African Media and Communications Consulting (AMCC) remains committed to spotlighting individuals across Africa whose leadership, values, and work continue to influence development, inspire trust, and drive meaningful impact. Through its digital platforms, AMCC curates and amplifies stories that educate, inspire, entertain, and foster sustainable growth across the continent.
On this edition of Spotlight, we feature a leader whose dedication to digital banking helped strengthen public confidence in savings, accessibility, and financial inclusion in Nigeria. A commercial leader, podcaster, teacher, mentor, and firm believer in the role of business and government in advancing the common good, this trailblazer is Mr. Olu Akanmu.
Mr. Olu Akanmu is a Pharmacy graduate of the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University). His professional journey began at Glaxo Nigeria as a Marketing Manager, before rising to Chief Operating Officer at the Society for Family Health. He has since built an outstanding career spanning telecommunications, banking, and Nigeria’s rapidly evolving fintech ecosystem.
In his transition into financial services, Mr. Akanmu joined First City Monument Bank (FCMB) as Executive Director of Retail Banking, where he contributed significantly to retail banking growth and innovation.
With a proven track record of executive leadership, he later served as Chief Executive Officer of OPay, a Lagos-headquartered fintech company, until July 2023. Under his leadership, OPay recorded remarkable growth, particularly during Nigeria’s cash and naira scarcity period, reinforcing trust in digital financial services.
Mr. Akanmu is widely recognised as a financial inclusion and policy advocate. His career also includes serving as Chief Marketing Officer at Airtel Nigeria and General Manager, Consumer Marketing at MTN Nigeria. He brings uncommon depth and diversity of experience across consumer goods, manufacturing, healthcare, telecommunications, financial services, and fintech.
Beyond the private sector, he has held leadership roles in international non-profit and social development organisations, including Population Services International, strengthening his appreciation for public policy, social development, and Africa’s economic realities.
His achievements include recognition for driving financial inclusion in Nigeria, the FCMB Award of Excellence in Retail Banking, and delivering a compelling TEDxLagos talk titled “What the Future Means to Us.”
At African Media and Communications Consulting, we are intentional about curating narratives that build credibility, preserve legacy, and shape public perception. With a career defined by impact, integrity, and transformational leadership, Mr. Olu Akanmu’s story continues to serve as a source of mentorship and guidance for the next generation of African leaders.
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