Olamide AinaOlamide 'Kola' Aina

Nigeria

 

Occupational Information

Occupation: Venture capital

Occupational Position: General Partner at Ventures Platform

Professional History

Olamide Aina is an entrepreneur, technology operator and investor with considerable experience working in Africa’s largest economic market. His prior entrepreneurial experience spans several sectors including venture capital, technology, media, agriculture, infrastructure, publishing and real estate.  He is the General Partner at the early stage African venture capital firm Ventures Platform, where he has led investments in about 30 innovative-category-leading companies, including payments company Paystack; connectivity company Tizeti; healthcare company MDaaS and the agric-tech company Thrive Agric. Ventures Platform is a VC fund that provides founder-friendly capital and support to early stage companies. Other ecosystem interventions, research and social impact initiatives are deployed through the Ventures Platform Foundation.

Olamide - who goes by the name  Kola - is also the Chairman of the Board of Ventures Park – an artsy co-working space and innovation campus. Kola also founded the enterprise technology company Emerging Platforms Limited nine years ago, quickly growing it to become one of the leading technology service delivery companies. Kola is a leader in the African technology, startup and investing ecosystem, a TED speaker, and volunteers his time advising founders, and speaking at events. He serves on the Nigerian Presidential Committee for Job Creation and Youth Employment.

Qualifications

BSc from Savanah State University, Georgia, USA
MBA from Bowling Green State University, USA
Senior executive programs at Harvard Business School; UC Berkeley's Center for Law, Business and the Economy; and, Lagos Business School.

Programs

2020 Archbishop Desmond Tutu Leadership Fellow

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About AFLI

 

AFLIICONCROPPED

 

The African Leadership Institute (AFLI) focuses on building the capacity and capability of visionary and strategic leadership across the continent. Developing exceptional leaders representing all spheres of society, the Institute’s flagship programme is the prestigious Archbishop Tutu Leadership Fellowship. Offering a multifaceted learning experience and run in partnership with Oxford University, it is awarded annually to 20-25 carefully chosen candidates, nominated from across Africa. Alumni of the African Leadership Institute form a dynamic network of Fellows passionately committed to the continent’s transformation, bridging the divide between nations and ensuring that Africa is set centre-stage in global affairs.