Board of Directors

SWIFT Networks is managed by deftly selected, highly intelligent, skilled, experienced and well motivated professionals backed by prominent Nigerian investors and world-class technology providers. A Board of Directors comprising ten distinguished Nigerians and foreigners currently determines the general policy of the company. The current Board of Directors of the Company is made up of the following reputable professionals who have distinguished themselves in their various fields of endeavour.

Mr. Richard Kramer

Mr. Richard Kramer is the Chairman of Swift Networks Limited. He is also the Chairman of African Capital Alliance. Kramer has a strong background in business strategy and helped many foreign companies enter Nigeria successfully during his days as Managing Partner of Arthur Andersen & Co. Nigeria, which he started in 1978. Previously, he served as Managing Partner of Arthur Andersen in Benelux, Argentina and Uruguay. He is currently a Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, serves on the Lagos Business School Advisory board and previously headed the technical team for Nigeria’s Vision 2010 Committee. His qualifications include a Harvard MBA, US Certified Public Accountant, Nigerian Chartered Accountant and an accounting degree from Kansas University.

Mr. Charles Anudu (Managing Director / CEO)

Charles Anudu is a renowned entrepreneur who has been severally honoured for his stellar contributions to the Nigerian economy, having successfully launched companies in the key sectors of the Nigerian economy. Charles is the founding Managing Director and Chairman of The Candel Company Limited, a major player in the Nigerian Agricultural industry. He had worked for Rhone-Poulenc Nigeria leaving the company in 1992 as the General Manager (Agrochemicals) to found Candel. Charles attended University of Nigeria, Nsukka (1978-1983) and University of Ibadan, Ibadan (1996-1997), where he obtained a Bachelor of Agriculture Degree in Crop Protection and Master of Science Degree in Plant Ecology, respectively. Charles completed a Diploma programme in Computer and Telecommunications Electronics at Devry Institute of Technology, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Mr. Anudu is a Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), among other professional certifications. Charles is an Alumnus of Harvard Business School (Owner-President Management Programme), as well as the Owner – Director Management Programme of INSEAD, Fontainbleau, France. He also attended the Advanced Management Programme (AMP) of the Lagos Business School. Charles is currently a member of the Economic Intelligence Committee of the Presidency, Federal Republic of Nigeria and belongs to many socio – cultural organizations including the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO).

Mr. Chukwuma E. Okoye (Chief Operating Officer)

Chuma joined SWIFT Networks directly from Zain group/ Celtel International B.V., where his last position was Group Commercial Director responsible for all 15 African operations of the company. In this position, Chuma developed and executed the route-to-market strategy and implementation plan for all 15 African countries with annualized turnover in excess of $2.8 billion. Prior to this role, Chuma worked in Nigeria for Zain / Celtel as the Chief Commercial Officer and was responsible for launching the Celtel brand in Nigeria when the Group acquired V-Mobile. During his tenure, Zain/ Celtel increased its subscriber base in Nigeria by 1.3 million (24%) within 6 months, was a close second in market position and achieved a revenue in excess of $1billion within one year. Chuma joined Zain from Unilever Tanzania where he was the Chief Executive Officer. In this position, Chuma implemented a robust business plan that led to the profitability, within one year, of a company that had recorded several years of losses. Before the Tanzanian posting, Chuma had been expatriated to Russia as the Commercial Director for Unilever Foods Russia for three years and returned to Unilever Nigeria to assume the position of Logistics Director in 1998. Chuma also worked as the Finance Director, Tractor and Equipment Nigeria ( a Unilever subsidiary responsible for distribution and after-sales support of Caterpillar earth moving and related equipment) between 1993 and 1995. Chuma was trained at the University of Nigeria where he obtained BSc, Hons. (Accountancy) degree and is an Associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants (ACA) of Nigeria. He has attended many executive development courses including the Advanced Management Program of the prestigious London Business School.

Chief (Dr.) Richard U. Uche

Richard U. Uche is a Chartered Accountant by profession. He graduated with a B.Sc. Accounting (first Class honours) degree from the Golden Gate University, San Francisco, California, USA in 1969; a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Finance and Accounting from University of San Francisco, in 1972, and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) degree from the Golden Gate University. Chief Uche did his articleship with Peat Marwick Mitchell & Company in San Francisco, California from 1972-1976 and later joined KPMG Nigeria on return to Nigeria. He was admitted a Partner in 1982, a position he occupies till date. Chief Uche has elaborate experience in Audit, Accountancy and Taxation of many energy and petroleum companies in Nigeria, including NNPC, Shell, Elf Petroleum, amongst others. His professional career has also traversed the audit of computer installations and systems with computer-based accounting systems. Chief Uche is a member of many professional bodies both in Nigeria and abroad and has played a prominent role in the development of accounting practice in Nigeria. He has authored two books including “Petroleum Accounting and Taxation in Nigeria”. Chief Uche has led many courses, seminars and workshops in Nigeria and abroad. He serves on the board of a number of public companies.

Mr. Daniel O. Agbor

Admitted to the Nigerian Bar in 1986, Dan obtained a degree in Law from the University of Benin after obtaining a first degree in Political Science and a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the University of Calabar. His career experience spans Nigerian International Bank Limited (Citibank Nigeria) where he was product manager in the Corporate Finance Unit and Gulf Bank of Nigeria Plc where he was pioneer Company Secretary. In over 20 years experience of corporate and commercial practice, he has established a reputation for devising innovative and practical solutions to complex business transactions – he was involved in the establishment of Nigeria’s only Global Depository Receipts Programme and was involved in the negotiations that led to the establishment of Nigeria’s first independent power project. His experience includes advising on financing options for the establishment of private refineries; the structuring of international debt funds, including one listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange; advising on investments in the oil and gas sectors; and advising on several other mergers and corporate restructurings. Dan has written articles on oil and gas, project finance, banking, secured credit transactions and foreign investments and is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association and the International Bar Association. He is also a consultant to the World Bank on Nigeria’s downstream gas sector. He is ranked as one of the “World’s Leading lawyers” in the Chambers Global Directory and has been commended for “applying sound legal principles to transactions without fuss or pretension”. He is also listed in the Euromoney guide to the World’s leading Energy lawyers. Presently he serves as Chairman of Counters Trust Securities Limited and is a director of various companies including, Eskom Enterprises Global West Africa Limited, First Securities Discount House Limited, Cotecna Inspection Limited and Pensions Alliance Limited.

Engr. Alfred Mkparu

Engr. Alfred Mkparu obtained a B.Sc degree (First Class honours) in electronics Engineering from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife in 1979. He has since worked as the Customer Support and Operations Manager in several Information and Communications Technology Firms including JKK Limited, Inlaks Computers and Bull Information Systems. He is currently the Executive Chairman of Associated Data Systems Limited, which is involved in Networking (LANs, WANs, Structured Cabling and Wireless Networking).

Mr. Paul Kokoricha

Paul Kokoricha is a principal of African Capital Alliance. He holds a B.Sc. in Economics and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria. Paul worked for ten years in Arthur Andersen providing accounting, consulting and audit services to varied clients in the financial, oil & gas and manufacturing sectors. He gained extensive experience in turnarounds, business reorganizations and systems consulting. Prior to joining African Capital Alliance, he worked for Liberty Bank Plc as Group Head of Operations with responsibility for trade finance products and customer service. He joined African Capital Alliance as the Chief Financial Officer before making a transition to investment officer role. At African Capital Alliance, he has been actively involved in private equity transactions ranging from fundraising to due diligence, deal structuring, investment management and management of exits. He is a director of a number of companies including Johnnic Communications West Africa Limited, Compact Disc Technologies Nigeria Limited and Nu Metro Retail Nigeria Limited

Engr. Folorunsho Akinwande

Engr. Folorunsho Akinwande is a graduate of Mechanical Engineering from Instituto Technico Statale, Gubio, Italy. He started his career with Oto Melara SpA in Italy before returning to Nigeria in 1982 on transfer to Oto Melara Nigeria, with the responsibility of training the men of the Nigerian Armed Forces on the operation and repair of Oto Melara equipment. He is currently the Executive Chairman of Ellawande Nigeria and United Logistics Limited, which are major Contractors to the Ministry of Defence, Nigeria.

Mr. Edwin Mmuoemenam

Mr. Edwin Mmuoemenam is a successful entrepreneur and business administrator, with interests in Pharmaceuticals, Chemicals, Food Processing, Banking and Real Estate. He is the Executive Chairman of Edic Chemicals Limited and a Director of Spring Bank Plc, among others.

Mr. Afam Edozie

Afam has over 16 years experience in engineering, marketing and executive management in Europe and Nigeria. Afam most recently spent over four years as Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer for MTN Nigeria, where he provided commercial and strategic leadership in helping develop MTN Nigeria from start-up in Nigeria to over 2,000 staff and $500 million profit after tax. Afam’s background also includes experience with Richard Branson’s Virgin Group, where he served as a Marketing Director; as well as over nine years in marketing and business management with Procter & Gamble Europe and Motorola Cellular in the UK. He has also spent time designing and building high pressure gas infrastructure for transporting natural gas from the North Sea to London with British Gas (now National Grid PLC.) He currently runs FiCres Capital Ltd, a private equity investment company focused on consumer markets in Nigeria. Afam was educated at King’s College Lagos and earned a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering at The University of Lagos. He also holds a postgraduate degree in Economics from The University of London.