About Us – SFS Nigeria

Our History

SFS Financial Services Group (“SFS Group”) currently consists of two companies, called SFS Financial Services Limited (“SFS Financial“) and SFS Capital Nigeria Limited (“SFS Capital”). SFS Financial is licensed by the Securities & Exchange Commission (“SEC”) as an Issuing House, while SFS Capital is licensed as a Fund/Portfolio Manager.

The SFS Group is a product of a Management Buy-out of Skye Financial Services Limited, which operated as the investment banking and investment management subsidiary of Skye Bank Plc. The change began as a result of the mandate by the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (“CBN”) instructing all Nigerian banks to sell off their non-banking subsidiaries. Skye Bank Plc offered its 100% stake in Skye Financial Services Limited to interested investors. After a thorough and transparent process, The divestment eventually cumulated in the sale of Skye Financial Services Limited to an entity formed by its existing management.

Coincidentally during the divestment of Skye Financial Services Limited by Skye Bank Plc.’ the SEC began implementing the rule preventing any asset management company from engaging in other activities; like Issuing House. As a result, the investment management business of Skye Financial Services Limited was ‘Carved-Out’ to form SFS Capital Nigeria Limited (“SFS Capital”). Both the Newly formed SFS Financial Services and SFS Capital Nigeria Limited have similar shareholding structure and therefore are now part of a larger group now branded “SFS Financial Services Group”.

Who We Are

THE VISION: “THINK SFS”

If we can get ourselves to always Think SFS (i.e. to think first about the common good for all SFS stakeholders) before we think of ourselves, our unit or our generation; then we can progressively deliver first class solutions for our customers, excellent returns for our shareholders and top remuneration for our employees. All this we will achieve through the provision of quality issuing house and investment management in our sub-region. Like a seed that grows and ultimately becomes the strongest tree on the landscape, we will creep into the consciousness of our customers with whom we shall be on a first-call basis. Whenever our target clientele are confronted with an opportunity or a problem in issuing house, investment management or financial advisory in our sub-region, SFS should spring to their minds. In effect, we will render the kind of service that will make it almost inevitable for such clients to always Think SFS before they think about other options. Achieving all this will go a long way towards making us role models in our society. So think! Think SFS!

Values & Principles

Think SFS Means we should think first about the common good for all SFS stakeholders before thinking of ourselves as individuals. This will ensure that all our stakeholders, especially our clients would think SFS before any other firm. If we can all think SFS, we will deliver first class solutions for our customers, excellent returns for our shareholders and top remuneration for our employees.

So think! Think SFS!

CORE VALUES
Proficiency, Integrity, Honesty, Transparency, Accountability and Responsibility, Mutual respect for one another. Standing by commitments. Excellence

CULTURE
Cultivate and emphasize a strong team spirit. Lacking flamboyance. Providing its members with a sense of belonging. Respects the needs of customers and fellow employees. Is progressive. Is also informal

MANAGEMENT STYLE
Focus on leadership as opposed to management. Providing leadership by example. Do not permit the imposition of barriers based on cadre or hierarchy. Encourage managers to be accessible. Is participative. Encourage freedom of speech at all levels. Providing staff with both praise and censure. Acknowledge the contributions of team members. Focused

EMPLOYEE PROFILE
Employees comprise of persons who are: Dynamic, Energetic, Willing to learn, Self-Motivated, Trustworthy and Out-going. Are passionate about their work. Are Leaders. Do not seek personal glory. Have strong inter-personal skills. Are highly qualified specialists. Are socially balanced.

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
Orderly &Clean. Functional. Pleasant. Quiet. Modern. Tasteful but simple.

All of these are made possible through a team of dedicated leadership, exemplifying a high level of corporate governance.
We are passionate about our working environment and also about ensuring that our people deliver exceptional values.
We continually update our processes to ensure that our people flourish and realise their full potentials, while at the same time maintaining the delicate balance between profitability and environmental safety.

Board of Directors

CHAIRMAN – Dr. Layi Fatona Ph.D., M.Sc., DIC, FNAPE.

Dr. ‘Layi Fatona is a Petroleum Geologist with over thirty-five years of practice, commencing with a seven year stint in the Petroleum Engineering and Exploration & Production Departments at The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC). He obtained both the Master of Science and Doctorate degrees from the Royal School of Mines at the Imperial College of Science Technology and Medicine, University of London, in 1976 and 1980 respectively. He is the Chairman of Geotrex Systems Limited, Nigeria’s foremost independent Exploration & Production Consultants, which has provided expertise to all the major oil operators in the country.
Dr Fatona is a past President and Fellow of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists, (NAPE), and a Certified Petroleum Geologist of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG). He is the 2010 recipient of the prestigious Aret Adams Award, of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationalists (NAPE) and is also a leading authority on the geology of the Niger Delta Oil and Gas Province.
Dr Fatona recognised for his entrepreneurial skills most notably for promoting one of Nigeria’s most successful local refineries: Niger Delta Exploration & Production PLC., where he currently serves as its Managing Director/CEO.
Dr Fatona is the Chairman of the Board of Both SFS Financial Services Limited and SFS Capital Nigeria Limited

Director – Dr Yemi Kale Ph.D, M.Sc.

Dr. Yemi Kale, who is the current Managing Director of Kayle Synergies Limited, is the immediate past Statistician-General of the Federation and Chief Executive Officer of the National Bureau of Statistics. Dr Kale who holds several domestic and international awards for performance and excellence holds a B.Sc. in Economics (First class honours) from Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, M.Sc. (with distinction) and Ph.D. in Economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science. An alumnus of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Dr. Kale worked as an equity analyst at Goldman Sachs and for several years as a quantitative analyst at Merrill Lynch Financial Services from where he became Group Head of Research and Investment Strategy at Investment Banking and Trust Company Plc. (now Stanbic IBTC Bank plc) where he was credited for developing and deepening the practise of investment research in Nigeria and leading to him winning the 2009 African Investor award for African Research Analysts of the year. Later, he held the position of Special Adviser to the Minister of Finance and subsequently, Technical Adviser to the Minister of National Planning. He was later appointed Statistician General of the Federation and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in 2011 and became the first chief executive of the NBS to be reappointed for a second term when his tenure was renewed by President Buhari in 2016

Dr Kale is a fellow of the Nigerian Statistical Association and a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Administrators and Researchers of Nigeria among others. At the National Bureau of the Statistics he has been applauded by both Nigerian and foreign observers from his reforms in the data process which many believe has restored sanity to the data production process in Nigeria. Kale is commended for introducing methodology updates, some decades old, using modern technology such as Computer Assisted Personal Interview Devices to gather data and improving platforms for data dissemination including a data portal, upgraded website and App and the use of infographics to make data easily understandable by users. Under him timeliness of data, data quantity and quality has been greatly enhanced and data credibility improved significantly. During his time at the National Bureau of Statistics, significant data upgrades including GDP rebasing, labor market and Consumer Price Indices, Agriculture and Business Census projects were initiated and completed. He is highly regarded for his fierce refusal to tamper with data or rejection of the politicization of data which has gained him recognition from both pro and anti-governments stakeholders as well as the international community. Kale was awarded the National Productivity Order of Merit for outstanding performance, professionalism and diligence in February 2017 by the Nigerian President Muhammad Buhari. He has also received several other awards personally or on behalf of the NBS for integrity and professionalism including the first ever SERVICOM award for public sector excellence, the Financial Writers Association Award and the LCCI award as best public service institution for 2016 and the Business Day award for excellence three years in a row, amongst others.

He has served as the chairman of the National Consultative Committee on Statistics (NCCS) and a member of the Nigerian Economic Management Team (EMT) as well as the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Monetary Policy Committee, National Steering Committee on 2nd Peer Review of Nigeria, the Executive Committee of PARIS 21 of the OECD as well as various Presidential Standing Committees. He is also currently chairman of the Nigeria Country Office of Accountability Lab and a non- executive director on several other institutions. He has written widely on fiscal and monetary policy, governance, finance and economic development in Africa.

MD/CEO, SFS Financial services – Yemi Gbenro B.Sc., M.A.

Mr Gbenro has over 2 decades experience in Investment Banking and Investment Management in Nigeria. He attended the University of Lagos where he obtained a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration in 1981 and subsequently a Masters Degree in Marketing from the same University.

He is a banker with over 20years experience. He worked with NAL Bank Plc where he acquired varied experience in capital markets and corporate banking; he also worked with EIB International Bank where he headed the Corporate Finance Division of the Bank.

In his career, Mr Gbenro has led his team successfully in raising over $1 billion dollars in debt and equity capital for private and public entities. While successfully concluding over multiple merger & acquisition transaction. Mr Gbenro also championed the formation of Nigeria’s First Real Estate Investment Trust (“Skye Shelter Fund”). He successfully led the Team which undertook the Management Buy-out of Skye Financial Services from Skye Bank Plc.

Mr Gbenro has attended several senior management development programmes locally and overseas, including the Advanced Management Programme at INSEAD, France in 2011.

He is the Managing Director of SFS Financial Services Limited and also serves on the Board of SFS Capital Nigeria as a Director.

MD/CEO, SFS Capital – Patrick Ilodianya B.Sc., MBA, FCA, HCIB, ACT, ACS

Patrick has over a decade of experience in Financial Advisory, Investment banking, insurance and Investment Management, within and outside Nigeria. He was the Top graduating student with a B.Sc in Accounting from the University of Lagos and an MBA from Lagos Business School Pan-African University. Patrick is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA) and an Honorary Senior member of the Chartered Institute of Banks of Nigeria (HCIB). Patrick is an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation (ACIT) and The Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (ACS). In addition, he is a qualified stockbroker of The Nigerian Stock Exchange, Registered Bond Trader with SEC and is currently on the final stage of the U.S. based Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) qualification.

Patrick worked with Stanbic-IBTC for almost a decade and spent some time pioneering a local joint venture with Fortis Investments of Luxemburg prior to joining Skye Financial Services Limited.

Patrick has been exposed to extensive Finance/management related training by IESE Business School (In Spain), Citibank NY (In USA); Commerzbank (In Germany); Fortis Investments (In UK, Holland, Belgium, France), ING Bank (In Holland & Belgium).

Patrick, led the fund management team which has very successfully managed the Skye Shelter Fund (Nigeria’s first Real Estate Investment Trust) from its inception.
Patrick was recently awarded with a Certificate of Distinction as one of Nigeria’s Top 25 CEO’s in 2015. The Award was given by BusinessDay Newspaper in collaboration with Microsoft (Nigeria).
Patrick is an Alumnus of Harvard Business School (GMP18).

Patrick is the Managing Director of SFS Capital Nigeria Limited and also serves as the Deputy Managing Director of SFS Financial Services Limited.

ED, SFS Capital – Dimeji Sonowo

Dimeji Sonowo has over 20 years’ experience of managing clients funds.

Career Notes:

Co-Founder and Executive Director of SFS Capital Nigeria Ltd

Director in SFS Financials since 2011

Dimeji commenced his Banking career in August 2000 and registered as a fund manager by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in 2004 after attaining the relevant experience required.

Until July 2008, Dimeji was Head of the Asset Management team of Investment Banking & Trust Company ( “IBTC”) now Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc.

At IBTC, Dimeji served on the Investment Management Committee of The IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund and The IBTC Ethical Fund (Nigeria’s first Ethical Fund). His team also managed the pre PENCOM Act pension assets of multinationals and oil majors.

From September 2008 to date Dimeji has been in the Investment Management team of Skye Financial Services Ltd (now SFS Capital Nigeria Ltd) serving as Director from 2011 .

He has been a member of the Investment Committee of Skye Shelter Fund (now SFS REIT) from 2008 – date ; Union Homes REITS from 2017 – date while managing and advising Non Pension assets for best in class clients.

He has served as EXCO on Funds Managers Association of Nigeria (FMAN) and currently serves on the Committee charge to implement the Global Investment Performance Standard (GIPS) in Nigeria

Education:

Dimeji received his undergraduate degree in Accounting (1999) and is a Fellow Chartered Accountant (FCA 2011) . He obtained his MBA (Finance) from Manchester Business School (2012)