VFD Group Charts 2026 Growth Roadmap at Kigali Retreat

VFD Group has outlined its 2026 growth strategy during an Executive Leadership Retreat held in Kigali, bringing together senior executives to align on institutionalisation, disciplined execution, and leadership development.

The retreat marked a strategic shift as the Group positions 2026 as a consolidation year focused on strengthening governance, scaling impact, and embedding execution into daily operations across its expanding ecosystem.

Institutionalisation as a strategic anchor

Group Managing Director and CEO Nonso Okpala said institutionalisation will anchor VFD Group’s strategy in 2026. According to him, the focus goes beyond ambition to ensuring that execution reflects the Group’s core identity.

“For VFD Group, 2026 is about institutionalisation,” Okpala said. “We must preserve what we have built, deepen what we have established, and strengthen our leadership bench. Our most valuable asset is our people, and our responsibility is to turn capable individuals into exceptional leaders who can build enduring companies.”

He also stressed that leadership depth remains central to sustaining growth as the Group expands across Africa.

Capital deployment and governance discipline

Okpala noted that VFD Group recently completed a ₦50 billion capital raise, which provides significant capacity to pursue new opportunities. However, he cautioned that capital alone cannot deliver sustainable returns without strong governance and leadership discipline.

“Capital gives us firepower, but governance and leadership convert that capital into long-term value,” he said. “We must broaden our ecosystem, empower leaders within our companies, and institutionalise governance as a strategic tool to strengthen performance and enhance returns.”

Kigali as a model for execution

The choice of Kigali as the retreat venue was deliberate. Executives described Rwanda’s transformation as a practical example of disciplined execution, long-term planning, and national pride.

“As Africans, Rwanda represents what is possible on this continent,” Okpala said. “Holding this retreat in Kigali reflects our maturity as a Group and our desire to learn from systems that work.”

Turning strategy into daily action

Executives also discussed how to translate high-level strategy into measurable outcomes at subsidiary level. Chinelo Anadu, Managing Director of VFD Ghana, emphasised execution discipline and employee ownership.

“Our ambition is value creation through flawless execution,” she said. “We break strategy into daily, monthly, and annual targets. When employees own the vision, execution becomes natural. Regular reviews and celebrating small wins keep teams aligned and motivated.”

Similarly, Chioma Esike, Managing Director of Herel Global, highlighted mindset as a critical growth lever.

“One of the biggest barriers to scale is not thinking big enough,” she said. “In 2026, we are focused on removing mental limitations that restrict growth and opportunity.”

2026 strategic priorities

VFD Group’s 2026 roadmap rests on three core priorities. First, the Group aims to drive profitability through disciplined capital deployment, leveraging the recent capital raise to deliver superior returns. Second, it seeks to institutionalise leadership by developing professionals into visionary company builders. Third, it plans to embed governance as a strategic pillar to protect stakeholder value and strengthen long-term resilience.

With a diversified portfolio across multiple sectors, VFD Group said it remains committed to building African capacity, nurturing leadership excellence, and creating sustainable value across the continent.