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Empowering Entrepreneurs for a Thriving Future
Welcome to the Business Innovation Accelerator, a home for entrepreneurs with innovative solutions to Nigeria’s problems. Expand your business potential.
ABOUT US
The Business Innovation Accelerator was established by Lagos Business School (LBS) and the Bank of Industry (BOI) in 2022 to develop and empower profitable impact-driven entrepreneurs in Nigeria.
The LBS-BOI Business Innovation Accelerator (BIA) is a leading force driving the cause of profitable impact-driven entrepreneurship in Nigeria. Our goal is to develop, mentor and support a new generation of profitable impact-driven entrepreneurs who will transform society, create jobs and bring economic and financial transformation to Nigeria.
The centre is an initiative founded by Lagos Business School in collaboration with the Bank of Industry to raise entrepreneurs across Nigeria who will turn the country’s problems into business opportunities through entrepreneurship.
Our mission is implemented through our Business Innovation Accelerator (BIA) programme, an accelerator programme that provides Nigerian entrepreneurs with entrepreneurial orientation/ business management training, apprenticeship/ technical mentorship from successful entrepreneurs and access to market and funding.
The first cohort of the programme launched in the South West Zone of Nigeria in August 2022, training 68 entrepreneurs and is set to cover the other 5 geo-political zone of Nigeria; North Central, North East, North West, South East, South South.
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Our Vision & Mission
Mission: To develop impact-driven entrepreneurs for national development
Vision: To provide the most efficient ecosystem for Nigerian entrepreneurs
The LBS-BOI Business Innovation Accelerator (BIA) formerly known as Entrepreneurship Innovation Centre (EIC) aims to achieve the following objectives:
- Produce world-class entrepreneurs whose products and/or services can be exported globally.
- Position Nigerian entrepreneurs to take advantage of the opportunities presented by AfCFTA.
- Provide capacity-enhancing opportunities to ensure entrepreneurs operate and deliver at global standards.
- Help entrepreneurs grow and expand their businesses and consequently employ more people.
- Develop business management capacity to enhance the managerial, financial, and leadership skills of trainees.
- Provide an entrepreneurial ecosystem to equip and support entrepreneurs.
- Develop investment-ready businesses that would have been de-risked through training.
Governing Council Of
Business Innovation Accelerator
EVELYN NDALI OPUTU
BOARD CHAIR, LBS-BOI BUSINESS INNOVATION ACCELERATOR GOVERNING COUNCIL
EVELYN NDALI OPUTU PHD
Dr Evelyn Ndali Oputu, one of Nigeria’s foremost female bankers, commenced her professional banking career in 1976. She rose to the position of Executive Director in International Merchant Bank (IMB) in 1990 and was subsequently appointed Executive Director of First Bank of Nigeria Ltd, between 1991 and 1997. She served as the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Bank of Industry Limited Nigeria from 2005 to 2014.
Dr Oputu is an alumnus of the University of Lagos and Harvard Business School. She sits on the board of Coronation Merchant Bank.
In recognition of her outstanding contributions to Nigeria’s development, she was conferred with a national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) in 2008 by the government of Nigeria.
EZEKIEL OSENI PhD
MEMBER, LBS BOI BUSINESS INNOVATION ACCELERATOR GOVERNING COUNCIL
EZEKIEL OSENI PHD
Dr. Ezekiel Oseni, Ph.D, CRM is the Chief Risk Officer (CRO) of the Bank of
Industry. He supervised the design and implementation of the Bank
Enterprise-wide Risk Management (ERM) Framework in 2013. Prior to his employment in Bank of Industry, he taught in several higher institutions in Nigeria including Ibadan Polytechnic, University of Ilorin, Obafemi Awolowo University, Osun State University, Kwara State Polytechnic, Osun State College of Technology, Kano State Polytechnic and Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye. He is currently an Adjunct Lecturer at Department of Banking and Finance, University of Lagos, Nigeria . He was also the Head, Internal Control Unit of former Citizens International Bank, Nigeria.
OBARO OSAH
MEMBER, LBS-BOI BUSINESS INNOVATION ACCELERATOR GOVERNING COUCIL
OBARO OSAH
Obaro is a seasoned and professional Banker with over twenty years’ experience in the banking and financial services industry, spanning International Operations,Trade Services, Treasury Operations, Correspondent Banking, Customer Service, Relationship Management and Business Development.
He is the Head of the Banks SME Operations in the southern Nigeria.
Prior to this appointment in October 2020, he was the Regional Manager in
charge of the South-East Region and the Regional Manager, Lagos Region.
He is a Graduate of Banking and Finance from the University of Lagos and holds an MBA from the University of Nigeria. He is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN).
Alh. ABDUL GANIYU MUHAMMED
MEMBER, LBS-BOI, LBS-BOI BUSINESS INNOVATION ACCELERATOR GOVERNING COUNCIL
Alh. ABDUL GANIYU MUHAMMED
Abdul-Ganiyu Mohammed is a retired General Manager of the Bank of Industry, with over 30 years of experience in development finance. His career spans the civil service, the Bank of Agriculture, and 26 years at the Bank of Industry, where he led SME operations and pioneered key initiatives like GEF, YES, and SME digital offerings. He has served on several boards and committees, including BOI Microfinance Bank and CBN's EDCs. He is currently CEO of Willz-Boye, a development finance advisory firm, and mentors entrepreneurs across various institutions.
HENRIETTA ONWUEGBUZIE PhD
MEMBER, LBS BOI BUSINESS INNOVATION ACCELERATOR GOVERNING COUNCIL
HENRIETTA ONWUEGBUZIE PHD
Dr Henrietta Onwuegbuzie is passionate about economic development and social transformation in Nigeria and Africa, and has initiated the creation of over 100 profitable, social impact businesses through the MBA and Executive programmes at LBS.
Onwuegbuzie is a certified Management consultant and leads sessions in Entrepreneurship on the MBA and Executive programmes at Lagos Business School (LBS). She was recently conferred the Excellence award in Entrepreneurship and Impact Investing, and is currently the Director of the Business Innovation Accelerator and Project Director for the Impact Investing policy initiative at LBS.
ISAAC OROLUGAGBE
MEMBER, LBS BOI BUSINESS INNOVATION ACCELERATOR GOVERNING COUNCIL
ISAAC OROLUGAGBE
MEMBER, LBS BOI BUSINESS INNOVATION ACCELERATOR GOVERNING COUNCIL
IRETI DARAMOLA
MEMBER, LBS-BOI BUSINESS INNOVATION ACCELERATOR GOVERNING COUCIL
IRETI DARAMOLA
Iretioluwa is a qualified Solicitor qualified to practice in England and Wales and has over 10 years working experience in the UK. First as a Trainee Solicitor and then as a Partner in a High Street Firm in Essex before returning to Nigeria. She is also a qualified Legal Practitioner in Nigeria and has worked with the Bank of Industry for nearly a decade. She is currently a Group Head in the Bank’s Legal Division.
Iretioluwa has developed a solid reputation for providing legal services at the highest standard, quality legal counsel to clients in a wide range of industries including internal cross functional teams and external stakeholder. She possess expertise in mergers and acquisition, corporate ligation, loan documentation and loan recovery.
Meet The Team
HENRIETTA ONWUEGBUZIE PHD
DIRECTOR, BIA
HENRIETTA ONWUEGBUZIE PHD
Dr Henrietta Onwuegbuzie is passionate about economic development and social transformation in Nigeria and Africa, and has initiated the creation of over 100 profitable, social impact businesses through the MBA and Executive programmes at LBS.
Onwuegbuzie is a certified Management consultant and leads sessions in Entrepreneurship on the MBA and Executive programmes at Lagos Business School (LBS). She was recently conferred the Excellence award in Entrepreneurship and Impact Investing, and is currently the Director of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Centre and Project Director for the Impact Investing policy initiative at LBS.
OLAYODE AGBOOLA
RESEARCH FELLOW
OLAYODE AGBOOLA
Olayode holds a PhD in Economics from Obafemi Awolowo University, with strong skills in economic modelling, research and data analysis and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) from the National Open University of Nigeria, with strong teaching, mentoring and educational management skills. He has also undertaken several online courses, including the Investment Foundations Programme of the CFA Institute; Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies of Harvard University; and Community Engagement: Collaborating for Change of the University of Michigan.
GREGORY ASIEGBU
PROGRAMME MANAGER
GREGORY ASIEGBU
Gregory has Six years of experience in Business Development and Research, although with a background in Petroleum Engineering, He has developed kin interest for entrepreneurship and management research. Gregory currently works at the Lagos Business School’s Entrepreneurship Innovation Centre where he is the programme coordinator.
His continues drive for impact has led him to be part of several initiatives and projects. He was a founding team member of Leadership Challenge Foundation, He is a Co-founder of DigitalSME, and a partner at SURE-MAT Visual Perception.
HENRIETTA ONWUEGBUZIE PhD
DIRECTOR
HENRIETTA ONWUEGBUZIE PHD
Dr Henrietta Onwuegbuzie is passionate about economic development and social transformation in Nigeria and Africa, and has initiated the creation of over 100 profitable, social impact businesses through the MBA and Executive programmes at LBS.
Onwuegbuzie is a certified Management consultant and leads sessions in Entrepreneurship on the MBA and Executive programmes at Lagos Business School (LBS). She was recently conferred the Excellence award in Entrepreneurship and Impact Investing, and is currently the Director of the Business Innovation Accelerator and Project Director for the Impact Investing policy initiative at LBS.
GREGORY ASIEGBU
MANAGER
GREGORY ASIEGBU
Asiegbu Gregory, a certified IFC-LPI TPMA Trainer and Atlas Corp scholar, he is a Program Manager at the Lagos Business School's Business Innovation Accelerator. With over six years of experience in research, consulting, and program management, he's published articles and led projects, demonstrating a strong passion for youth empowerment and entrepreneurial development. He is the founder of GA Consult and a founding team member of the Leadership Challenge Foundation, he has attended prestigious training programs at institutions like Stellenbosch Business School and EWOR Founder Academy.
OLUWAKEMI ONAYEMI PhD
RESEARCH FELLOW
OLUWAKEMI ONAYEMI PHD
Dr. Oluwakemi Onayemi is an educator and researcher with expertise in strategy and entrepreneurship. She has over six years of industry experience and more than three years of academic teaching and research. Her work focuses on bridging theory and practice to develop entrepreneurial thinking that drives inclusive growth. She has secured competitive research grants and led projects that empower communities through education and enterprise. Driven by a passion for poverty reduction, Dr. Onayemi is committed to using entrepreneurship education as a transformative tool to empower individuals, strengthen communities, and contribute to sustainable development across Africa and beyond.
AYOMIDE ADEKOLA
PROGRAMME COORDINATOR
AYOMIDE ADEKOLA
Ayomide Adekola is a Certified Project Manager and passionate Human Development Enthusiast with over 4 years of experience in managing projects centred on human capital development, and the promotion of quality education.
Ayomide strongly believes in the power of education and collaboration in transforming societies, enhancing productivity and human development.
She is a member of the Chattered Institute of Personnel Management Nigeria, and the Organisational Learning and Development Community.
Ayomide holds a Bachelor's degree in Human Development and Family Relations from Obafemi Awolowo University.
MICHAEL AJIBOLA
DIGITAL MEDIA OFFICER
AJIBOLA MICHAEL
Digital Media Officer