Olawale Anifowose graduated from SMC University, Switzerland, in 2018 with a doctoral degree in Business Administration specializing in Marketing and Entrepreneurship. He obtained a Master’s degree in Marketing in 2009 and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics in 2000, both from the University of Lagos.

In July 2003, Olawale joined the Enterprise Development Centre and is currently the General Manager, Programs and Partnerships. Olawale has gained 18 years of experience in enterprise and ecosystem development and has been part of the team that successfully implemented several SME development projects, such as the Youth with Innovation in Nigeria (YouWiN!) – the Federal Government of Nigeria business plan competition that evaluated over 200,000 concept notes in three years.

He is also the Managing Director of Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) Nigeria, a member of the Executive Committee for GEN Africa, and a member of the executive advisory board for Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre. In addition, Olawale is a member of the Lagos State MSME Recovery fund committee and sits on a few boards of Small and growing businesses in Health, Real Estate, and technology sectors.

Olawale is an alumnus of the Lagos Business School and the US State Department International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) on SME Development. He is a Chartered Institute of Marketing UK member, a certified Microsoft BYB trainer, and an Entrepreneurial Coach from the Learning and Skills Management Centre (LSM), United Kingdom. Olawale led the setting up of a youth mentoring program — Startup Hub, for fresh graduates in 2015. Olawale is also the Course lead on entrepreneurship for the Undergraduate program at Pan Atlantic University.

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