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VFD GROUP Ltd. is a financial services proprietary investment company that creates value by working within Nigeria’s informal financial sector to create innovative products and services that are available to the everyday Nigerian and entrepreneur.

The company was founded in 2009 and effectively started business operations on January 1, 2011. Its Board of Directors include Kayode Fadahunsi, Nonso Okpala, Adeniyi Adenubi, Gbenga Omolokun , Ngozi Aghanya, Mariam Ibrahim, Mary-Callista Ozigbo, Victor Fagbamila, Omobola Fowler and Suleiman Lawal.

VFD Group provides a range of services including Currency Exchange, Financial Advisory, Asset Management, Real Estate, Debt Services, International Remittance and Private Funds Management.

History
The company's history can be traced to Premium Green Limited which was set-up by a group of professionals who had gained experience in different industries. The company started business with a barbing salon. After a year in business the company went into the lending space and acquired its lending license in January 2014.

The company Viadaz FD Limited was set up under Premium Green Limited and the name was kept for 7 years before it was renamed to VFD GROUP on March 14, 2016. The name Viadaz FD is an acronym for Via Diligence and Zeal Finance and Discounting. The project for the development of the company's logo and visual brand identity was managed by Singto Saro-Wiwa and Levitate a hybrid creative company in Lagos, Nigeria.

Premium Green currently exists as a venture capital company with majority shares in Dynasty Real Estate and VFD GROUP.

Subsidiaries under VFD GROUP are licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria and Securities and Exchange Commission

Locations
VFD Group's headquarters is located at 163/165 Broad Street, Marina, Lagos. The company also maintains physical presence and staff in Abuja and Port-Harcourt, two major cities in Nigeria. Transfercorp the group's subsidiary focused on international remittance operates from the UK.

Corporate Culture
The company has a combination of a start-up and corporate finance culture with a high growth phase. There is an open office space where a majority of staff work and collaborate. They have bonding sessions held by the company outside the office to help employees relax and improve camaraderie. Employees are also encouraged to engage in volunteer work beyond work done at the office.

VFD Bridge
VFD Bridge is a debt investment company that provides personal financial advisory services to individuals and small businesses.

VFD Bridge was founded by a group of young, skilled Nigerian professionals with diverse backgrounds, from commercial banking, consulting and investment banking to telecoms and technology, with a vision to be the number 1 alternative finance company in Africa.

Everdon Bureau De Change
Everdon Bureau De Change (EBDC) a subsidiary of VFD Group was incorporated and commenced full operations in 2014. Everdon Bureau De Change is a Dun and Bradstreet certified foreign exchange company headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. They provide foreign currency services, including daily rates advisory, sales and purchase of foreign currencies. Everdon Bureau De Change is regulated by the Central Bank of Nigeria. The company has its daily Forex rates listed on the Bloomberg Terminal, BusinessDay(Nigeria) and Thomson Reuters Eikon.

VFD Microfinance Bank
VFD Microfinance Bank provides high yield savings packages and low interest rates on loans. The company is guided by the CBN Policy and Regulatory Framework for Microfinance Banks in Nigeria and International Best Practice of Microfinance Banking Compliance. It is also licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria

Anchoria Asset Management
Anchoria Asset Management is a specialist provider of active investment products and services to institutional and individual investors. The asset management company is licensed by The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Nigeria. The company was grown out of Anchoria Investments & Securities (established in Nigeria in 1994)

TransferCorp
TransferCorp is a remittance company in the United Kingdom licensed by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to carry out the business of remittance. The company enables transfer of funds to anywhere in the world and also facilitate receipts to major European economies. TransferCorp is the owner of paysnapp.com, a remittance brand in the digital space.

Dynasty Real Estate
Dynasty Real Estate is a professional real estate developer and investment company, which oversees the construction of distinctive, affordable residential and commercial properties in major Nigerian cities. Incorporated on March 19, 2014, they provide services in real estate development, financing and property advisory, geared toward meeting client’s aspirations for property ownership. They partner with corporations and individuals to develop first-rate properties for residential and commercial use.

Germaine Auto Centre
Germaine Auto Centre (GAC) is an integrated automobile center located in Lagos, Nigeria. which specializes in vehicle sales (new and pre-owned), spare part sales, vehicle servicing, vehicle body work and vehicle delivery. They have been providing quality services to organisations and individuals for over 19 years.

A team of over two hundred (200) technicians, specialists and engineers with experience in several service areas work at the center.The company has a state-of-the-art facility with the capability to execute a vehicle service output of over one thousand (1,000) vehicles per month.

Management
Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director, VFD GROUP - Nonso Okpala

Vice Chairman, VFD GROUP - Niyi Adenubi

Chief Operating Officer, VFD GROUP - Gbenga Omolokun

Managing Director, Everdon Bureau de Change - Theresa Ezeh

Managing Director, VFD Microfinance Bank - Azubike Emodi

Managing Director, Dynasty Real Estate - Lawrence Akinrulie

Managing Director, Anchoria Asset Management - Babatunde Dada

Achievements
The asset management subsidiary of the Group, Anchoria Asset Management was licensed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (Nigeria) in May 2017. The license granted the company legal rights to perform the function of a Fund/Portfolio manager in the capital market.

In February 2018, VFD GROUP offered Debt Notes to individual and corporate investors at one million naira per note, with a 19% per annum interest. The offer closed five days after it was open, and achieved a 175% subscription. The notes were issued as a means to provide investment options to individual and corporate investors, and for the company to raise funds for working capital.

Everdon Bureau de Change has it's exchange rates published on Bloomberg and BusinessDay (Nigeria)

Media
In July 24, 2018 VFD Group held a media parley to discuss developments and growth of their business at their head office in Lagos Island with the following media houses in attendance BusinessDayNigeria, Nairametrics, News Agency of Nigeria, The Punch Newspaper, Financial Edge and ThisDay Newspaper.

Partnership
In July 2017, Germaine Auto Center signed a maintenance partnership with Uber Nigeria. The strategic partnership was created as a means for Uber driver-partners in Nigeria to get access to vehicle maintenance services at Germaine Auto Center at a subsidized cost.

Training
In 2017, NESA by makers a skills accelerator for training individuals on new economy skills trained employees of VFD Group on web development fundamentals.

VFD Group holds an annual Graduate trainee programme where selected graduates are trained for a period of twelve weeks across the Group's subsidiaries, giving them an opportunity to experience various functions. At the end of the training period, individuals who passed the training were integrated into the Group's workforce.

Sponsorship and CSR
In June 2017, VFD GROUP sponsored an event tagged Living Through the Leaves, a literary appreciation event which was held at the University of Lagos, Yaba. It was organised by The Book Club, Lagos. The event featured a stage play aimed at bringing written words by indigenous authors to life, to create an experience that would encourage people in society to take up reading.

In June 2017, VFD Group also donated office equipment to the Nigerian Immigration Service which was presented by the Group's Vice Chairman Mr. Niyi Adenubi to the Deputy Comptroller of Immigration, R. Segun Adegoke

In July 2017, the company sponsored the prize given to the winner of the Nigeria National Freestyle Championships organised by Feet ‘n’ Tricks Limited.

In December 2017 The Nigerian Latin festival which held in Lagos was sponsored by VFD Group. It is an annual event focused on Latin dance and music.

References