Yesterday, I had the pleasure of receiving a courtesy visit from Ike Chioke, Group Managing Director of Afrinvest.
A few years after the 2008 global financial crisis, which tested the resilience of many businesses, including Afrinvest, I made an unsolicited investment of $1 million in the company. No documentation. No agreements. No terms. Just requested their account number and wired the fund and say – repay when things turn around.
Why? Because I believed in Ike and his partners. I believed in Ike’s leadership, resilience, and ability to navigate challenging times.
Just recently, that investment was repaid with interest. Yesterday, Ike led his senior leadership team on a thank-you visit. But for me, the greatest return was not the financial gain. It was seeing Ike justify the trust I had placed in him and repay that trust with integrity. He did not betray it. By honouring that trust, he has made it possible for me to do more.
I am sharing this for three reasons:
- I have watched Afrinvest grow into a thriving financial services institution, with more than 200 employees and six subsidiaries, creating jobs, opportunities, and lasting value.
- I often speak about democratising luck. Throughout my own journey, I have benefited from people who believed in me, took a chance on me, and opened doors of opportunity. I believe we have a responsibility to do the same for others.
- The act of repaying trust—not just capital—is inspiring and encouraging. When people invest in you, please do not disappoint them. If you do, you may make them regret their decision and discourage them from supporting others in the future.
What Ike did yesterday was open the door for others. I hope this story encourages other endowed Africans to support people and businesses with potential. Collectively, we can transform Africa into a continent of shared prosperity, rather than an oasis of wealth for a privileged few.
Sometimes, all it takes is one person willing to believe in you, particularly when the odds seem stacked against you. That single act of trust, encouragement, or support can change the trajectory of a business, a career, or even a life.
Believe in people. Invest in potential. Extend a hand when it matters most. You never know how far that act of faith can go.
Congratulations, Ike, on all that you and the Afrinvest team have accomplished. Your journey is a powerful reminder of what conviction, resilience, and opportunity can achieve.
