Zedcrest Appoints New Executives To Boost Investment Banking Growth

By Johnson Emmanuel

The Group Managing Director of Zedcrest Group, Mr. Adedayo Amzat, recently announced a restructuring of the firm’s executive leadership in Nigeria, appointing Simbiat Bada as Managing Director (MD) of Zedcrest Securities, Ademola Akogun as MD of Investment Banking, and elevating Luke Ofojebe to Chief Investment Officer (CIO). The changes follow the 2024 acquisition of RMB Nigeria Stockbrokers and the securing of an Issuing House licence. The firm is positioning to expand investment banking, asset management, and lending operations, as Amzat stated the goal is to “elevate capital flows across Africa.”

DECISION HIGHLIGHT
Zedcrest Group has strengthened its executive and technical leadership to support integrated financial services expansion and regional market positioning.

DECISION MEMO
Zedcrest Group’s leadership restructuring reflects a transition from growth phase to scale optimisation. The appointments are aligned with functional expansion across core verticals, securities trading, investment banking, and asset management, suggesting a deliberate move towards an integrated financial services model.

Amzat’s articulation of a “borderless financial powerhouse” indicates strategic intent to operate beyond domestic market constraints. The combination of an Issuing House licence and prior acquisition of RMB Nigeria Stockbrokers provides regulatory and operational infrastructure to intermediate capital flows more effectively.

The elevation of Ofojebe to CIO introduces a research-led investment framework, signalling a shift towards institutional-grade advisory and portfolio management. This aligns with the firm’s ambition to scale assets under management, where credibility and analytical depth are critical.

The lending arm, Zedvance Finance, provides an additional dimension. With over N96 billion deployed since 2025 and a target of N250 billion in 2026, the group is positioning credit as a primary growth lever. This suggests a dual strategy, mobilising capital through investment services while deploying liquidity into the real economy.

However, expansion across multiple financial verticals introduces execution complexity. Integrating brokerage, banking, lending, and advisory services requires strong governance structures and risk management frameworks, particularly in volatile macroeconomic conditions.

Zedcrest’s strategy reflects broader trends within African financial services, where firms are consolidating capabilities to capture value across the financial intermediation chain. The effectiveness of this model will depend on balance sheet strength, regulatory alignment, and sustained deal flow.

WHO WINS / WHO LOSES

Winners are institutional and private clients gaining access to integrated financial services and expanded credit channels; the firm strengthens its competitive positioning. Smaller, specialised firms face increased competition from integrated service providers.

POLICY SIGNALS
The development reflects a broader shift towards consolidation and integration within financial services, supported by regulatory frameworks that enable multi-service institutions.

INVESTOR SIGNAL
Zedcrest Group’s strategy indicates an emerging model of full-spectrum financial intermediation in Africa, with potential for scale but requiring sustained capital and execution discipline.

RISK RADAR
Key risks include execution challenges in integrating diverse financial services, credit risk from aggressive lending expansion, regulatory complexity, and exposure to macroeconomic volatility affecting capital markets and loan performance.