VFD Group charts 2026 growth roadmap at Kigali retreat #rwanda #RwOT

The retreat reflects a deliberate shift in mindset as the Group positions 2026 as a defining year for consolidating gains and scaling impact.

Leadership described the coming year as one where execution would fully align with the Group's core identity, rather than mere intention.

At the heart of this vision lies institutionalization, seen as the essential bedrock for preserving value, deepening established platforms, and building a robust leadership pipeline across Africa.

Nonso Okpala, Group Managing Director and CEO of VFD Group, underscored the uncompromising priority of profitability during the discussions.

"For VFD Group, which is an African investment company, the mindset in 2026 is institutionalization," he stated. "It is about preserving what we have built, deepening what we have established, and enhancing our leadership bench. Our stock in trade is leadership, our people. We must transform skilled individuals into remarkable leaders capable of building great companies. As our ecosystem continues to grow, the firepower we need comes from placing leaders in companies where they can perform exceptionally."

He further emphasized that while the Group recently concluded a ₦50 billion capital raise, capital must be matched with governance and leadership discipline to unlock sustainable value.

'We just concluded a N50 billion capital raise that provides the firepower to better express ourselves and seize opportunities. But capital alone isn't enough. We must broaden our ecosystem, capacitate our leaders within respective companies, and institutionalize governance as a strategic tool to strengthen our businesses and enhance returns,' he said.

Kigali as a blueprint for execution

The choice of Kigali as the retreat location was intentional. Rwanda's transformation journey served as both inspiration and a practical reference point for disciplined execution and long-term thinking.

'As a Black African, Rwanda is a poster child for progress and what's possible on this continent,' Okpala noted. 'Having this meeting here is indicative of our stage of maturity. We want to draw from the lessons they've embedded, the pride and aspiration they represent, and identify with the possibilities that exist across Africa.'

Turning strategy into daily action

'The Group's ambition is clear: value creation and execution,' Anadu explained. 'For Ghana, we break that down into trackable targetsâ€"daily, monthly, annually. Employees buy-in is essential; when people own the vision, execution becomes organic. We conduct daily operational reviews, weekly assessments, and monthly sit-downs to review what's working, what's not, and remain flexible. And crucially, we celebrate every win, no matter how small, it keeps us motivated and focused.'

Executives also explored practical ways to translate the Group's overarching strategy into tangible results at the subsidiary level.

Chinelo Anadu, Managing Director of VFD Ghana, stressed the importance of execution discipline and fostering employee ownership.

"The Group's ambition is clear: value creation through flawless execution," she said.

"In Ghana, we translate that into trackable targets on a daily, monthly, and annual basis. Employee buy-in is crucial, when people truly own the vision, execution becomes organic. We conduct daily operational reviews, weekly assessments, and monthly sit-downs to review what's working, what's not, and remain flexible. And crucially, we celebrate every win, no matter how small, it keeps us motivated and focused."

Chioma Esike, Managing Director, Herel Global, highlighted the need to remove limiting mindsets that hinder scale.

'The bottleneck we must remove is not thinking big,' Esike asserted. 'Too often, we have opportunities to think beyond scope but limit ourselves to conventional ways of operating. That mindset is a key hindrance to scaling and growth, and we're laser-focused on eliminating it in 2026,' Esike said.

2026 strategic priorities

At the core of VFD Group's 2026 vision are three interconnected priorities: driving profitability through strategic capital deployment, leveraging the recent ₦50 billion raise to seize opportunities and deliver superior returns; institutionalizing leadership by developing skilled professionals into visionary builders of enduring companies; and embedding governance as a core strategic element to fortify businesses and protect stakeholder value.

VFD Group stands as an African investment company dedicated to building continental capacity and creating platforms that enable the realization of strategic objectives.

With a diverse portfolio spanning multiple sectors, the Group remains steadfast in its commitment to nurturing exceptional leadership and generating sustainable value throughout its ecosystem.