highly experienced Board, capable of guiding long-term investments and sustaining performance across its operations in Africa and beyond. The company noted that both appointees bring decades of high-level expertise in finance, energy, risk management, governance, and global markets.
Sola Yomi-Ajayi, a seasoned banking and governance professional, brings over 30 years of experience in financial services, regulatory engagement, enterprise risk management and corporate governance. She previously served as an Executive Director at United Bank for Africa (UBA) and later became Chief Executive Officer for UBA’s International Business, as well as Country CEO for UBA America.
Beyond her work within UBA, Yomi-Ajayi has served on several global and institutional platforms, including the boards of UBA United Kingdom (UK) and the Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU). She is also a member of the OECD Blue Dot Network Executive Consultation Group. Her professional record further includes previous roles on the Sub-Saharan Africa Advisory Committee of the US Export-Import Bank (US EXIM) and the Board of Trustees of the Institute of International Banking (USA).
Academically, she holds a Master of Business Administration from Aberdeen Business School, Robert Gordon University, and is a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute (UK), as well as a member of the Association of MBAs. She also earned a Corporate Governance Certificate from Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania, and a Leadership Certificate from Harvard Business School.
Obinna Ufudo, on the other hand, brings over three decades of leadership experience spanning banking, energy, investment, and corporate transformation. He previously served as Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer at Heirs Holdings, and later became President and Group CEO of Transnational Corporation of Nigeria (Transcorp), where he led a major turnaround programme. During his tenure, he executed the landmark acquisition of the Ughelli Power Plant, regarded as one of Nigeria’s most significant power sector transactions.
Ufudo is also the Founder and Chairman of Atiat Leasing Limited and the Co-Founder and Chairman of LoanBook Limited, reinforcing his reputation as a business leader with deep expertise in strategy and enterprise growth. He holds executive and postgraduate qualifications from Wharton School (AMP), the University of Reading (M.Sc., Chevening Scholar), and IESE Business School (Executive MBA). He is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria.
Commenting on the appointments, Heirs Holdings Founder and Group Chair, Tony O. Elumelu, CFR, welcomed the new directors and praised their contributions to Africa’s private sector development.
“We are pleased to welcome Obinna Ufudo and Sola Yomi-Ajayi to the Board of Heirs Holdings,” Elumelu said. “Both Obinna and Sola are role models for Africapitalism. Their depth of experience and track records will further support our leadership in Pan African proprietary investment; together, they bring highly relevant experience for our portfolio development.”
Heirs Holdings remains one of Africa’s leading investment firms, with interests across energy, power, banking, insurance and financial services, technology, real estate, hospitality and healthcare, operating in twenty-four countries worldwide. The company said it remains guided by its Africapitalism philosophy, driven by long-term capital deployment, operational excellence, and sustainable wealth creation across the continent.
