Olayemi Michael Cardoso
Olayemi Michael Cardoso is a Nigerian banker, chartered stockbroker, consultant and public policy expert. Over the course of his illustrious career, he has served in the public and private sectors as a leader with prominent roles. Cardoso is the Founder of Africa Institute for Leadership and Public Administration (AILPA), an organization which focuses on promoting private-public partnerships.
In his capacity as consultant and policy expert, Cardoso has advised and collaborated with major international development organizations including the World Bank, Ford Foundation, UN Habitat, World Health Organization and the Swedish Development Foundation.
AILPA partners with Harvard and the Ford Foundation to advance innovation in Lagos through initiatives like the “Innovation for Economic Development ” program, which outlined strategies aligning technological trends with development policy objectives. The program catered to high-level leaders, including cabinet members, as well as leaders in academia and civil society, ultimately setting the stage for legislation fostering an innovation ecosystem in Lagos.
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Cardoso completed a bachelor’s degree in Managerial and Administrative Studies from Aston University and a master’s degree in Public Administration from Havard Kennedy School.
Before AILPA, Cardoso served in Citibank, where he rose to become the Vice President, he was an Executive Director in Citizens International Bank, and he was the first Commissioner for Economic Planning & Budget in Lagos State.
In July 2017, Cardoso joined the esteemed Cities Alliance Think Tank, dedicated to shaping and influencing policy and decision-making regarding urban development in Africa. Additionally, he served as the chairman of the board for the DFID and Gates Foundation’ EFinA, an organization devoted to financial inclusion.
Cardoso is a member of the Nigerian National Advisory Board on impact investing and serves on the advisory board of Lagos Business School. In 2018, he assumed the role of founding chairman of the board for the Africa Venture Philanthropy Alliance (AVPA), an organization committed to unlocking new capital for social impact across the continent.
Furthermore, Cardoso serves as a member of the board of trustees for DRASA Health Trust, a public organization established in honour of the late Dr Ameyo Adadevoh, and as the chairman of the board of directors for Rebuild Lagos Trust Fund (RLTF), a not-for-profit public-private partnership, was established to rebuild damaged infrastructure in Lagos following the END SARS protests of 2020 in Lagos, Nigeria.
Cardoso is the recipient of several awards including an honorary Doctorate degree in Business Administration from his alma mater, Aston University, and the Global Distinguished Alumni Award from Citibank. He is a Mason Fellow at the Havard Kennedy School.