Nigeria’sMinister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy
Mr. Taiwo Oyedele is a distinguished public policy expert, economist, and reform advocate. He is currently Nigeria's Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy. He also chairs the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee.
Mr. Oyedele has extensive leadership experience, including over a decade as Fiscal Policy and Africa Tax Leader at PwC. He has advised national and regional governments, multilateral institutions, and global corporations on a variety of issues, ranging from business strategy to governance, public finance, tax policy, and economic transformation.
A Professor of Practice at Babcock University, an adjunct faculty at the University of Lagos, and a global LinkedIn Top Voice, Mr. Oyedele has contributed to the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the World Bank’s Doing Business reports. He has held leadership roles as a member of the Global Governing Council at ACCA, National Professional Bodies, and the Nigerian Economic Summit Group.
He is the Founder of Impact Africa Foundation and an alumnus of the Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education, and London School of Economics and Political Science.
Mr. Olayemi Cardoso
Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)
Mr. Olayemi Cardoso is the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). He commenced his tenure on October 5, 2023.
Before he joined the CBN, he spent over 29 years in commercial banking, culminating in his tenure as Chairman of Citibank Nigeria Ltd, a subsidiary of the world’s leading global bank and the oldest international bank in Nigeria, from 2010 to 2022. Between 1990 and 1997, he was an Executive Director at the Citizens International Bank Limited and Principal Partner at FBC Associates Limited from 1997 to 1999.
Cardoso served as Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Lagos State Government, from 1999 to 2005. In that capacity, he implemented the blueprint which catalysed economic development in the state and championed reform, pioneering state-of-the-art analytical and consultative mechanisms for improving governance.
During his banking and public sector career, he served as Chairman of the Lagos Economic Summit Group (2020-2021) and the Africa Venture Philanthropy Alliance (AVPA), 2014 – 2020. He also served as a member of the Economic Advisory Council of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (2015 – 2019) and Cities Alliance Think Tank (2015 – 2018). Other private sector positions held by Cardoso during his career include Board membership of Chevron Oil Plc (2005 – 2008), Nigerian National Advisory Board for Impact Investing, Lagos Business School, Institution of the Annual State Economic Summit, Johnson Products, and DRASA Health Trust.
Dr. Olasupo Olusi
Managing Director and CEO of the Bank of Industry,
Dr. Olasupo Olusi is a distinguished economist and development finance expert with over two decades of experience in economic policy, fiscal sustainability, and private sector development. As the Managing Director and CEO of the Bank of Industry, he leads strategic initiatives focused on MSMEs, digital transformation, youth development, infrastructure, gender inclusion, and climate-focused growth. Prior to joining BOI, he held senior roles at the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation, where he contributed to capital markets reform, investment lending, and private sector diagnostics across multiple countries. Dr. Olusi also served as Economic Adviser at Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Finance. Renowned for driving impactful reforms and multi-million-dollar development projects, he combines strong macroeconomic expertise with a commitment to entrepreneurship and industrial growth. He holds degrees from the University of Hull and the University of Durham, UK, including a Ph.D. in Economics.
LOLU ALADE-AKINYEMI
CEO/GMD Lafarge Africa PLC
Mr. Lolu Alade-Akinyemi was appointed as GMD/CEO of Lafarge Africa Plc on 1st July 2023. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Alade-Akinyemi was the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and the supply chain director of the Company. He was appointed an Executive Director to the Board on the 8th of April 2020. He is also a member of the Board of AsakaCem. Mr. Lolu Alade-Akinyemi has over 20 years of cross-functional experience in finance, supply chain, business development and sales. Lolu is a seasoned business executive with multifaceted international experience and accomplishments in turnaround situations, transforming processes to improve business performance, fostering growth in challenging business environments, and Profit & Loss oversight.
