Oluwasolape Akinde

Solape is a Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) Professional with experience spanning over a decade across various industries in Africa. His expertise cuts across Business Continuity, Information/Cyber Security, Risk Management, IT Governance, Service Management, Card Security and Data Protection.

He started his career with Total E&P, before moving to MTN and subsequently Digital Jewels Limited where he cut his teeth as a GRC leader, Certified Implementer and Auditor having delivered several Management System Standard projects for over 65 organisations in Nigeria, Ghana, Rwanda, Kenya, Congo, Cote d’Ivoire and the Gambia.

As a certified trainer facilitating numerous notable standards, Solape has successfully trained over 500 professionals across Africa in several Management System standards.

At Digital Jewels Ltd, he was the Head, Process Consulting (IT Standards) responsible for East, West and Central Africa and it was during his tenure the organisation won PECB’s Best Training Partner in Africa for 2 consecutive years- 2019 and 2020.

After a long stint at Digital Jewels, he joined IHS Towers as the Manager, Third-Party Risk Management. Presently, he is the Head IT Governance, Risk and Compliance at Seven-up Bottling Company.

Solape holds certifications across several standards some of which include: ISO 22301 Lead Implementer and Auditor, ISO 27001 Lead Implementer and Auditor, ISO 21500 Lead Project Manager, (PRINCE 2), IT service management (ITIL V3), Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM). ISO 9001 (Quality Management System) Lead Implementer and Internal Auditor, ISO 27032 Lead Cyber Security Manager, ISO 3100 Lead Risk Manager and Certified Data Protection Officer (CDPO).

Solape is a tenacious, resourceful, focused and result-driven professional who aims at using his technical and leadership skills to enhance and ensure the maturity and improvement of processes in organisations.

He is passionate about seeing and driving African businesses to become formidable institutions built to last through the implementation and maintenance of International Best Practice Standards.

He enjoys football, travelling and is an ardent propagator of good governance.