Biography
Olusiji is a Development Economist with over 20 years professional experience, Co-Chair, Kogi state Economic Advisory Council, where he advises the government on policy issues relating to the economic development of the state on fiscal sustainability, quality infrastructural development, enhanced quality & accessibility to social services, improved government performance & efficiency, and sustainable economic development plan for the state. While based in Nigeria but working across Africa, his work focuses on social innovation, assisting public, private and not-for-profit organisations to build a more environmentally conscious, socially just and abundant world. Specifically, he assists impact investors to source and invest into compelling opportunities; provides investment readiness and advisory services to businesses, which combine financial success with positive social and environmental change; and delivers supplier development and sustainability advisory services to corporations and public institutions. His sectorial focus is on sustainable agriculture, food security, renewable - energy, healthcare, and education. I have worked with several clients which includes: World Bank, USAID, GIZ, Central Bank of Nigeria, Hivos, Doen, Nando's Goods for Good, Alan Gray Foundation, Climate Innovation Centre, and over 60 early stage social enterprises. Between 2015 to 2018, Olusiji led the Income Generation and Livelihoods thematic group under a $22Million USAID funded Feed the Future Nigeria Livelihoods Project based in Abuja, Nigeria; but working across the nine northern states - an agriculture sector led project ripe for market-led growth, from processing to transportation and trade, market access, financial inclusion, technical and vocational skills, and enterprise development framework driven by market systems for over 1.5Million small growing businesses and over 100 thousand vulnerable households. With over 10 years professional work experience in institutional and commercial banking, & prior to supporting USAID funded intervention, Olusiji worked with Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) where he provided strategic leadership that helped in transforming the unbundled power company from core traditional public sector to a profit making enterprise in excess of 250% increase in revenue within 30 days. Between 2014 and 2015, he became the first Director of Operations for the N213Billion CBN-NESI stabilisation fund for the unbundled power sector; responsible for operational review of capital needs of DISCOs, GENCOs & the IPPs across the country.
