Comercio Partners has declared its ambition to become one of Africa’s leading financial institutions over the next decade while unveiling a women-focused investment initiative backed by an initial commitment of over N100 million.
Speaking at the firm’s 10th anniversary in Lagos, chairman, Ronke Sokefun, said: “The first decade proved that Comercio Partners could succeed. The next decade will prove just how far it can lead. The first decade was about building a firm. The next decade must be about building an institution whose influence outlives all of us and whose impact extends across Africa.”
She added: “Institutions survive because they earn trust. They grow because they create value. They endure because they remain relevant through changing economic cycles.”
Also at the event, Steve Osho, co-founder, Comercio Partners disclosed the launch of the Comercio Partners Foundation and SOW (Supporting Our Women), an initiative that will provide equity funding, grants, mentorship, and business networks for women entrepreneurs.
He noted: “Of the $289 billion invested in global venture capital in 2024, female-only founding teams received just 2.3 per cent. Here in Nigeria, the financing gap for women-owned businesses exceeds $42 billion.”
Describing the programme as a commercial investment, Osho said: “This is not charity. This is a business decision. We will pair every naira with mentorship, access, and the kind of network that has always been available to some founders and not others.”
Tosin Osunkoya, co-managing partner and chief executive officer, Comercio Partners Asset Management said the firm will sustain its commitment to helping clients navigate uncertainty, preserve wealth during market turbulence, and create wealth when investment opportunities emerge.
According to him, “Before you can thrive, you must endure. Before you can compound wealth, you must preserve capital.”
He added that the firm’s future would be defined by “trust, innovation, excellence and knowledge” as it builds an institution that will serve generations to come.