Kolapo Idris Kola-Daisi (born August 12, 1978) is an astute finance and banking executive, and a Nigerian politician; he is member of the All Progressives Congress.
Early Life and Education
Born 43 years ago into the illustrious Kola-Daisi family of Ibadan to a doting mother, Chief Mrs. Sherifat Olanbiwoninu Kola-Daisi, and the leading industrialist cum educationist father, Bashorun Kola Daisi, Kolapo Kola-Daisi has been quoted to describe his upbringing as a ‘balanced one’ that firmly shaped his life.
Kolapo’s Kola-Daisi family of Ibadan has built an enduring pedigree rich in famed philanthropy, integrity, thriving commerce and education. It is a statewide renown that also possesses both national and global appeal.
He attended St. Catherine’s Model Primary School between 1985 and 1990, before proceeding to the Federal Government College, Ogbomoso between 1990 and 1995 for his secondary school education.
Kola-Daisi received a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Manchester, United Kingdom, and immediately moved on to qualify as a Chartered Accountant in August 2004, becoming a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales at 25.
He bagged a Chartered Banker MBA in 2015 from the University of Bangor Wales, United Kingdom. He is also an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers in Nigeria and in Scotland.
Additionally, Kolapo Kola-Daisi has undergone executive trainings globally. He secured a Strategy Course certification from the Insead Business School, France and another in Financing Strategies from the Goldman Sachs School of Finance.
Professional Career
He started his career in the Remittances department of the First Bank of Nigeria, London in August 2000, where a young Kolapo shouldered the responsibility of overseeing money transfers to various other banks all over the world. He later moved to Arram Berlyn Gardner, an accountancy firm where he trained and gained his ACA qualification.
Soon after his ACA feat, he secured an Assistant Manager role in the Financial Services division of the London office of KPMG International Limited (or simply KPMG) – a British-Dutch multinational professional services network, and one of the Big Four accounting organizations. Here, he deployed his rising skillset to work with different clients across banks, investment and private equity companies, and he was KPMG’s interface with these clients. His brilliance was also designated to coach and develop junior members of Staff in the company.
By 2007, his stellar career took further flight as he became the Vice President at Strand Capital Partners Limited at just 29. In this role, he was responsible for the Finance unit and the Financial Advisory unit, where he led his team to raise over N16bn (about $100m) on behalf of various clients via Initial Public Offerings and Private Placements and debt.
Kolapo moved to Secure Electronic Technology two years later. The company, listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, is the National Lottery License holder with the largest platform for gaming and electronic payment services in the country, and here, Kolapo’s capacity was handed the responsibility for two departments as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Strategy Officer (for Business Development).
In 2012, Kolapo Kola-Daisi joined Heritage Bank Limited as the Group Head of Performance Management at 34. Following a string of noteworthy performances in this role, he rose to the position of Treasurer in the establishment, and was made part of the Executive Committee of the Bank responsible for providing strategic direction for the same; a role he has meritoriously served in till date.
He is a Fellow of the Financial Markets Dealers Association (FMDA), a self regulatory body in Nigeria that was set up to build capacity, identify, support and develop, where necessary, possible financial market infrastructure, human capital and promote professional and ethical standards in treasury activities in Nigeria.
Personal Life
Kolapo Kola-Daisi is happily married to businesswoman, luxury lifestyle and fashion connoisseur, Abisola Kola-Daisi, daughter of the former Governor of Oyo state, Abiola Ajimobi. The union is blessed with 3 children.
Politics
Having studied events in the Nigerian political space for years and from a close range, Kolapo Kola-Daisi officially entered the political ring in the fall of 2019, and declared an interest to run for public office in 2021.
He is a member of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Equipped with a grasp of excellent standards and precise execution from the private sector, while also coming with a political message and intention wrapped around the timely need to participate, Kolapo Kola-Daisi claims to use his expertise, experience and exposure to better the lot of governance and the governed in Nigeria, starting from his home state of Oyo.
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