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Our Team

With over 50 years cumulative experience in the development sector, our team members at Octoville Development Company have successfully designed, led and supported the execution of interventions in broad areas of the public, private and development sectors, understanding that long term prosperity and national development can only occur when the firms and institutions are competitive.

Founder & CEO

NELSON OKWONNA

Nelson Okwonna is an author, pharmacist, strategy and development consultant passionate about national development and improving the productivity and competitiveness of Nigerian businesses and public institutions. A B.Pharm (Distinction) graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, he is CEO of Octoville Development Company, a development advisory and project management firm focused on real estate development, MSME competitiveness, venture financing and common facility centre development. Nelson has served for over eight years as an Associate with Adam Smith International and has also worked with the British Council. As a management consultant, he has advised private and public sector organisations on strategy, business planning, financial modelling, MSME cluster development and access to finance, including firms in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors. He currently leads MSME competitiveness and financing initiatives in Kaduna State and has undertaken executive training in leadership, governance, strategy and business management at leading institutions in Nigeria and abroad.
COMPANY Secretary

OMAKWU MARX IKONGBEH ESQ.

Marx is a legal practitioner with experience spanning litigation, corporate practice, business law, intellectual property, and emerging technology law. He earned his LL.B (Hons) from University of Jos in 2007 and obtained his B.L from the Nigerian Law School. He was called to the Nigerian Bar and admitted as a Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in November 2008.

Marx gained significant legal training and professional experience at Ghalib Chambers, where he served at different times as a law office clerk and Nigerian Law School extern. He also completed his National Youth Service at the Court of Appeal, serving as Legal Assistant to Hon. Justice Mary U. Peter-Odili, JCA (as she then was).

A World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) trained intellectual property practitioner, he is also a Certified Associate Project Manager, bringing a multidisciplinary perspective to legal and business advisory services.

ASSOCIATE PARTNER

TEMITOPE SHABA

Temitope Shaba is a public policy and management consultant with over 16 years of experience in development programming, partnerships, corporate social responsibility, human resource management, leadership development, and strategy. He has extensive expertise in market systems development and implementing inclusive interventions that improve market access, scalability, and sustainability for underserved communities.

He serves as Programmes Director at Octoville Development Company Limited, where he provides technical assistance to international development partners and corporate clients. Prior to this, he spent more than nine years as an Associate with Adam Smith International, supporting DFID-funded programmes in Nigeria.

Temitope has contributed to MSME development in agriculture and manufacturing and previously served as Programmes Manager and Head of Secretariat for the Electoral Reform Network, supporting electoral reform initiatives and legislative advocacy. His core competencies include project management, strategy, research, capacity building, institutional development, policy analysis, and stakeholder engagement. He has managed projects supported by the European Union, USAID, UNDP, GIZ, British Council, and other development partners.

 

ASSOCIATE PARTNER

SOLA MAGAJI

Sola Magaji is a strategic leader and development professional with over 15 years of experience managing complex, multi-donor programmes across Africa, the United Kingdom, and fragile-state environments. She has a strong track record of delivering results in governance, security, economic empowerment, gender inclusion, and education.

Sola has led diverse development and humanitarian portfolios, building effective partnerships with governments, donors, and the private sector while overseeing high-value programmes funded by international development partners. Her work has focused on driving sustainable impact, strengthening institutions, and promoting inclusive growth.

She has also championed women’s economic empowerment and STEM education initiatives across Africa. As Acting CEO of the WAAW Foundation, she secured the organization’s largest grant and led programmes that equipped thousands of women with digital, entrepreneurial, and workforce development skills.

Sola holds an MBA from Lancaster University and a B.Sc. in Computer Science with Economics from Obafemi Awolowo University. She is a PMP, Chartered Management Consultant, and Oxford Executive Leadership Programme alumna.