Early Life:
Mr. Godwin Obaseki was born in
Benin City, Nigeria to the famous and illustrious Obaseki family.
Education:
He had his early education in St.
Matthews Anglican Primary School, Benin City, from where he proceeded to Eghosa
Anglican Grammar School, Benin City for his secondary school education. He
attended the University of Ibadan where he obtained a BA in Classics.
Mr. Obaseki attended the Columbia
University and Pace University in New York and has an MBA in Finance and
International Business. He is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Stock
Brokers, Nigeria and an alumnus of the Lagos Business School Chief Executive
Program.
He was nominated a Global Leader
for Tomorrow (GLT) by the World Economic Forum in 2001.
Career:
Godwin Obaseki began his career
over 30 years ago and has established track records in Investment Banking,
Asset Management, Securities Trading and the Public Sector both internationally
and in Nigeria.
He started out in 1983 with
Capital Trust Brokers Limited, Lagos as a stockbroker where he excelled and
subsequently worked with International Merchant Bank (an affiliate of First
Chicago Bank). In 1988, he joined AVC Funds Limited, Lagos where he served as a
Project Manager and led the core team that set up two of the new generation
banks which eventually reshaped the face of the banking industry in Nigeria.
Between 1993 and 1995 he worked in New York as a principal of Equatorial
Finance Co, a Financial Advisory firm with a focus on Africa and providing
Structured Trade Finance for African related transactions through credit,
financial advisory and risk insurance.
He Founded Afrinvest West Africa
Limited (formerly Securities Transactions & Trust Company Limited
(SecTrust)) in 1995 as the pioneer Managing Director. The firm has since grown
to become a leading Investment Banking and Investment Management firm in
Nigeria. In 1995, SecTrust was appointed the correspondent stockbroker for
Nigeria by the International Finance Corporation (IFC). In 1996, SecTrust
established the first derivative product, the Nigerian International Debt Fund
(NIDF) on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, which allowed Nigerians invest local
savings in US Dollar instrument. This fund has outperformed projections on
returns. SecTrust pioneered and was local adviser on the first global offering
by a Nigerian bank through the issuance of Global Depositary Shares (GDS) to
raise UD$50 million from the international Capital market. Afrinvest has acted
as advisers on some of the largest and most significant transactions in the
Nigerian capital market since 2005.
Afrinvest is one of the most
trusted advisory firms in the domestic corporate finance market, pioneering
major innovations and providing leadership in the Nigerian Securities market.
The Firm has advised on numerous landmark transactions including the first
Eurobond Issue by a Sub-Saharan Africa Corporate (outside South Africa); the
first ever simultaneous merger and tender offer transaction in Sub-Saharan
Africa and the largest ever listing on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. Afrinvest
has been ranked as a major Investment Research firm which is at the forefront
of playing instrumental roles in the introduction of new financing products
such as Eurobonds and Global Depository Receipts to Nigerian Companies.
Mr. Obaseki is presently the
Chairman of the Board of Directors of the firm which won the Best Asset
Management Firm in Nigeria (2014) Award by the Wealth & Finance
International Magazine Finance Awards.
Mr. Godwin Obaseki currently
serves as the Chairman of the Edo State Government's Economic and Strategy Team
(EST), a position he has held since March 17, 2009 Pro bono publico.
Key achievements as chairman of
the economic team of Edo state Government include:
Documentation of State Economic
Development framework through Sectors' Strategic Planning which is reviewed and
updated on an ongoing basis;
Introduction and enculturation of
retreats as a platform to ensure all parties engagement not only in planning
and executing state development initiatives but also in monitoring and
evaluation of outcomes;
N25 Billion Infrastructure
Development Bond from the Nigerian Capital Market in 2010;
$225 Million Concessionary rates
Development Loan from the World Bank with the 1st Tranche of $75 Million
already accessed;
Successfully hosted Sector based
Economic Summits and Policy Dialogue Series including the Power Round Table in
2010, 2011 Education Round Table and 2012 Agribusiness Round Table.
These summits have translated in
measurable and desired outcomes including:
i. Azura-Edo IPP project with over $1 billion in
FDI development in Ihovbor, Uhunwode LGA
ii. Education Reforms which have
translated to significant improvement in Educational Infrastructure and student
performance in WAEC and other Exams.
iii. Following the 2012
Agribusiness Summit, the state has attracted investment in the Rubber
Sub-sector for the development of the single largest Rubber Plantation project
in Nigeria, in Sokponba, in Orhiomwon LGA, under a privately developed and
financed initiative;
iv. A framework for Local Economic
Empowerment through out-growers schemes which attracts funding into the
development of key crops for which Edo State has natural endowment including
Oil Palm, Rubber, Cassava, Cocoa, Rice and other grains
Other Committee activities in Edo
State Government
1. Tax Assessment Review Committee
for Edo State Internal Revenue Service (TARC) - Chairman
2. Committee on Micro, Small and
Medium Enterprises (MSME) - Chairman
3. Committee on the Implementation
of the Law Establishing the Edo State University of Science and Technology,
Uzaire - Secretary
4. Committee on Contributory
Pension Scheme - Member
5. Edo SEEFOR/DPO Steering
Committee - Member
6. Committee on the Report of the
Audit of the Credentials of Teaching Staff in Public Schools in Edo State.
7. State Steering Committee on the
European Union Assisted Niger-Delta Support programme (NDSP) Component 3
(Development of Edo State Water & Sanitation Policy and Law.
Professionally, Mr. Obaseki has
served on the Presidential Committee on the Reform of the Nigerian Pension
System. He also served on the Nigerian Securities and Exchange Commission
Committee on the Re-activation of the Nigerian Bond Market and the review of
the Investment and Securities Act. He served as a member of the Nigerian Stock
Exchange Council between 2006 and 2009. He also serves on the board of some
companies such as Dorman Long Engineering Limited, Pillar Oil Limited, Seric
Impianti International Limited.
He was the founding secretary of a
New York based US Africa Chamber of Commerce in 1992, which promoted US
organisations doing business in Africa. He was a Director in Junior Achievement
of Nigeria - the local affiliate of the worldwide Not for Profit organisation
which trains students to appreciate market economy values. He also participates
actively and serves as Trustee, in the Dr. Jackson Owen Obaseki Foundation, a
family owned NGO which is involved in providing free educational and health
services to the less privileged.
He has been a card carrying member
of the All Progressive Congress (APC) since, and has participated actively in all
elections since 2009 and was Chairman Fund Raising Committee for the
Oshiomhole-Odubu re-election bid in 2012
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