London, UK – 9 July 2025
Dr. Olasupo Olusi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank of Industry (BOI), Nigeria, has been named recipient of the Special African Banking Leadership Excellence Award at the 15th African Business Leadership Awards (ABLA) 2025, held during the ALM Africa Summit London.
Dr. Olusi was recognised for his transformative impact on Nigeria’s financial and industrial sectors, delivering bold leadership that has redefined enterprise development, industrial financing, and inclusive economic growth. In 2024, he led the largest single transaction ever executed by a Development Finance Institution in Africa, raising nearly €2 billion (₦3.4 trillion) from global financial institutions. This landmark achievement has unlocked long-term, low-interest financing for Nigerian private enterprises, catalysing widespread job creation and industrial expansion.
Appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to chair the Presidential Committee on the Establishment of the National Credit Guarantee Company Limited (NCGC), Dr. Olusi successfully oversaw the operationalisation and launch of the institution. NCGC is now a cornerstone in Nigeria’s credit landscape, helping to de-risk lending and expand access to finance for MSMEs and manufacturers nationwide.
He is also the architect of the Rural Areas Program on Investment for Development (RAPID), aimed at empowering rural and underserved communities. Through this initiative and the successful rollout of the Federal Government’s ₦200 billion loan and grant programme, Dr. Olusi has enabled over one million nano enterprises, 15,000 MSMEs, and numerous large manufacturers to access critical capital, fuelling inclusive growth across the country.
Under his leadership, the Bank of Industry has gained global acclaim. The bank was named Africa’s Most Innovative National Bank of the Year at the 2025 African Heritage Concert & Awards, and also won Best Company in Financial Inclusion at the SERAS CSR Awards. Its flagship initiative for digital and creative industries (iDICE) earned Best Social Development Programme in Africa from the EMEA Finance Achievement Awards in 2024. BOI also clinched multiple global accolades for its excellence in capital markets, including Syndicated Loan Deal of the Year, African Deal of the Year, and Transaction of the Year.
Dr. Olusi’s award is a reflection of his visionary leadership, institutional reforms, and pioneering approach to development finance, solidifying his place as one of Africa’s most influential financial executives.
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