King’s Trust International, KTI has appointed leading Nigerian businessman and financial sector reformer, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, CFR, and his wife, lawyer, banker, and philanthropist Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede, as co-chairs of its Africa Advisory Board.
The appointment marks a new phase in KTI’s mission to empower young Africans through innovative education, employability, and entrepreneurship programmes.
A statement issued on Tuesday, November 12, 2025, in London, said the Aig-Imoukhuedes will succeed the founding co-chairs, Bernard and Genevieve Mensah, who served the organisation with distinction for six years.
According to the statement, the new leadership will support KTI’s Africa strategy to expand partnerships and programmes to reach more young people with education, employability, and entrepreneurship opportunities.
Since its launch in Africa in 2016, King’s Trust International has supported over 30,000 young people across nine countries, with an 83 per cent success rate in securing employment or returning to education within three months of programme completion.
The Africa Advisory Board, established to leverage African expertise and influence, plays a critical role in guiding KTI’s programmatic growth across the continent, strengthening networks, mobilising resources, and shaping initiatives tailored to the unique realities faced by African youth.
Africa, which boasts the world’s youngest population—with over 60 per cent under the age of 25—presents both significant opportunity and major challenges, particularly in tackling unemployment and underemployment in fragile and underserved communities.
The statement said the Africa Advisory Board exists to confront these challenges head-on, and under the stewardship of the Aig-Imoukhuedes, the Board will focus on scaling innovative, high-impact programmes that help young people gain relevant skills, find work, or set up their own businesses.
It added that Aigboje and Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede bring extensive experience in financial services, governance reform, and philanthropy, and a distinctive approach to building public–private–philanthropic partnerships.
Their vision for the Board extends beyond programme expansion to systemic change, driving advocacy and growing partnerships across sectors to create sustainable opportunities for Africa’s youth.
In their remarks, Aigboje and Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede said, “We are honoured to take on this role at a pivotal time for Africa’s future. Our mission is to unlock the potential and creativity of Africa’s youth, nurturing a generation that will lead sustainable development across the continent. We look forward to collaborating with partners who share our commitment to transforming lives through education, opportunity, and innovation.”
Paying tribute to the outgoing co-chairs, Bernard and Genevieve Mensah, the Chief Executive Officer of King’s Trust International, Will Straw, said:
“Bernard and Genevieve have provided exceptional and visionary leadership that has been instrumental in establishing and growing KTI’s presence and impact across Africa. Their dedication over the past six years has laid a strong and lasting foundation for our work on the continent. We are delighted that they will both continue to contribute their valuable expertise as members of the Africa Advisory Board.”
Speaking on the new appointment, Straw added:
“As we look to the future, we are excited to take our impact to the next level with Aigboje and Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede. Their extensive experience, deep commitment, and visionary approach will be vital in scaling our programmes and achieving even greater impact for young people across Africa. Together, we will drive forward innovative solutions that empower the next generation to learn, earn, and thrive throughout the continent.”
King’s Trust International, founded in 2015 by His Majesty King Charles III, is a global charity tackling youth unemployment by building on nearly five decades of impact in the United Kingdom.
Now active in about 20 countries across the Commonwealth and beyond, the organisation partners with local entities to deliver transformative programmes in education, employability, and entrepreneurship, helping young people unlock their potential and find meaningful work.
As the charity marks its 10th anniversary, it has supported over 125,000 young people worldwide and recently launched the ambitious “Generation Potential” campaign—an initiative aimed at empowering one million more young people globally over the next decade.
Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, a visionary business leader and philanthropist, is credited with transforming Access Bank into one of Nigeria’s premier financial institutions. He currently chairs Access Holdings and Coronation Group, and co-founded the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, dedicated to driving social impact and public sector excellence.
He also chairs the EnterpriseNGR and Lagos International Financial Centre Council, co-founded the Tengen Family Office, and serves as the President of the France-Nigeria Business Council, where he works to strengthen bilateral trade and economic cooperation.
Aig-Imoukhuede is also the founding chairman of the Financial Markets Dealers Quotation Securities Exchange and a past president of the Nigerian Stock Exchange Council.
Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede, an accomplished lawyer, banker, and philanthropist, co-founded and serves as Executive Vice-Chair of the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation. She is Vice-Chair of The Ovie Brume Foundation, a long-time advocate for healthcare, youth and women’s empowerment, and an advisory board member of the Oxford University Africa Society.
A Chevening Scholar, she holds an LLB from King’s College London, an MBA from the University of Cambridge, and an MSc in Development Management from the London School of Economics.
With their appointment, King’s Trust International says it looks forward to deepening its impact in Africa, working with partners to empower millions of young people to “learn, earn, and thrive.”
