Amaka Nsofor is a leading finance expert specialising in debt capital markets. With extensive experience in Africa, Central and Eastern Europe, and the Middle East, she is pivotal in structuring and executing international bonds (Eurobonds) across Africa and local currency bonds and commercial papers in Nigeria.
In addition to facilitating billion-dollar deals, she advises clients on climate and social bond programs and guides first-time issuers on credit ratings. She is committed to creating educational opportunities for young women outside the boardroom.
A shift from engineering to finance
For years, Amaka Nsofor believed she was destined to be an engineer. She was brilliant at science and math, but a single finance course after high school changed her career choice.
She saw how capital could bring development and how finance could be used to lift people out of poverty. Inspired by this, she pivoted towards finance, earning a degree in Accounting and Finance. She later became a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and obtained an MBA from Columbia Business School and London Business School.
Today, she serves as the Executive Director of Debt Capital Markets at Standard Chartered Bank, influencing how African nations and corporations access global markets.
Transforming the Debt Capital Market
Debt Capital Markets (DCM) is a critical investment banking branch that enables companies and governments to raise funds through debt financing from local and international investors.
Before assuming her current role, Nsofor secured billions of dollars in funding for African sovereigns and corporations. She also spearheaded issuing the first-ever $350 million 10NC 5-year Tier 2 Sustainability Notes by a financial institution in Sub-Saharan Africa. Her influence extends to regulatory reforms as she contributed to Nigeria’s consolidated SEC rule book, helping to strengthen local capital markets.
Empowering women through education
Amaka Nsofor has witnessed how poverty can stifle people’s potential. She saw this play out during her childhood. Financial struggles were the norm in her community, and many brilliant young girls were forced to abandon their education due to a lack of resources.
To break these barriers, she founded the Female Scholars Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to empowering young women from rural areas through education, mentorship, and career guidance.
Through this initiative, she has provided countless young women access to tertiary education, leadership training, and mentorship, ensuring that financial limitations do not define their futures.
