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Kaduna Business School

Dr. Isaac Abolade Agbola

Dr. Isaac Abolade Agbola

Finance, Investment Banking & Agribuisness

Background

Dr. Isaac Abolade Agbola is a distinguished scholar and industry leader with four decades of transformative contributions to financial services, agribusiness, and economic policy. He holds a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) from Texila American University/Universidad Central De Nicaragua, an MSc in Economics, and a BSc in Economics from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

Dr. Agbola’s career seamlessly integrates academic rigor with executive roles in banking, investment management, and agribusiness consultancy, positioning him as a bridge between theory and practice.

Leadership and Professional Excellence

  • Executive Leadership:
    • Managing Director/CEO, LAM Agro Consult Limited (2017–Present): Spearheads strategic advisory services in agricultural investments, including high-stakes due diligence for multinational firms (e.g., 2023 cocoa sector analysis guiding multimillion-dollar investments).
    • Non-Executive Director, Fortress Capital Limited (2018–Present): Oversees broker/dealer operations and capital market strategies.
    • Executive Director, Cashcraft Securities Limited (2003–2017): Managed stock exchange dealings, fund management, and restructuring projects, including the recapitalization of Livestock Feeds Plc (2007, 2013).
    • Assistant General Manager, Continental Trust Bank/UBA (1999–2003): Led risk management, corporate banking, and business development.
    • Agricultural Credit Officer, Nigeria Arab Bank/Polaris Bank (1985–1989): Pioneered Nigeria’s first agricultural lending policy and secured the bank’s inaugural ACGSF claims (1988).
  • Industry Recognition:
    • Fellow, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) (2008) and Fellow, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) (2014).
    • Associate Memberships: CIS (2002), CIBN (1995), and Certified Trainer by the Center for Management Development (2011) and FITC-FAA Malaysia (2019).

Contributions to Agribusiness and Financial Innovation

  • Policy Development: Designed and implemented Nigeria’s first Small Farmers Loan Scheme (1986) and Temporary Overdraft (TOD) Schemes for traders (1998–1999).
  • Strategic Consultancy:
    • GIZ AgFin Project Review (2022): Led a 14-day mission across six Nigerian states (FCT, Kano, Kebbi, Ogun, Oyo, Plateau), conducting 39 stakeholder engagements to optimize agri-financing interventions.
    • IITA/AfDB ENABLE TAAT Program (2018): Consulted on youth agripreneur initiatives across East/Southern Africa, overseeing beneficiary selection and post-disbursement monitoring.
    • AFOS Foundation (2022–2023): Trained 200+ mid-level managers and graduates in southwest Nigeria and Kwara State on agribusiness best practices.
  • Publications: Authored the seminal text Agricultural Finance: A Practical Guide for Lenders and Entrepreneurs (CIBN Press, 2014), alongside peer-reviewed articles on financial intermediation’s GDP impact (2024) and agribusiness risk frameworks.

Scholarly Contributions and Research

  • Theses and Dissertations:
    • DBA Thesis (2024): Financial Intermediation Schemes and Agricultural Productivity: Evidence from Nigeria.
    • MSc Dissertation (1984): Analyzed rural banking impacts on savings and agricultural lending in Oyo State.
    • BSc Dissertation (1982): Examined farm size and income distribution in Obokun LGA.
  • Peer-Reviewed Journals:
    • Assessment of the Impact of Financial Intermediation on Nigeria’s GDP (1996–2022) (Texila Journal, 2024).
    • Agribusiness Risk Management in Nigeria: A Conceptual Analysis (Texila Journal, 2024).
  • Policy Advocacy: Authored 7+ op-eds in Business Day (2015–2017), addressing national food security, oil deregulation, and sustainable agribusiness.

Capacity Building and Academic Engagement

  • Lagos Business School (2015–Present): Facilitated 25 modules for the Agribusiness Management Program, covering cocoa, cashew, fisheries, and chocolate value chains.
  • Youth Empowerment:
    • Trained 150+ youth agripreneurs in Kaduna, Kano, and Lagos (2022) on business plan development via Mastercard/Lam Agro partnerships.
    • Collaborated with IITA/Mastercard (2020) to design agribusiness training manuals for Nigerian entrepreneurs.
  • Corporate Training:
    • Delivered 5-day Agribusiness Training for Sterling Bank’s Risk Academy (2019).
    • Conducted workshops for First Bank of Nigeria (2014, 2018) on agricultural credit and value chain analysis.

Professional and Community Leadership

  • Institutional Governance:
    • Chairman, CIBN Lagos Branch (2012–2014): Elevated professional standards and organized Nigeria’s first offshore risk management training in Dubai (2013).
    • Member, CIS Membership Committee (2017–2019): Streamlined membership processes for stockbrokers.
  • Community Development:
    • Estate Chairman, Mobolaji Johnson Place, Lekki (2012–2016): Managed 115 duplexes, demonstrating operational excellence.
    • Chairman, Liberty Schools Okota (2001–Present): Oversaw educational governance for over 1,000 students.

Certifications and Global Engagements

  • Center for Management DevelopmentCertified Trainer (2011)
  • Financial Institutions Training Centre Certified Trainer  (FITC, 2019).
  • FAA Certified Training Professional (FITC Malaysia, 2019).
  • AFRACA Agricultural Loan Analyzer Training (Ghana, 2015).
  • Participant, CIBN/Executive Talents Inc. Conference (Dubai, 2013): Curated sessions on risk management and global banking practices.

Awards and Recognition

  • Recognized by AFRACA for advancing agricultural credit systems in West Africa.
  • Celebrated for designing Nigeria’s first institutional agricultural lending framework, still referenced in policy circles.

Dr. Agbola’s career is a testament to relentless innovation, blending academic inquiry with actionable industry solutions. His work has shaped national policies, empowered generations of agribusiness leaders, and redefined Nigeria’s financial and agricultural landscapes.