Azeezah Muse-Sadiq

Strategic legal adviser and Partner at one of Nigeria’s premier commercial law firms, with nearly two decades dedicated to navigating the complex intersections of finance, regulation, and corporate growth throughout West Africa. Expertise includes transformative M&A, capital market structuring, and regulatory reform, with a current focus on responsible business practices through enrollment in the ESG Certification Programme by TBRA. Pursuing a Global MBA at IE University to enhance leadership capabilities in cross-border deal-making, ESG-driven investment strategies, and governance reforms that shape markets. Committed to fostering inclusive economic development across Africa while enriching the IE MBA cohort with valuable insights from high-growth, regulated markets.

• Capital Markets:
• - Lead adviser, ₦548.7 billion rights issue by Nigerian Breweries Plc—the largest equity raise in Nigeria’s capital market history.
• - Lead adviser, ₦127.1 billion capital raise by Fidelity Bank PLC (public offer + rights issue).
• - Adviser on Guaranty Trust Holding Company PLC’s public offering of 9 billion shares and $105 million LSE listing.
• - Lead on Zenith Bank PLC’s ₦300 billion hybrid capital raise.
• - Adviser to Lagos State on its ₦1 trillion Debt & Hybrid Instruments Programme, including ₦14.8 billion Green Bonds.
• M&A / Private Equity / Corporate Restructuring:
• - Co-led Access Bank’s landmark merger with Diamond Bank, creating Africa’s largest retail bank by customer base.
• - Lead adviser on:
• - Union Bank’s ₦90 billion divestment to Titan Trust Bank.
• - Acquisition of Honeywell Flour Mills by Flour Mills of Nigeria.
• - Merger of Portland Paints with Chemical and Allied Products PLC.
• - Acquisition of Pan African Towers Ltd by Verod/DPI-backed PAT Holding Ltd.
• - Ardova PLC’s 100% acquisition of Enyo Retail & Supply Ltd.
• - Restructuring of Unilever Nigeria’s tea and spreads businesses.
• - Chester Paints’ equity acquisitions in Pittsburgh Paints Nigeria and Sigma Coatings Nigeria.
• Islamic Finance:
• - Structuring of Lagos State’s ₦19.8 billion Ijarah Sukuk – Nigeria’s first State-issued Sukuk.
• - Adviser on Sultiva Wakahal SPV Ltd’s ₦20 billion non-interest commercial paper programme.
• Competition Law & Antitrust:
• - Led merger control workstream in Access Bank and Diamond Bank merger.
• - Counsel on Shell’s divestment to Renaissance Africa-led consortium.
• - Advised Nigerian Breweries on FCCPA contract compliance.

• - Nigerian Bar Association
• - International Bar Association
• - International Compliance Association
• - Society for Corporate Governance Nigeria
• - Chartered Institute of Directors, Nigeria
• - Chartered Institute of Taxation Nigeria
• - The Boardroom Africa
• - Women in Management, Business & Public Service (WIMBIZ)

• - Former Chairperson, Rules Committee – Capital Market Solicitors Association
• - Author & Speaker – Leading legal publications and industry events
• - Mentor – Talent Committee, Banwo & Ighodalo; WIMBOARD (WIMBIZ); WIN with WISCAR

• - Board Member – H&YZ Furniture Manufacturers Limited
• - Advisory Board Member – Our Sisters’ Happiness Incorporated Trustees (supporting widows and orphans)

• - Full profile: https://www.banwo-ighodalo.com/people/partners
• - Rankings summary: https://www.banwo-ighodalo.com/firm/rankings