Announcements & Press Releases

Dr. Okey Enelamah Receives the 2026 Dr. James I. Cash Advancing Pathways Award at Harvard Business School

March 5, 2026 by External Relations
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Dr. Okey Enelamah, Chairman ACA was awarded the 2026 Dr. James I. Cash Advancing Pathways Award at the 53rd Annual H. Naylor Fitzhugh Conference at Harvard Business School (HBS).

The award, jointly conferred by the Harvard Business School African-American Alumni Association (HBSAAA) and the African American Student Union (AASU), honors an HBS alumnus or faculty member who has demonstrated a sustained commitment to educating, mentoring, and advancing pathways for the next generation of leaders.

This year’s recognition celebrates Okeys professional excellence and exemplary contributions, reflecting a career defined by institution building, mentorship, and expanding economic opportunity.

A Career Built on Creating Pathways

As highlighted in the Harvard Business School publication, Dr. Enelamah’s journey began in medicine before pivoting to finance, a decision that ultimately led to the founding of African Capital Alliance (ACA) in 1997 alongside Richard “Dick” Kramer.

Under his leadership as Co-Founder and CEO (1997–2015), ACA became Nigeria’s first private equity firm, raising over $1.2 billion across four funds and investing in middle-market businesses across technology, financial services, energy, and consumer sectors. One of ACA’s earliest landmark transactions delivered a 44x return on exit from MTN Nigeria, establishing the firm’s reputation for disciplined investment and value creation.

In 2015, Dr. Enelamah was appointed Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, where he focused on improving the ease of doing business, attracting investment, and strengthening the enabling environment for private sector growth.

Beyond investing and public service, he has continued to invest in education and leadership development, including founding the Nigerian University of Technology and Management (NUTM), a STEM-focused institution dedicated to preparing the next generation of African leaders and entrepreneurs.

A Recognition That Reflects Our Values

The Dr. James I. Cash Advancing Pathways Award was established to honor individuals who advance opportunity and contribute meaningfully to business and society.

For ACA, this award reflects the enduring values that guide our work:

  • Humility in leadership and service
  • Excellence in execution and standards
  • Integrity in decision-making
  • Discipline in capital stewardship
  • Contribution to society beyond commercial outcomes

Contribution

 

  • Contributing to create modern day economies.
  • Showing ethical leadership in business.
  • Providing positive leadership contributions in our communities.
  • Contributing to policy making and good governance.
  • Going for win-win, sustainable long-term outcomes at all times.
  • Positively contributing to environmental, social and governance issues.

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Excellence

 

  • Being best in class measured against international benchmarks.
  • Seeing Excellence as a habit that requires consistency.
  • Doing-it-right-the-first-time mindset.
  • Displaying a can-do spirit through setting and meeting high performance objectives.
  • Flawlessly executing.
  • Showing sound business judgment and competences.

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Discipline

 

  • Exhibiting constancy of purpose.
  • Showing consistency of action.
  • Exhibiting self-control; self-mastery and confidentiality (emotional intelligence).
  • Playing by agreed rules at all times.
  • Delivering on promises and commitments.
  • Proactively planning ahead of implementation.

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Humility

 

  • Listening, respect for and consideration of others.
  • Having a team/ organization first mindset.
  • Committing to learning and improvement (we are a learning organization).
  • Focusing more on team results than personal visibility.
  • Being self-aware.
  • Willingly rolling up one’s sleeves and getting to work.

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Integrity

 

  • Acting with right intentions that are in the best interest of all parties.
  • Modelling courage by speaking the truth and talking straight with respect.
  • Doing the right thing consistently, irrespective of what is popular or expedient.
  • Being true to all core values even when no one else knows of it.
  • Holding the firm’s interest above our personal interests.

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Integrity

 

  • Acting with right intentions that are in the best interest of all parties.
  • Modelling courage by speaking the truth and talking straight with respect.
  • Doing the right thing consistently, irrespective of what is popular or expedient.
  • Being true to all core values even when no one else knows of it.
  • Holding the firm’s interest above our personal interests.

This will close in 0 seconds

Humility

 

  • Listening, respect for and consideration of others.
  • Having a team/ organization first mindset.
  • Committing to learning and improvement (we are a learning organization).
  • Focusing more on team results than personal visibility.
  • Being self-aware.
  • Willingly rolling up one’s sleeves and getting to work.

This will close in 0 seconds

Discipline

 

  • Exhibiting constancy of purpose.
  • Showing consistency of action.
  • Exhibiting self-control; self-mastery and confidentiality (emotional intelligence).
  • Playing by agreed rules at all times.
  • Delivering on promises and commitments.
  • Proactively planning ahead of implementation.

This will close in 0 seconds

Excellence

 

  • Being best in class measured against international benchmarks.
  • Seeing Excellence as a habit that requires consistency.
  • Doing-it-right-the-first-time mindset.
  • Displaying a can-do spirit through setting and meeting high performance objectives.
  • Flawlessly executing.
  • Showing sound business judgment and competences.

This will close in 0 seconds

Contribution

 

  • Contributing to create modern day economies.
  • Showing ethical leadership in business.
  • Providing positive leadership contributions in our communities.
  • Contributing to policy making and good governance.
  • Going for win-win, sustainable long-term outcomes at all times.
  • Positively contributing to environmental, social and governance issues.

This will close in 0 seconds