Stella Okuzu joins the Royal African Society with a track record of pioneering work in banking, finance, and consultancy. As the Founder and CEO of EDD Finance & Consulting Limited, she has advised and supported businesses across Africa, the UK, and Europe in market entry, capital raising, and cross-border growth. Her firm oversees several funding projects with a significant portion dedicated to African development and financial inclusion in emerging markets.
Previously, Stella served as the pioneering Head of Personal & Business Banking at FCMB Bank (UK) Ltd, where she designed and launched Africa-focused financial products for SMEs and high-net-worth individuals, achieving remarkable growth while ensuring regulatory excellence. She also holds board-level responsibilities as a Non-Executive Director of FastCredit Limited, a Central Bank of Nigeria–licensed institution, where she chairs the Audit & Risk Committee and contributes to the credit and digital finance strategy.
Alongside her corporate achievements, Stella is deeply engaged in education and thought leadership. She was a lecturer at BPP University, London, up till June 2025, teaching Global Strategy & Sustainability and mentoring international students. She is co-authoring the forthcoming Fintech for Management textbook, further underscoring her dedication to equipping the next generation of leaders with the tools to navigate a rapidly changing financial landscape. Her contributions have been widely recognised: she was named among the Top 200 Voices in Leadership to Watch (2022) by LeadersHum and celebrated by the Mayor of London in 2023 as one of the Women Who Make London Great. These accolades highlight her influence not only within Africa’s business and finance ecosystem but also as a global advocate for diversity, sustainability, and cross-cultural exchange.
Commenting on her appointment, Stella Okuzu said:
“It is a privilege to join the Royal African Society as Interim Director at such an important moment in its history. Africa stands at the intersection of extraordinary challenges and opportunities—from digital innovation and entrepreneurship to sustainability and cultural exchange. My vision is to strengthen the Society’s role as a bridge between Africa and the rest of the world, amplifying African voices, ideas, and enterprises on the global stage.”
