Fope Adelowo stands out as a key voice advancing finance and fintech growth across Africa.
Over the years, Fope Adelowo has been one of the key figures shaping the continent’s investment narrative. With experience that spans global financial hubs and leading advisory firms, she has built a career defined by analytical depth, cross-border expertise, and a strong focus on financial inclusion.
Adelowo holds an undergraduate degree in Engineering, graduating with first-class honours from Imperial College London. She later earned an MBA from Harvard Business School- credentials that have strengthened her foundation in both analytical thinking and strategic leadership.
Her early career took her through some of the world’s leading financial institutions. At Goldman Sachs in London, she gained exposure to global capital markets before moving into strategy consulting with the Boston Consulting Group. The combination of finance and strategic advisory work offered her a broad understanding of how capital and innovation intersect to drive business growth.
Transition to Africa’s investment space
A turning point came when Fope Adelowo returned to Nigeria, joining CardinalStone Partners in Lagos. There, she deepened her engagement with the continent’s investment landscape, particularly in private equity. Her work contributed to facilitating cross-border investments and strengthening investor confidence in African markets.
In 2014, she joined Helios Investment Partners, one of the largest Africa-focused private investment firms, which manages funds totalling over $3 billion. Helios is known for backing companies that address key gaps in infrastructure, technology, and financial services across the continent.
At Helios, she plays a leading role in the firm’s financial services and fintech investment activities. Her portfolio includes several innovative companies, such as TPAY Mobile and Thunes, which work to improve digital payments and cross-border transactions across emerging markets.
Her focus aligns with Helios’s broader strategy to support scalable, technology-driven businesses that expand access to essential financial services. Through these investments, the Nigerian investment expert has helped steer capital towards ventures that are advancing financial inclusion and contributing to Africa’s digital economy.
Championing financial inclusion and diversity
Beyond her investment work, Adelowo is a visible advocate for diversity within the financial sector. As one of the few African women in senior roles within private equity, she’s continuously reshaping perceptions in finance and technology.
Beyond her boardroom duties, she is dedicated to mentoring and capacity-building, focusing on empowering young professionals, especially women, to become future leaders in business and investment.
As Africa’s fintech and private equity sectors continue to evolve, professionals like Fope Adelowo are showing that homegrown expertise, informed by global experience, will be central to the continent’s economic transformation.
