Mr. Thierno-Habib Hann

Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director

Mr. Thierno-Habib Hann is the Chief Executive Officer of Shelter Afrique, the Pan-African institution for housing. He joined Shelter Afrique from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), where he served as the Asia/Pacific Lead for housing finance, based in Bangkok, Thailand.

Mr. Hann has extensive international experience in housing finance, capital markets/investment banking and structured finance spanning over 20 years. He brings a wealth of leadership experience in development and investment, sharp insight into the real estate landscape and a strong track record of delivery.

Mr. Hann began his career at the consulting firm Arthur Andersen, LLC as a Senior Consultant in Financial Services and Capital Markets in New York City. He has worked at JPMorgan Chase and Goldman Sachs as Manager and Vice President, respectively, and led investment teams issuing mortgage-backed securities (RMBS/CMOs) and credit derivatives (CDS)

He also served at the World Bank Group as the Private Sector Development Program Manager in Guinea, responsible for designing and implementing the investment climate improvement program while developing a bankable pipeline of investments and government advisory projects in strategic sectors of the economy.

Mr. Hann holds an MBA in Finance & Investments from the Zicklin School of Business, Bernard Baruch, City University of New York; a master’s degree in Accounting and Finance (M.S.T.C.F) and a bachelor’s degree in Management and Applied Economics (GEA), from University Paris IX Dauphine, with honors.

A native of Guinea (Conakry), Habib is the co-founder of "AngelAfrica" – a Pan-African thinktank formed to achieve economic prosperity on the continent by building and fostering innovation, investors and business partnerships.

Mr. Bernard Oketch

Head of Enterprise Risk Management

Bernard is a Kenyan national. He holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration majoring in strategic management from the University of Nairobi and a Bachelor Degree in Business Information Technology from Strathmore University. He has over twelve years of work experience in enterprise risk management.

He previously worked for Deloitte & Touche in the Risk Advisory practice for nine years from 2007 to 2016 before joining the Co-operative Bank of Kenya, a top tier one bank, as a Senior Risk Manager, where he worked for three years before joining Shelter Afrique. His key achievements include many years of developing and implementing enterprise risk management programmes.

Mr Christopher Chege

Head of Credit and Operations

Christopher has over 20 years extensive experience in setting up and managing housing finance operations; from deal origination and underwriting to processing and has also been closely involved in business turnaround situations across Pan African flagship  institutions.

He is  also a contributing member  to industry umbrella bodies and societies including the African Real Estate Society (AFRES), the Global Real Estate Society (GRI), the East African Property Investments (EAPI) and serves as a keynote speaker at Makerere University's School of Real Estate.

Charles Kazuka

Head of Human Capital

Charles Kazuka pursued his undergraduate studies at Makerere University (Kampala, Uganda) and postgraduate studies at the University of Leicester (UK). He has more than 20 years’ experience in transformational and strategic Human Resources across East, West and Southern Africa. Charles’s experience is mostly in the financial services sector having worked as HR director for leading institutions such as Barclays Bank (Tanzania and Ghana) NMB Bank (Tanzania) and was the regional HR director for East and West Africa for British Petroleum (BP).

He joins us from Pharo Ventures, a leading Social Enterprise in Kenya. Charles is also a chartered certified HR professional.

Beatrice Mburu

Chief Financial Officer

Beatrice Mburu holds an MBA from Warwick Business School (United Kingdom) and a BSc in International Business Administration-Finance. She is also a qualified Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Member of the Institute of Certified Accountant.

She has 23 years of progressive wealth of hands-on experience in Corporate Financial Management (i.e., Financial Planning, Control and Reporting), Budgeting, Debt restructuring, Treasury Management, and Fundraising in the international and Debt Capital Market, including Euro Bonds.

She has worked in Treasury and Finance departments at the African Export Import Bank (Afrexim). She has also held various senior finance roles in Standard Chartered Bank, Bombardier Uganda Limited and DHL Logistics.

Ibrahim Mamadou Diop

Advisor to the Managing Director

Ibrahim Mamadou Diop is a Niger national.
He holds a Global MBA from the Georgia Institute of Technology (GeorgiaTech) and an Executive master’s in development policy and management from SciencesPo Paris. He also holds numerous certifications including the International Change Maker from ESSEC Business School and the Certificate of Hispanic Business Studies from ITBA - Buenos Aires.
He is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Public Affairs from University Paris Dauphine – PSL with research interest on the humanitarian- development- peace nexus in the Sahel region.

After nine years spent in the United States and solid training at major financial
institutions he returned to Niger in 2009 where he joined the nuclear group ORANO (ex- AREVA) on the mega Imouraren project of which he served as Director of Internal Audit and Financial Control.

In 2016 he progressed to the Acosta Mining Company (a SOPAMIN, ORANO and ENUSA partnership) as Secretary General.
Prior to his incoming role with Shelter Afrique, Ibrahim served as Advisor to the Executive Director of the African Development Bank in charge of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verbe, Gabon, the Union of the Comoros, Mali, Niger and Senegal.
Ibrahim is fluent in both French and English.

Nisan Abdulkader

Head of Communications and External Affairs

Nisan Abdulkader, dual Yemeni-Kenyan, is a seasoned communications & government advisor having worked in senior public and private sectors roles across the globe including in Tunisia, Kenya, South Africa, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Syria, Italy and Canada. Nisan began her career in advisory roles at UN agencies including Consortium for agricultural research (CGIAR), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome, Italy and the United Nations Environment Program in Addis Ababa,Ethiopia. Nisan has also served as the Vice President for Wavteq and the Vice President, Africa & Middle East at the Financial Times Group.

In the course of her career, Nisan has advised over 30 government authorities in Africa on how to best respond to the significant foreign investment opportunity which has created an estimated 50 million high value jobs across sectors like Infrastructure, Agriculture, Healthcare, Tourism, ICT and Manufacturing. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Nisan has supported key African economic development and investment authority to weather the economic impacts through expert advice & resilience strategies to rebuild emerging economies.

As a dynamic and key expert in the field, Nisan has participated as a panelist and moderator in key global influencing forums and events. She held a directive role at the largest North American African Business Initiative in Montreal, Canada; as well as being invited to speak on multiple global platforms including the BBC Focus on Africa news segments, Harvard, Yale University symposium, Annual Investment Meeting UAE, COMESA Annual Meeting as Chair, Commonwealth Africa Forum, One Africa Network Forum, Global Business Forum in Canada and an initiative by the World Bank, the EI4A –Entrepreneurship for Investment in Africa. Nisan is also a Board Member at Unsolve consultancy, Guul Group & Board President of the Yemeni National Business Council WICCI and on the advisory board of Business Club Africa and four foreign direct investment consultancies in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Nisan holds the Mary Brooks Law Award, the Social Business Impact Award and the Extraordinary Young 30 Under 30 Award from the Government of Canada.

Nisan Abdulkader holds an honours B.A in Political Science, Management and

International Development Studies from McGill University in Canada and a Diploma of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies from Harvard University. Nisan speaks 6 languages: Arabic, English, Italian, French, Swahili, Spanish.

Marianne Koly

Head of Internal Audit

Marianne Koly is an audit, risk, and fraud examination leader with a wealth of expertise.

She earned her master’s degree in public administration from École Nationale d’Administration Publique du Québec (Canada) and holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University Paris XII (France).

Marianne is a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), a Certified Risk Management Assurance (CRMA) professional , and a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE).

With a remarkable 20 year career, she has progressively advanced in both assurance and advisory services in auditing within a prestigious 'Big Four' audit firm. Notably, Marianne served as an Audit Senior Manager at EY (formerly Ernest & Young) in West Africa.

Her extensive experience includes conducting risk-based internal audits in Canada and collaborating with multinational financial institutions across Africa to deliver audit project.

Marianne has played a pivotal role in delivering financial audits and consulting services, encompassing risk mapping, transaction advisory services, and internal control reviews.

Fluent in both English and French, Marianne Koly brings a unique international perspective to her work, making her an asset to the company.

Nabil Mahfoudh

Head of Treasury

Nabil Mahfoudh, a Tunisian national has been appointed as our new Head of Treasury and reports to the Managing Director.
With over 26 years of extensive international experience, he brings onboard expertise in managing foreign exchange, liquidity, Investment, and interest rate risk environments.
During his career, Nabil has held various Treasury, Dealing Room and Risk positions in Management, including Assets Liability Management, Financial Institutions relationship management and software treasury products implementation.
Nabil joins from Qatar National Bank in Tunisia and holds a bachelor’s degree in international finance from IHEC Tunisia, a master’s degree in market and corporate finance from IHEC Tunisia, a Master’s degree in banking management from the Conservation Nationale des Arts et Métiers Française, Paris, and holds the ACI Dealing Certificate and the International Dealing Room Diploma from The Financial Markets Association London.
He is fluent in 3 languages: French, English and Arabic.

Gibson Mapfidza

Chief Business Officer

Gibson Mapfidza is a Zimbabwean national with over two decades of extensive experience as a Chartered Surveyor, primarily focused on the built environment and bulk infrastructure sectors. Prior to joining ShafDB, he was the Managing Director at Mashonaland Holdings Limited.

Throughout his career, he has successfully led numerous mega property development projects across Africa, demonstrating expertise in infrastructure financing, property investment management, and strategic business growth initiatives.
His career began at CB Richard Ellis (CBRE) International Property Consultants, followed by a pivotal role at the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, where he spearheaded Corporate Real Estate Services (CRES) and Infrastructure Financing portfolios.

Transitioning to Old Mutual in 2010, Gibson ascended to the position of Head of Property Development, overseeing notable infrastructure projects spanning Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Malawi, as well as contributing to property portfolio valuation and amalgamation efforts in East Africa under Old Mutual Africa. He has active membership with the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and other regional professional institutes.
Gibson pursued his studies at the University of Reading, UK, completing an MSc in Real Estate Investment. He also obtained an MBA specializing in Development Finance from the University of Cape Town in 2022.
In addition to his professional pursuits, Gibson shares his wealth of knowledge as a lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe since 2008.

Natasha Koli

Head of Legal and Acting Company Secretary

Director Dr Chii P. Akporji

Board Chairperson Representing the African Development Bank (AfDB)

Academic Qualifications

Certification in Corporate Governance, Judge, Business School, Cambridge University, UK

Certification, International Housing Finance, Wharton School, USA

Several training courses with the World Bank, Institute and the African Development Bank

University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria: Ph.D., Comparative Literature.

University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada: M.A., Modern Anglo-Irish Studies.

University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland:B.A. (Hons.) Humanities & Arabic Studies.

Skills & Competencies

Program Design & Management

Corporate Strategic Planning

Policy Analysis/Advocacy

Resource Mobilization

Government Relations

Director Ahmed Belayat

Vice Chairperson - Representing Group 4

Academic qualifications

Lycée plateau du Mansourah Constantine 1973 - 1976 ITFC 1979- 1981 - Principal State Accountant

Continuous training of one week in Paris on the elaboration of procedures 2006

Internship at ISTED Paris - Management of housing aid 2001 UFC Annaba - training in PGS 1993 -1994

Training courses with the World Bank and the US Aid co-organized with the Ministry of Housing, 1993

Skills and Competences

Accounts

Housing Management

Real Estate Management

Director Kiiza Ephraim Bichetero

Representing the Africa Reinsurance Corporation Member Finance, credit & Investments Committee (FCIC)

Academic Qualifications

Global Executive Master of Business Administration Degree, United States International University in collaboration with the Colombia Business School – Kenya.

Credit & Political Risk Insurance by Euro Money.

Associated Chartered Insurance Institute (London) -United Kingdom.

Bachelor of Arts (BA), Makerere University - Uganda

Skills & Competencies

Mr. Ephraim Kiiza K. Bichetero has held leadership roles in several institutions and brings a wealth of experience in matters Re-Insurance audit, risk, and finance.

Administration

Impeccable knowledge of reinsurance

Insurance & Finance Competence

Audit, Governance & Risk Expertise

United Assurance Company Ltd. (UAP Insurance).

Director Babatunde Adebisi Sanda

Independent Board Director

Member Finance, Credit & Investments committee

Academic Qualifications

Fellow, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria 1997.

Associate of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria 1984.

University of Benin, Benin Nigeria,1975 – 1979, B.Sc., Hons. Business Administration.

Numerous development programmes:

Skills and Competences

Strategic Management of enterprises.

Strategic Management of banking businesses

Strategies for economic development of sub-Sahara African countries.

Learning organization

Hands on amongst others in, credit, marketing, financial, operational, internal control, and human capital functions

Mr. Qs .Said Athman Mtwana

Representing group 1

Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development
Housing Secretary

Academic qualifications

Master of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Nairobi

Bachelor of Arts in Building Economics, Second Class (Hons), University of Nairobi,

Skills and Competences

Project management

Research and development

Data analysis

Research Methodologies

Experimental Work Plans

Building performance simulation.

Scheduling, Organizing, & Time

Management

Strong verbal and written

communication skills

Team Leadership & Cross-Functional Team Collaboration

Analytical Thinking, Problem

Excels in scientific environments in which data accuracy and diagnostic improvements are vital.

Reliable and driven for success through strong research, writing, and experimentation skills.

Expertise in building energy performance, urban design, sustainable urban environments.

Enthusiastic about providing sustainable building and urban design solutions through interdisciplinary research and innovation.

Director Dr. Jack Ngarambe

Representing group 2

RESEARCH PROFESSOR and LECTURER at (Kyung Hee University, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea)

Member of the Human Resources, Governance and Nominations - Member of Finance, Credit, and Investment Committees

Academic Qualifications

Bachelor of Science | Architectural Engineering- South Korea-Kyung Hee University, Suwon

Ph.D. Architectural Engineering–South Korea-Kyung Hee University, Suwon

Skills & Competencies

Project management

Research and development

Data analysis

Research Methodologies

Experimental Work Plans

Building performance simulation.

Scheduling, Organizing, & Time

Management

Strong verbal and written

communication skills

Team Leadership & Cross-Functional Team Collaboration

Analytical Thinking, Problem

Excels in scientific environments in which data accuracy and diagnostic improvements are vital.

Reliable and driven for success through strong research, writing, and experimentation skills.

Expertise in building energy performance, urban design, sustainable urban environments.

Enthusiastic about providing sustainable building and urban design solutions through interdisciplinary research and innovation.

Arc. Chris Pobee Abbey

Representing group 3

Ministry of Works and Housing - Ghana,
Associate Member to the Ghana Institute of Architects

Academic qualifications

Bachelor of Science and Post Graduate Diploma in Architecture from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology,, Kumasi, Ghana

Master’s in Urban Planning from Chung-Ang University, Seoul, South Korea.

Certificate in Performance-Based Contracting from IHE (Delft), Netherlands

Advanced Level Certificate and  Ordinary Level Certificate, Prempeh College, Kumasi, Ghana

Skills & Competencies

Landscape Design

Architectural Sketch Design

 Technical Assessment/Report Writing

Contract Administration and Project Coordination/Management

Urban Planning/Development.

Housing Management and Policy Formulation.

Director Tchelu Mwenyimali Laurent

Representing Group 5

Academic Qualifications

Master’s Degree Management of healthcare institutions

Bachelor’s degree in management of healthcare institutions

Skills and competences

Management of healthcare institutions

Disaster risk reduction

Human resources

Assistance to internally displaced persons

Research

Management and Administration

Director Arc. Eucharia Alozie

Representing Group 6

Academic Qualifications

The Institute for Public Private Partnership (IP3), Washington DC, USA 2014–2016 - Certified Public-Private Partnership Specialist

Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria 1988–1990 - MSc. Urban and Regional Planning, 1980–1982 - MSc Architecture, 1977–1980 - BSc Architecture

Skills and competencies

Strategic Planning

Corporate Governance

Business Development

Public Housing and Infrastructure Expertise

Leadership and Team Management

Public Private Partnership (PPP) Specialist/Expert

Architectural research and creative design, Town Planning consultancy services, Architectural education and mentoring

Director Issa Seydou Sissoko

Representing Group 7

Skills and competencies

Architectural and urban planning skills.

Design and management (supervision, monitoring and evaluation) of architectural projects;

Design and management of subdivision projects;

Training skills;

Computer skills (Microsoft Office and other software, GIS, Auto-CAD, ArchCAD, etc.);

Management of domain issues, urban planning, construction and housing.

Academic qualifications 

Diploma in architecture (architectural design); Beijing JiaoTong University - 2004;

Diploma in Urban Planning and Design; Beijing University of Technology - 2008;

Certificate on public procurement UEMOA procedure 2011;

Certificate on public procurement DGMP procedure 2018.

Director Lionel Zinsou

Independent Director

Member, Finance, Credit & Investments Committee

Academic qualifications

Graduate from the Ecole Normale Supérieure (Agrégation in Social Sciences and Economic History – 1978) the premier French institute for higher education and research, as well as of the Institut d’Etudes Politiques (Sciences –Po) and the Paris IV and VII Universities.

Skills and competencies

Economics

Former Prime Minister of Benin

Private equity

Partner

Financial controller

Corporate Development

Research

Experience in both private and public sector

Social Sciences and Economic History

Consumer goods