Ada is a passionate food investor. She’s the Founder of Agrolay, an investment firm that seeks out early-stage companies that redefine the food production and retail opportunity across Africa's consumer markets. Agrolay incubates food start-ups, one of which is The Nuli Juice Company, the fastest-growing fresh beverage manufacturer and restaurant chain in Nigeria, and which she serves as the Chief Executive.

 Prior to her entrepreneurship journey, Ada worked in Nigeria’s public sector as the Senior Investment Adviser to Dr. Adesina, Nigeria’s former Minister of Agriculture, leading private sector investment initiatives, including the development of the Fund for Agricultural Financing in Nigeria, an innovative private equity fund that invests in Nigeria’s agribusiness SMEs. She was a Vice President at Kuramo Capital Management, a private equity firm in New-York. She was also a Senior Investment Officer at the African Development Bank (AfDB), leading capital market and infrastructure financing transactions across Africa. Ada also worked briefly with Actis, a multi-billion dollar Private Equity fund focused on emerging markets investing. She started her career as an investment banker with BNP Paribas, London.  

 Ada received her MBA from the Kellogg School of Management. She holds an MSc in Economics and Finance from the University of Warwick, U.K. and a BSc in Economics (First Class Honours) from the University of Hull, U.K.

Ada is a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum and a Desmond Tutu Leadership Fellow of the African Leadership Institute. She received the ‘Achiever in Agriculture’ Award in 2015 and in 2014, was named one of Forbes 20 Youngest Power Women in Africa. 

She serves on the Board of the One Acre Fund and on the AfDB President’s Advisory Group on Jobs For Africa’s Youth.

All sessions by Ada Osakwe