PASTOR ITUAH IGHODALO
Board Chairman
PASTOR ITUAH IGHODALO (Board Chairman)
Pastor Ituah Ighodalo is an Associate, Nigerian Institute of Management (ANIM) (1992) and the American Institute of Management (1993).
A 1981 graduate of Economics and Accounting from the University of Hull, U.K., Pastor Ighodalo trained and qualified as a professional with the firm of Price Waterhouse Coopers in 1986.
He is a Fellow of both the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (1994) and the Nigeria Institute of Taxation (2000). As former Managing Partner, Ighodalo & Co, he brings to the firm 20 years of experience in Auditing, Accounting, Taxation, Human Resources and Financial Advisory Services. Pastor Ighodalo has logged 19 years of experience in running a practice.
DEJI POPOOLA
MD/CEO
DEJI POPOOLA (MD/ CEO)
He started his career at African International Bank and subsequently also gathered various banking experience ranging from Commercial Banking, Retail Banking, Oil & Gas and Branch Management Operations. He has worked with some of the leading banks in the country that include Oceanic Bank Plc, UBA, Ecobank Plc and others where he had a very progressive career growth.
He has over 25 years’ experience spanning from Auditing, Banking, and Consulting to Real Estate Investment. Prior to now he was the Pioneer MD/CEO of Citiserve Micro Finance Bank, VG Estates Ltd before Joining Fina Trust Micro Finance Bank as the pioneer MD/CEO.
He is a graduate of Management & Accounting, and also holds MBA from Obafemi Awolowo University Ile–ife. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria. He is an alumnus of the University of Capetown and a member of Ikoyi Club.
ISHARA NANAYAKKARA
Non-Executive Director
ISHARA NANAYAKKARA (Non-Executive Director)
Mr. ISHARA NANAYAKKARA is prominent entrepreneur serving on the Boards of many corporates and conglomerates in the region. He initially ventured into the arena of financial services with a strategic investment in Lanka ORIX Leasing Company PLC and was appointed to the Board in 2002. Today, he is the Deputy Chairman of LOLC Holdings PLC, along with directorships in many of its subsidiaries and associate companies.
Backed by close to two decades of professional experience in the industry, Mr. Nanayakkara currently holds the role of Executive Chairman of LOLC Development Finance PLC, as well as LOLC Life Assurance Limited. In recent years, he has also held the role of Chairman of Commercial Leasing & Finance PLC, one of Sri Lanka’s leading financial service providers for over 30 years, Executive Deputy Chairman of LOLC Finance PLC, the largest NBFI in the country, as well as Deputy Chairman of Seylan Bank PLC, a premier commercial bank in the country. His commitment to catering to the entire value chain of the finance sector manifested in the development of Micro Finance, Islamic Finance, factoring through LOLC Factors, and insurance through LOLC Life & General Insurance Companies.
Leveraging LOLC Group’s expertise in the SME sector, the expansion into the Micro Sector was spearheaded by Mr. Nanayakkara, who played a pivotal role in the proliferation of the Group’s unique and internationally recognized microfinance business model. He also holds a directorship at PRASAC, the largest microfinance Company in Cambodia, since 2007. Mr. Nanayakkara’s interest in microfinance lead to the inauguration of LOLC Myanmar Micro Finance Company Ltd, a green field investment in Myanmar in which he was the founding Chairman, and currently serves as a Director. His proficiency in micro finance in the region is further demonstrated by his contribution at the strategic level in LOLC Cambodia PLC (Previously known as Thaneakea Phum Ltd); one of the top microfinance companies in Cambodia. In line with Mr. Nanayakkara’s vision to elevate LOLC Group as a global player with a multi-currency, multi-geographic MSME platform, the Group’s expanding overseas footprint has seen him assume the role of Director in Pak Oman Microfinance Bank, Pakistan, as well as LOLC Philippines Corporation and LOLC Philippines Capital Holdings Corporation. He was also appointed as a Director in LOLC International Private Limited & LOLC Private Limited.
Mr. Nanayakkara’s motivation to expand into various growth peripheries is further illustrated through his role as the Executive Chairman of Brown & Company PLC. Through diverse strategic investments, he is steadfast in his aim to catalyse development in the growth sectors of the Sri Lankan economy. Mr Nanayakkara’s involvement in the Boards of Browns Investments PLC, Ceylon Graphene Technologies (Pvt.) Ltd, Sri Lanka Institute of Nano Technology (Pvt.) Ltd, Associated Battery Manufacturers (Cey) Ltd and Sierra Constructions Ltd, reflects this business philosophy.
Endorsing his entrepreneurial spirit, Mr. Ishara Nanayakkara received the prestigious ‘Young Entrepreneur of the Year’ Award at the Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Awards (APEA) in 2012. He holds a diploma in Business Accounting from Australia.
ASHAN NISSANKA
Non Executive Director
ASHAN NISSANKA (Non-Executive Director)
Ashan Nissanka is the Regional Director – International Operations (Philippines & Africa) of LOLC Holdings and spearheads the Group’s international operations in Philippines and Africa. He also serves on the board of LOLC Philippines Corporation, Philippines and LOLC Finance PLC, Sri Lanka.
Prior to that he has held the positions of Director / Chief Executive Officer of LOLC Finance PLC – Sri Lanka. Joined LOLC Group in 1998 and counts over 26 years of experience in the Banking and Finance sector in Sri Lanka with expertise in Strategic Marketing Planning, Credit and Development and Management of the Retail Channels.
Ashan holds an MBA from Edith Cowan University, Australia, a Graduate Diploma from Chartered Institute of Marketing – UK (CIM) and a Certified Management Accountant from Institute of Certified Management Accountants Australia. He currently serves as a Council member of the Institute of Certified Management Accountants Australia (CMA- Australia), a Board Member of the Leasing Association of Sri Lanka (LASL) and a member of Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM).
ELMO JAYETILEKE
Non-Executive Director
ELMO JAYETILEKE (Non-Executive Director)
Born in Sri Lanka, Mr. Jayetileke attended prestigious schools namely, St. Joseph’s College, Colombo and Royal College, Colombo for his primary and secondary education. Thereafter he trained at Ford, Rhodes Thornton and Co (now KPMG) and qualified as a Chartered Accountant at a young age of 22 years. He was awarded the management accounting prize at the final examination.
Having worked in Sri Lanka for a few years after qualifying, in order to broaden his career, Mr. Jayetileke left for Africa where he has now worked for the past 43 years, of which 6 years was in Malawi and the rest in Zambia.
Mr. Jayetileke’s initial employment in Zambia and Malawi was with Top 5 international accounting firms namely Coopers and Lybrand and Price Waterhouse where he rose to become a Partner of the Zambian firm.
Thereafter he joined the financial service sector in Zambia and has remained in that sector since 1996.
Initially Mr. Jayetileke joined Investrust Bank (a commercial bank owned by indigenous Zambians) as a founder employee and Finance Director and worked for nine years until venturing into personal business. During this time which was a turbulent period in the banking industry in Zambia, Mr. Jayetileke effectively controlled the finances of this fledging institution.
Subsequently Mr. Jayetileke joined Finance Building Society (which was later to become a subsidiary of Atlas Mara) initially as Chief Financial Officer and later promoted to Chief Executive Officer. During his tenure he was instrumental in turning around a loss making entity into a very profitable Non – Banking financial institution.
In 2016, LOLC Holdings Plc from Sri Lanka decided to explore opportunities in Africa to expand its operations and based on his experience in the financial services sector in Zambia, approached Mr. Jayetileke to take up the role as Managing Director for LOLC Finance Zambia Limited (a greenfield operations and subsidiary of LOLC Holdings) and also as Chief Executive Officer for the LOLC Group operations in Africa.
Mr. Jayetileke is held in high esteem within the business circles in Zambia having worked in international accounting firms and the banking sector. This experience and status in the Zambian society was recognised by the Sri Lankan Government and he was appointed as the Honorary Consul for Sri Lanka in Zambia in 2013, a position he still holds. Mr. Jayetileke was the first Sri Lankan Consul to be appointed in Zambia for the past 30 years. The appointment was based on the recommendations made by the Sri Lankan community in Zambia. In his role as Honorary Consul, Mr. Jayetileke has been instrumental in attracting Sri Lankan businesses to venture into Zambia.
Mr. Jayetileke is also a Trustee of the Zambia Sri Lanka Friendship Association which is a registered Association run by the Sri Lankan community to raise funds for the under privileged in the community.
CONRAD DIAS
Non-Executive Director
CONRAD DIAS (Non-Executive Director)
Mr. Conrad Dias joined the LOLC Group in 2006 and is currently the Chief Information Officer of the Group. His business focus ICT strategy execution not only delivers technology driven projects but drives business value throughout the many diversified sectors of the LOLC Group. Most of the IT initiatives implemented within the Group has enabled organizations to leverage on state of the art technology investment at a fraction of the cost and realize high business value and ROI. Some cost-effective ICT initiatives that requires less staff have saved millions of rupees annually to the Group.
With experience that spans over two decades, Mr. Dias is renowned as a seasoned veteran in Information Technology, Software Engineering, Project Management, Strategic and Investment Planning, Finance Management, Corporate Restructuring as well as Unit Trust and Fund Management. He possesses domain expertise in sectors such as Trading, Banking and Finance, Asset Management and Manufacturing.
Under his leadership and guidance, the ICT Division of the LOLC Group which provides efficient and effective IT solutions to all sectors and businesses within the Group, initiated and implemented several key projects to digitalize the many diversified sectors. Over the years, Dias has played an instrumental role in introducing a comprehensive ICT strategy that drives business value in all subsidiaries and business units of the LOLC Group.
DR. OLUSEGUN VINCENT
Non-Executive Director
DR. OLUSEGUN VINCENT (Non-Executive Director)
Segun is the managing partner of Town & Gown Consult where he is responsible for the coordination of the company’s services in risk management, strategy, business valuation, project monitoring & evaluation and business advisory services. Segun has led team of professionals in rendering high profile jobs for financial sector regulators in Nigeria, providing training services to various commercial banks, helping public sector institutions build capacities for budget preparation, medium term expenditure framework (MTEF) and other high profile jobs for multinational companies in Nigeria. Prior to his current role, Segun worked as Director of Economic Intelligence Unit in Lagos State, Regional Risk Manager in Ecobank Nigeria, Relationship Manager in Intercontinental Bank (now Access Bank) and audit Manager in Ernst & Young, Nigeria.
Segun holds a PhD in Applied Finance from Brunel University, London (with specialization in sustainability, strategy and governance), MSc in Business & Financial Economics from University of Greenwich, London, and MA in Managerial Psychology, University of Ibadan. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and Associate Chartered Taxation Institute. Segun is both Senate member and senior faculty in Pan-Atlantic University where he teaches Corporate Finance, Project Management and Taxation.
MR. IBRAHIM KWARGANA
Non-Executive Director
MR. IBRAHIM KWARGANA (Non-Executive Director)
Mr. Kwargana has over 38 years’ experience in the Banking sector. He was an Executive Director in Union Bank. He was appointed by the Central Bank of Nigeria in 2009 and until his retirement he was responsible for the Bank’s public sector relationship with Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Federal and State Government of Nigeria as well as commercial business development for the northern region. He served as a Non- Executive Director and Chairman of Board Finance and General Purpose Committee on the Board.
He is an experienced Banker with B.Sc. Second class upper division in political science, MSc. Corporate Governance and a member of the Institute of Internal Auditors. He is bringing a wealth of experience on Board ranging in Personal Administration and Industrial Relations, Internal Audit, Banking Operations and Marketing, Customer Relationship Management and served on the Board of a number of Companies.
He has attended a number of symposiums, seminars, and workshops on Banking Processes and Products, Personnel Management, Audit, Fraud Awareness and Prevention, Money Laundering, Corporate Governance and Enterprise Risk Management and also facilitated on some of the programmes.
