Honouring Service and Building Legacies: Finalto Supports Samara Tenax Project
In a moving tribute to sacrifice and community, Finalto, a global provider of financial services, liquidity, and technology, has been named the principal donor for the Samara Tenax project. This meaningful initiative was created by current and former members of the Royal Air Force’s 99 Squadron to honour the memory of Air Specialist (Class 1) Technician Sam Odotei, who tragically passed away while on duty with the squadron.
The significance of this partnership was formally recognised in a ceremony at RAF Brize Norton. Attending from Finalto were Paul Groves, CEO for the UK & EU region, and Paul Jackson, Joint Head of Sales and Head of Marketing for UK & EU. They were joined by Eric Odotei, Sam’s father, who also serves as Group Head of Regulatory Reporting at Finalto, embodying a profound personal and professional connection to the project.
A Project Forged in Memory and Values
The Samara Tenax initiative operates under the umbrella of the TrueNorth Trust, an organisation dedicated to empowering serving military personnel, veterans, and their families through community-focused projects worldwide. The name itself is a poignant dual tribute: “Samara” references the winged seed, symbolising hope and new beginnings, while “Tenax” derives from the 99 Squadron’s motto, Quisque tenax, meaning “Each One Tenacious.”
Wing Commander Nikki Lofthouse, Commander of 99 Squadron, expressed the squadron’s gratitude: “We are grateful to Finalto for their generous support of Samara Tenax. This project gives our squadron a meaningful way to honour the memory of a valued member of 99 Squadron and to build a legacy with lasting impact. We are certain Sam would be proud of these efforts.”
From Tribute to Tangible Impact in Ghana
True to Sam Odotei’s Ghanaian heritage, the Samara Tenax project is directing substantial resources toward the construction of a new community centre in Sakpe, a rural farming community in northern Ghana. This centre is designed to become a sustainable hub for local development, with a core focus on educational programmes. These initiatives aim to help local farmers blend time-honoured agricultural practices with modern techniques to enhance productivity and crop yields. To ensure cultural relevance and long-term viability, project leaders have partnered with the local foundation, Best Way Farms, which has established roots and expertise in the region.
This aspect of the project highlights a direct link between military community support and international development, turning a personal loss into a catalyst for global good.
Corporate Support Rooted in Shared Values
Finalto’s contribution extends beyond financial sponsorship, aligning with the
