Arise Investors & Capital Management (ACM) proudly announced strategic entry into the Nigerian market, marking a significant milestone in its global commitment to transformative investment across North America and Africa. At ACM, investment is more than the allocation of capital; it is a deep, enduring commitment to people, products, and processes.
With a mission rooted in building legacies, ACM is not just funding projects – but channeling resources into mission-driven businesses that uplift communities, nurture ecosystems, and deliver sustainable solutions. Guided by a bold vision, the USA-based investment management company aims to create a world where strategic investment becomes a force for justice, innovation, and sustainable development. Through ethical leadership and transformative partnerships, ACM helps communities thrive and foster generational wealth.
With a specialized focus on technology and security, real estate, retail, and healthcare, ACM brings a comprehensive, sector-driven approach to every market. With an investment philosophy grounded in the belief that ACM stakeholders are not merely financiers, but they are builders, ACM is creating interconnected value chains that elevate entire sectors and empower local economies.
A Mission Rooted in Home: Lewa Owolabi’s Return to Nigeria
At the heart of ACM’s strategic expansion is Lewa Owolabi, a distinguished global leader returning to her roots in Nigeria. With over 15 years of cross-sectoral experience in strategic evaluation, impact measurement, and governance, Owolabi is leveraging her global expertise to drive deep local change. Her return is more than a professional milestone, it is a personal calling fueled by national pride and a conviction that investment must serve people, not just profits.
Owolabi’s leadership style and mission-centric outlook are grounded in urgency and foresight. Explaining the ACM’s mission, Owolabi said: “We are in the biggest technological evolution era, unprecedented in the history of mankind. Africa must be equipped to write its own history. We can no longer play catch-up or chess when the global landscape is already playing in the metaverse. The next decade will be the greatest leveller of societies, and we must position Africa to solve the biggest socio-economic problems through technology, from housing and healthcare to retail and hospitality. That is our focus.”
Owolabi’s track record underscores her readiness to lead this charge. She has successfully raised over $50 million in investment funding, established Ascend Area Market in the USA to address food insecurity, and founded Arise Homes & Constructions to provide accessible, dignified housing solutions. Her work spans critical sectors including real estate, technology, retail, and ESG initiatives – each rooted in her belief that real impact is measured by lives transformed, not just capital deployed.
Beyond impact, she is sharply attuned to the untapped economic power of the African diaspora. Speaking to the current state of the investment ecosystem, she explains that: “The diasporan economic impact is under leveraged and we need to harness the power. With over $500 billion in net worth, which is about 25% of Africa’s GDP, Africans must be better equipped to make the conscious decisions of solving its problems and writing its own legacies!”
Hence, ACM is positioned as a sustainable vehicle to build a trusted platform that shapes and prioritizes investments against the economic areas with the most impact.
With Owolabi leading ACM’s charge into Nigeria, the Group and its existing portfolio entities are not only entering a new market. They are charting the course on what strategic investment can look like when rooted in identity, driven by justice, and executed with precision.
ACM is determined to build not just a business, but a future where Nigerians live with dignity, security, and opportunity.
Africa Positioning: ACM’s Vision for the African Ecosystem
As ACM deepens its presence in Nigeria, the broader vision for the African continent is already taking shape: one that sees Africa not just as a consumer of global solutions, but as a creator of its own powerful economic and innovation ecosystem. The approach is intentional, focused on building the platforms, systems, and communities that allow African ingenuity to thrive and compete globally without losing its local soul.
In Nigeria, several cornerstone initiatives are already underway, each strategically crafted to redefine key industries from the inside out. One such effort is a bold tech solution focused on restoring trust and transparency in the real estate sector. By addressing the foundational issues that have historically hindered growth, ACM aims to reposition Nigeria’s real estate market, making it attractive and safe for both local buyers and foreign investors.
Furthermore, ACM is investing in sustainable neighborhood models that empower communities at the grassroots level. These are interconnected, resilient systems designed to improve housing, commerce, and social infrastructure. Her footprint in the retail sector is expanding too, as ACM deepens international partnerships with global manufacturers and hospitality brands, bridging global capital with Nigeria’s dynamic consumer base.
At ACM, a core focus area is talent empowerment. Behind the scenes, ACM is launching a targeted initiative that will identify, equip, and fund Nigeria’s top pioneers: individuals with the vision and capacity to solve real, local problems using scalable technology. Through this effort, ACM will build a new class of entrepreneurs – globally competitive, locally grounded, and mission-driven.
“Our focus is to position Africa to solve the biggest socio-economic problems via technology,” Owolabi explains. “From housing and healthcare to food, retail, hospitality, and tech, this is Africa’s moment to lead.”
This vision is built on a simple truth: the solutions to Africa’s challenges already exist within Africa. What’s needed now is the structure, trust, and intentional investment to bring them to light. Beginning in Nigeria, the ambition spans the entire continent with one founder, one neighborhood, and one opportunity at a time.
Olayinka is co-founder, Lagos Startup Week
