Nigerian Stella Okuzu Appointed Interim Director of Royal African Society in UK

Nigerian-born finance and strategy expert, Stella Okuzu, has been named Interim Director of the Royal African Society (RAS) in the United Kingdom, a move widely celebrated as a win for African leadership on the global stage.

Okuzu, who brings over two decades of professional experience, is the Founder and CEO of EDD Finance & Consulting Limited. Her career spans senior roles in banking and business, including Head of Personal and Business Banking at FCMB (UK) Ltd, Non-Executive Director of FastCredit Limited, and Lecturer in Global Strategy and Sustainability at BPP University, London.

The appointment, announced earlier this week, was lauded by the Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, who described it as “a well-deserved recognition of a trailblazer whose work has advanced African enterprise, financial inclusion, and global partnerships.”

Dabiri-Erewa emphasized that Okuzu’s new position highlights the excellence of Nigerians in the diaspora, who continue to break barriers and make significant contributions internationally. She urged other diaspora professionals to take inspiration from Okuzu’s success and remain shining examples of Nigerian talent abroad.

Industry observers note that Okuzu’s appointment comes at a critical time for the Royal African Society, an influential institution committed to strengthening African voices, policy, and cultural exchange across Europe and beyond.

With her blend of finance expertise, academic leadership, and cross-border experience, Okuzu is expected to steer the Society’s programmes with a focus on sustainability, inclusivity, and innovation in Africa’s development discourse.