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Former Opay Chief Executive Officer, <a href="https://wikitia.com/wiki/Olu_Akanmu#:~:text=Olu%20Akanmu%20is%20a%20Nigerian%20business%20person%20who,has%20been%20a%20financial%20inclusion%20and%20policy%20advocate." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Olu Akanmu</a> has been appointed Academic Director of Tech-Leap Initiative (TLI). The initiative is a subsidiary of the Lagos Business School (LBS) focused on tech startup founders. With a plethora of experience in the telecommunication and banking sectors, Olu has been backed to thrive in his new position.&nbsp; 
Announcing the appointment, the LBS, via its <a href="https://www.lbs.edu.ng/lagos-business-school-announces-new-academic-director-for-tech-leap-initiative/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">website</a> on Wednesday stressed the significance of the appointment, emphasizing Olu’s wealth of dexterity as a great addition to the tech school initiative. 
“The Lagos Business School management board is pleased to announce the appointment of Olu Akanmu as the new Academic Director of the school’s Tech-Leap Initiative (LBS-TLI). Olu brings a wealth of experience from his decades-long career across multiple sectors, including banking, telecommunications, and fintech,” the LBS said in its announcement. 
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Speaking on his role, the business school highlighted its expectations and the opportunities Olu will bring to the tech initiative: “His diverse background and innovative approach are expected to drive the initiative forward, fostering cutting-edge research and industry collaboration. As academic director, he will lead LBS-TLI’s strategic direction, oversee programs, foster collaboration, support research, and manage the team,” the statement reads. 
Olu will succeed <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-chukwuemeka-u-azinge-594b4a4b/?originalSubdomain=ng" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr Emeka Azinge</a>, who is the initiative’s pioneer director. According to LBS, Dr. Azinge was instrumental in establishing the Tech-Leap Initiative and has been impactful ever since. His impact ranged from his contributions to the growth in technology and business education.&nbsp; 
Under Dr. Azinge’s leadership, the initiative experienced significant growth, contributing substantially to technology and business education. The school extends its heartfelt gratitude to Dr Azinge for his dedication and impactful work during his time at &nbsp;Lagos Business School’s Tech-Leap Initiative. 
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 Lagos Business School
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In addition, LBS management highlighted that Olu Akanmu is now tasked with the objective of building on the initiative’s existing status quo and raising the bar for more opportunities.&nbsp; 
“As Olu steps into this new role, he aims to build on the solid foundation laid by his predecessor and enhance the initiative’s reach and effectiveness. The Lagos Business School community is excited to welcome him and looks forward to the innovative advancements and opportunities his leadership will bring,” the LBS said.&nbsp; 
<a target="_blank" href="https://technext24.com/2024/07/12/ngozi-nwabueze-tech-leap-initiative/" rel="noreferrer noopener">Also Read: PocketLawyer’s Ngozi Nwabueze appointed to the board of Lagos Business School’s Tech-Leap Initiative</a> 
<h4 id="olu-akanmus-contribution-to-financial-inclusion" class="wp-block-heading">Olu Akanmu’s contribution to financial inclusion</h4> 
Olu Akanmu is a Nigerian businessperson who has worked in telecommunication, banking, and the Nigerian fintech ecosystem. He has always been an advocate of policies and financial inclusion. 
He has a rich educational background that spans many years within and beyond the shores of the country. Olu holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. He also bagged an MBA from Lagos State University. He also attended the University of Witwatersrand and Edinburgh Business School, where he achieved a distinction in the Management Advancement Program and a post-graduate certificate in Business Research, respectively. 
He started as a Marketing Manager/ Regional Manager (Eastern and Northern Nigeria) with Glaxo Nigeria. He went on to work in the non-profit sector as Chief Operating Officer (Nigeria) for Population Services International (PSI), a global reproductive health charity. 
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Olu later moved to the telecommunications sector as General Manager-Consumer Marketing at MTN Nigeria Communications, playing a critical role in the growth of the business in Nigeria. He also worked as the Chief Marketing Officer of Airtel Nigeria before crossing to the financial services sector. He was Executive Director for Retail Banking at FCMB for more than eight years before he was appointed the president of OPay-Nigeria in 2021. 
Under his leadership, Opay saw impressive growth during Nigeria’s cash crunch, thanks to its distribution strategies and infrastructure. Akanmu’s tenure as Opay Nigeria’s CEO was marked by a relentless commitment to driving financial inclusion through technology. Under his leadership, Opay made significant advancements in its mission to bring financial services to the unbanked and underserved segments of Nigeria’s population. 
In July 2023, Olu Akanmu bid <a href="https://technext24.com/2023/07/31/olu-akanmu-resigns-as-opay-nigerias-ceo/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">farewell</a> to his role as the CEO of Opay Nigeria, bringing an end to a chapter characterized by tireless efforts to deepen financial inclusion in Nigeria. He is now said to continue in his journey following his appointment as the Academic Director of Lagos Business School Tech-Leap Initiative (LBS-TLI) 
<a target="_blank" href="https://technext24.com/2023/07/31/olu-akanmu-resigns-as-opay-nigerias-ceo/" rel="noreferrer noopener">Also Read: Olu Akanmu resigns as Opay Nigeria’s CEO after 2 years in charge</a>
The post <a href="https://technext24.com/2024/10/31/olu-akanmu-academic-director-tech-leap/">Former Opay CEO Olu Akanmu appointed Academic Director of Lagos Business School’s Tech-Leap Initiative</a> first appeared on <a href="https://technext24.com">Technext</a>.

Former Opay CEO Olu Akanmu appointed Academic Director of Lagos Business School’s Tech-Leap Initiative

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