Ife Ogunfuwa
Verraki, a new business and technology solutions firm has been launched, which promises to partner with enterprises and governments to accelerate the development and transformation of Africa.
Following the re-organisation of Accenture operations in Nigeria, partners at Verraki described the new company as a registered business intermediary for Accenture in Nigeria.
They said services to Accenture clients in Nigeria would be delivered through Verraki Partners and Accenture would continue to support and provide services to Verraki, including delivery support and access to specialised skills on projects as applicable.
According to them, the new entity named ‘Verraki Partners’ is focused on implementing technology and business solutions designed inherently for Africa and specifically fit for purpose, while also curating business ventures to unlock new sources of growth across the continent.
Unveiling its new corporate identity during an interactive session held in Lagos, the Managing Partner, Niyi Yusuf, who until now was the Country Managing Director for Accenture in Nigeria explained that Verraki would be working with enterprises and governments to ignite opportunities, unleash their potential, pivot and turnaround their performance to create a better future.
“Professional services firms in Africa are currently at an inflexion point. Digital technologies, revolutionary ideas and new business models are creating disruptions and new factors such as agility, flexibility, risk tolerance, cost-leadership, value for money and entrepreneurship are key requirements for success. Verraki’s birth at an auspicious time like this is driven by our understanding of clients’ needs and our desire to harvest the opportunities the disruption brings and participate fully, via a rebalance and reconfiguration to address the specific needs of the market,” he said
“As the African Union launches the Africa Continental Free Trade Area in 2019 to create a single continental market for goods and services, with free movement of business persons and investments, we are excited about the prospects on the continent and look forward to contributing to Africa’s transformation via fit-for-purpose solutions and working with leading enterprises and governments to drive their capacity and motivation for change”, he continued.
Yusuf explained that the pioneering leaders of Accenture in Nigeria, Adedotun Sulaiman and Omobola Johnson were supporting Verraki as advisors and would work with its leadership to drive its transformation agenda with Africa’s enterprises and governments.
Other partners at the firm include Partner, Services (former Managing Director Financial Services, Accenture Nigeria), Toluwaleke Adenmosun; Partner, Technology (former Managing Director Technology Services, Accenture Nigeria), Niyi Tayo; Partner, Real Sector (former Managing Director, Resources, Accenture Nigeria), Abayomi Olarinmoye; and Partner, Ventures and Accenture alumnus who was a former President, West, East and Central Africa at The Coca-Cola Company, Kelvin Balogun.