Irede A.

Irede Ajala has a BA(Hons) in Economics from University of Northumbria,Newcastle where he graduated with a 2:1. He returned to Nigeria and had a brief stint with Petroleum Technology Development Fund as a Finance/Investment Officer before going on to work at BGL,one of Nigeria's foremost investment banks for five years. At BGL, he specialised in public sector advisory. Advising over 12 Federal States and several Federal Ministries through debt capital raising,privatisation and investment strategies, Irede carved a niche for himself within Nigeria's finance industry. He has previously attended an Executive Management program at Oxford University's Said Business School where he obtained a certificate for outstanding performance. In 2012, he left Nigeria briefly to further his education at one of the leading business schools in Europe, Erasmus University's Rotterdam School of Management where he was awarded a Masters degree in Maritime Economics and Logistics. While in Rotterdam, he worked as a Ports Consultant for Ports and Logistics Advisory,Rotterdam and was later appointed as a Senior Adviser(Business Development and Security Issues) on Maritime Services in the office of the Presidency,Nigeria. He now works as the Head, Investment Banking Division for Elixir Investment, a dynamic, young boutique investment house focused on delivering excellence in wealth management and investment advisory within Nigeria with the aim of leaving its mark on West Africa. In his spare time, Irede serves as a policy strategist for an advocacy group, "Team Member"- working to improve accountability and transparency in the Nigerian government especially and has been a member of the Abuja Global Shapers hub, World Economic Forum since 2011. He also serves on the board of several companies in the maritime, construction and education industries.