Olugbenga Agboola
Mr. Olugbenga Agboola is currently the ambassador-at-large and special advisor to the president. GoodLux Foundation is an initiative that Agboola founded after serving as the CEO of the Africa Global Business Coalition (AFR100).
Background
Agboola was born in Nigeria. He holds a master’s degree in International Economics from University of Lagos as well as a bachelor’s degree from Obafemi Awolowo University. He also has more than 25 years of experience working for various institutions in the private and public sector.
Career as a private sector professional
In the early 90s, Olugbenga Agboola started his career at First Merchant Bank where he spent 20 years rising through the ranks to become a senior executive. There, he served as the Senior Regional Manager for West Africa and was in charge of International Business Development. He also launch the bank’s Brazil office and acted as its representative.
In 2004, Agboola become the CEO at African Guarantee Company PLC (AGC). He served in this position until 2008 when he was hired by AFR100 as Chief Executive Officer.
Career as a government executive
In 2008, Agboola was appointed by the federal government of Nigeria as the Commissioner for Trade and Industry. He also became special advisor to the president on Trade and Investment.
In 2013, Agboola was made chairman of The Sovereign Investment Company (SIC). He served in his new role until 2015. A year later, he became a special advisor to the president on Trade and Investment. SIC is an independent investment holding company established in 1994 by President Faud Mutsuddi.
Career as a nonprofit professional
In 2009, Olugbenga Agboola became the CEO at Africa Global Business Coalition (AFR100). He held that position until 2016. AFR100 is a private sector-led business organization. It was founded in Nigeria in 2008 and operates across 14 African countries. Its goal is to help businesses grow and create opportunities for the people of Africa.
Agboola also founded GoodLux Foundation. The organization’s goal is to help Africa bridge the global trade gap by helping companies from the continent win business internationally. It also helps them solve legal, financial, and commercial challenges that come with operating internationally.
Olugbenga Agboola is also a member of the African Union’s High-Level Advisory Group on Private Sector Development. The group was founded in 2011 to develop policies that help mobilize businesses’ investments in the continent.
Awards
In 2013, Olugbenga Agboola was named International Executive of the Year by “Black Enterprise” magazine.
Publications
In 2010, Olugbenga Agboola authored a book titled “From Continental Cattle to Continental Commerce: The African Experience“. In 2011, he wrote another book titled “Africa Rising: Lead Africa and the Continent’s Future”.
Current position at GoodLux Foundation
Olugbenga Agboola serves as the President of GoodLux Foundation.
GoodLux is a nonprofit organization based in Lagos, Nigeria.
The organization’s goal is to help African businesses participate in global supply chains and increase their exports internationally.
The following quote was taken from the foundation’s mission statement: “Our mission is to identify, develop and facilitate new business partnerships between Africa and the world to enable sustained trade growth and boost business opportunities for SMEs across Africa.” The organization also has offices in Ghana, Ghana; Morocco, Morocco; and Tunisia, Tunisia.