Lola Adekanye
Ms. Adekanye is the Deputy Regional Director for Africa and the Country Director for Nigeria at the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) overseeing a diverse portfolio of thematic programs.
As an anti-corruption, governance, and business integrity expert, she provides strategic leadership for the Accountability, Governance, and Integrity (AGI) thematic portfolio across Sub Sahara Africa and serves on various committees including the compliance and standard setting committees at the Anti-Corruption & Governance Center (ACGC) of CIPE.
Drawn to uncharted waters, Adekanye advises global teams on innovations in strengthening accountability and integrity in corporate and public governance systems. She co-leads one of the most innovative policy and program conceptualization and implementation called Ethics 1st. Ethics 1st which is a flagship initiative implemented of CIPE that is a multi-stakeholder cross-domain solution designed to unlock low-risk investment in Africa while creating an ecosystem of accountable businesses and investors[1].
Beyond her duties at CIPE, Adekanye contributes her extensive expertise on high-profile boards and committees such as the prestigious Bretton Woods Committee where she serves alongside global experts on several working groups shaping global policy and standards to bring solutions to evolving global challenges and complex governance problems.
Lola is a licensed attorney at the New York State and the Nigerian Bar. She holds two Master of Law degrees: in Securities and International Financial Regulations from Georgetown University, in the United States, and International Economics from the University of Warwick, England. She also holds a postgraduate advanced certificate in circular economy from Cambridge University’s Judge Business School amongst others.
Adekanye is skilled in institutional reform through collective action, and multi-stakeholder cooperation toward people-oriented public policy to strengthen transparency, attract accountable investment, and mainstream best practices for organizations in diverse contexts. Lola has advised institutional stakeholders in public and private sectors in over ten (10) countries. Her thematic expertise ranges from international financial regulations, Illicit financial flows, beneficial ownership transparency, business integrity and accountability in value chains, regulatory efficiency, and the rule of law.
Her passion for advancing innovative solutions and leveraging technology to strengthen public and private sector accountability in emerging markets compelled her decision to live and work in emerging economies supporting grassroots foundations and charities in her spare time.
[1] It is an innovative business and impact-oriented integrated solution platform that provides access to business integrity resources and support for MSMEs and then connects them to accountable investors and multinational partners.