Group Chief Executive Officer, Babajide Lawani, outlines strategy focused on risk management, ethics, and client partnership
CFG Africa has unveiled the ₦1 billion CFG Ethical Fund, positioning the Sharia-compliant investment vehicle as a low-risk anchor for institutional and retail portfolios preparing for the uncertainties of the 2026 financial year. The launch took place at the Client Engagement Forum 2025, a high-level investor gathering held on Friday, November 21, 2025, at The Wheatbaker Hotel in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The event, themed “2026 in Focus — Opportunities for Growth, Navigating Uncharted Terrains,” brought together market leaders and institutional investors to examine risk-adjusted investment opportunities in a year expected to test global markets with elevated geopolitical risks, inflation pressures, and a slower liquidity cycle. Against that backdrop, the Ethical Fund was presented as a strategic diversification product designed to deliver steady income while adhering to ethical and Sharia financial principles.
Anchoring Portfolio Stability Through Ethical Finance
The CFG Ethical Fund is a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)-regulated, open-ended unit trust scheme with a unit price of ₦1,000. The fund targets stable, low-risk returns through allocation to Sukuk, fixed-income instruments, and ethically screened equities, allowing investors to diversify across defensive assets that comply with Islamic finance rules.
The fund is structured with CFG Asset Management Limited as the Fund Manager, AVA Trustees Limited as Trustee, Rand Merchant Bank Nigeria as Custodian, CardinalStone Registrars Limited as Registrar, and One17 Capital serving as the Sharia Adviser. This multi-expert governance framework is intended to strengthen transparency, ensure full compliance, and enhance investor confidence.
CFG Africa noted that the Ethical Fund is guided by strict ethical screening rules, excluding interest-based instruments and prohibited sectors while prioritizing companies and issuers that demonstrate responsible governance, transparency, and social impact. By combining Sukuk with a mix of fixed income and compliant equities, the fund seeks to reduce portfolio risk while providing a stable income profile aligned with ethical investing standards.
Integrated Strategy Anchored on Research and Risk Management
Speaking at the launch, Babajide Lawani, Group Managing Director/CEO of CFG Africa, explained that the firm’s investment philosophy is rooted in client partnership, risk management, and deep market intelligence. He described CFG Africa as an organization “built for collaboration,” enabling clients to access integrated advisory support across asset management, capital markets, and enterprise growth.
“We are quite market-powered,” Lawani said. “We deliver competitive returns to all of our clients anchored around risk management, driven by thorough research. Our structure allows us to go beyond transactional services and provide sustained strategic guidance.”
He stressed that CFG Africa intends to play a catalytic role in supporting large-scale enterprise development in key sectors such as real estate, healthcare, and defence, while also advising clients on capital raising, expansion strategy, and asset allocation. According to Lawani, the Ethical Fund reflects growing investor appetite for low-volatility structures, especially in periods of uncertainty.
Institutional Collaboration and Governance Strength
The presence of senior executives from partner institutions reinforced the collaborative model behind the CFG Ethical Fund. Industry leaders from Rand Merchant Bank, One17 Capital, CardinalStone Registrars, and AVA Trustees attended the unveiling, alongside analysts and portfolio managers who discussed trends in ethical finance and the rising appeal of Sharia-compliant investments in Africa.
The fund’s governance structure aligns with CFG Africa’s conservative investment approach, which prioritizes capital preservation before profit. The group said its portfolio philosophy favors government securities, high-grade commercial paper, and placements with rated financial institutions, especially when markets present elevated volatility.
About CFG Africa
CFG Africa is a diversified investment banking group advancing innovative financial solutions across brokerage, asset management, and fiduciary services. The group operates through three integrated subsidiaries — CFG Asset Management, CFG Maynard, and CFG Africa Trustees — enabling seamless solutions across the investment value chain. Its client base includes corporates, institutions, high-net-worth individuals, and developers seeking structured financial advisory and secured investment vehicles.
The launch of the ₦1 billion CFG Ethical Fund underscores the company’s conviction that ethical finance will play a growing role in portfolio allocation strategies as investors seek predictable returns, transparency, and risk-managed exposure going into 2026.
Emmanuel Bassey is a Financial Expert that has worked in the Banking and Finance Industry for over 15+ years across different banks in Nigeria
