Gwen Z Abiola-Oloke

Independent

Trainer

Gwen has experience in private sector development, SMEs, impact financing, stakeholder management across diverse cultures, public advisory, consulting, and extensive work in female entrepreneurship and gender empowerment.

She was Investment Director and led the expansion and deepening of GroFin’s operations in West Africa.
GroFin is a development financier providing medium-term risk capital and business support services to SMEs across Africa and the Middle East.

Prior to now, Gwen has 23 years of financial services experience culminating as Country CEO of a Pan African bank. She has strong networks across West Africa with governments, private sector leaders, and development finance institutions.

She is a Collaborating Researcher for the UNRISD (United Nations Research Institute for Social Development) and co-authored several publications on Access to finance, sustainable financing, financial inclusion, women entrepreneurship, food security, climate change mitigation, and adaptation.
Gwen has been involved for over 20 years with SMEs, capacity building, leadership development, gender mainstreaming, sustainable community-based development initiatives, and philanthropy.

Member, Federal government of Nigeria ADHOC committee on Petroleum Deregulations, 2000.
Chairperson, Committee for Promotion of Trade and Investment between Nigeria and the Benin Republic, 2012 (Appointment by the Benin Republic government).
Accredited SME Consultant (ASMEC), AASBC - USA
Member, Judging panel for Shell International LiveWire “Top Ten Innovators Award”.
Mentor, Cherie Blair Foundation for Women
Member, Advisory committee for development of USAID Global Food Security Strategy (GFSS) for Nigeria
Member, Steering Committee of Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE West Africa).
She holds B.Sc., Economics, M.Sc. Marketing and MBA.