Cavalli Business and Investment Limited Group has inaugurated a new board of directors as part of its strategy to deepen corporate governance, strengthen its market position and accelerate growth ahead of 2026.
The Group Managing Director, Emmanuel Odemayowa, announced the company’s decision during a recent media briefing, describing the transition as a defining moment for the multi-sector enterprise, which operates in real estate, consultancy, facility management, construction, infrastructure and energy.
Odemayowa said the company was entering “a critical new phase” that required stronger structures and higher operational discipline.
He said, “Cavalli Group is entering a critical new phase, one that demands heightened governance, deeper professional rigour, and a leadership architecture capable of sustaining the scale of growth we foresee.”
He added that the newly constituted board would enable the group to “deliver unprecedented value” as it repositions for 2026.
The new board comprises Dr Ogechi Adeola, Omolola Coker, Sani Jonathan, Bernard Zaatar, and Sarkin Tafida. The company said the members were selected based on their track records in academia, private-sector leadership and sectoral experience.
Odemayowa said the appointments were not a publicity move but a deliberate step to institutionalise governance.
He said, “This is not a publicity stunt… The team members were carefully selected. The majority of them are professionals and technocrats… We brought this team together to ensure corporate governance, structures, and professionalism.”
He noted that Cavalli Group planned to raise substantial capital in 2026 and needed a board capable of scrutinising management decisions, product launches and investment proposals.
“We are going to be raising a lot of funds in 2026… We realised that we need the right set of people on our board who will scrutinise whatever we put together at the management level,” he added.
The Group Chairman, Sokipriye Graham-Douglas, said the new board would consolidate Cavalli’s performance over the past 15 years and position it for greater impact.
He said, “Cavalli has been doing quite a great job for the last 15 years. With this new board, we just want to enhance and make sure we take them to greater heights.”
Graham-Douglas emphasised the company was prepared to play a stronger role in bridging gaps in the real estate market, adding that the firm was open to partnerships with the government on low-income housing.
He said, “The housing deficit is always in low-income homes. We at Cavalli do middle-income and luxury properties, but that does not mean we cannot partner with the government. For low-income homes, you expect infrastructure, land and legitimate partnerships. Then we can be involved.”
One of the new board members and Professor of Marketing, Dr Ogechi Adeola, said she would contribute her expertise in branding, marketing and strategic management.
She said, “I will bring my experience, my knowledge and my interest in the property business to bear on this board… Marketing, branding, looking at their value proposition, credibility, and generally looking at management, brand management, and strategic management.”
She added that her goal was to strengthen Cavalli Group’s brand visibility and ensure that “value creation and delivery” remain at the centre of its operations.
The company stated that it had delivered more than 12 premium real estate developments across Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Oniru, Ikate and other prime locations. Odemayowa noted that the track record would be expanded significantly under the strengthened governance structure.
“If we were able to do all that in time past without this kind of board, with this board in place, we are going to do much better,” he said.
