Episode 2: Eric Idiahi of Verod Capital - Honesty, Humility and Hard Work as a Recipe for Success

Fiftyfaces Focus Nigerian Voices Podcast

Eric Idiahi is co-founder and a partner of Verod Capital, a private equity firm based in Lagos, which he founded in 2008. He is Chairman of the Board of Tangerine Africa as well as Eleva Group and holds a number of Non Executive Director positions. He was previously a Managing Parter of FountainHead Media Group as well as a Financial Derivatives Company.
Our conversation traces Eric's move to the US where he completed his high school and university education and what drove his decision to move back to Nigeria. This was an exciting time, and we look at some of the surprising aspects of re-integration - and how the fact that he wasn't married initially was relevant.
We chart the investment landscape in Nigeria, where the opportunity lay then (in 2005) and how it evolved, and how connections and social capital are important in different ways. He speaks about the explosion of technology investment opportunities in Africa and the enormous potential that leapfrogging traditional infrastructure has enabled. We also discuss how ESG considerations can now be considered at the outset of investments.
As the co-founder of a Nigeria-based private equity firm, Eric has "at the coalface" experience in raising capital and explaining the African investment opportunity to outside investors. This picture has evolved too and our relatively efficient and brief conversation is packed with nuance and insight.
This podcast series is brought to you with the kind support of:
Romco Metals, producers of truly green aluminium, copper, and other non-ferrous metals from the African continent, dedicated to decarbonising supply chains across the globe by recycling our way to a sustainable future. Romco: Invest, Reduce, & Grow; and
Mbuyu Capital Partners, an investment company focusing exclusively on Africa, managing portfolios of funds and direct investments for institutional clients and impact investors.