Experts sensitize Nigerians on securing legacy using trust structures

Experts from AVA Trustees a subsidiary of AVA Capital PLC have brought together Stakeholders and potential Nigerians, sensitizing them on strategies for securing a legacy using trust structures to optimize income flows, preserve capital and sustain long-term wealth.

The conference which was held on Thursday in Lagos, themed; ‘Securing Legacy, Family and Purpose: Discussion on trusts, Governance and Succession’ hosted participants from diverse spheres of endeavors with several speakers from AVA Group PLC to enlighten people on the relevance of leveraging the trust structures.According to the Managing Director, AVA Global Asset Managers, Kunle Odebiyi who examined challenges with trusteeship businesses in Nigeria. He pinpointed challenges of having the erroneous mindsets towards setting up a trust in the country while educating the people on potential benefits involved in trusteeship.Odebiyi stated that a trust will help ensure things are done properly in a structured manner even when the trustee passes on, it continues to drive the legacy with the successors. “If we look at the case study presented today, it was a case of Gani Fawemi, SAN. He had everything set up in a trust and you can see that all the businesses he left behind thrived and things are moving even far beyond expectations.” He explained.Odeniyi in his presentation claimed that the AVA Group boasts of 91bn total assets under control as at July 2026 and therefore advised “As we work very hard to build our wealth, we should think about the generations that will come after us. And one of the best ways to do so is by setting up a trust, to protect them through.”However, The Executive Director, AVA Capital PLC and Managing Director, AVA Trustees Ltd, Bolanle Ekanem noted that AVA Trustee Ltd is one of the entities within AVA Capital PLC, which was newly listed on the NGX. While she expressed that the achievement reinforces the Group’s commitment to institutional excellence, transparency, corporate governance, and delivering long-term value to shareholders, partners, and the broader financial ecosystem.Bolanle further submitted “We partner with our clients to grow and maximize their capital, unlock strategic opportunities for wealth creation. And ultimately ensure that the wealth built is protected and seamlessly preserved across generations because we believe that true wealth is never defined solely by what you accumulate today. It is defined by the legacy you secure for tomorrow.” she added.In response to the significance of the conversation, a participant, Adetola Fakorede, aka MC Rhelax said , “I feel like a whole lot of people are not well educated as regards their wealth management. And then people are not so well informed about life after you're not here. So it's a lot of illumination, a lot of education.” He said.Meanwhile, MC Rhelax encouraged prospective trustees to get informed. “I mean, you might not even have all the funds right now, but start speaking to people who are well informed. Let them tell you how that money in your hands can be properly managed and how it can grow more than what it is already.”