Oluremi Akande, director of Marketing and Communications at LAPO Microfinance Bank, has been named among Nigeria’s Top 50 PR Professionals in the 2025 PR Power List, released by GLG Communications and published by The Guardian Nigeria.
The PR Power List is one of the most respected rankings in Nigeria’s communications industry. It highlights professionals whose work has demonstrated innovation, consistency, and measurable impact in advancing public relations practice. Being included among the top 50 places Akande in the league of communication leaders shaping narratives for both corporate and social impact.
Akande’s recognition reflects a professional journey that has spanned more than 15 years across advertising, public relations, brand strategy, research, and marketing consultancy. He began his career shortly after the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme, joining Dali Communications in 2007 as a Client Service Executive. By 2019, he had built a track record through roles at Dali, Phillips Consulting, and Skye Bank Plc, before taking up his current role at LAPO Microfinance Bank.
At LAPO, one of Africa’s foremost microfinance institutions, Akande has overseen a strategic shift in communications, embedding storytelling as a central tool in brand positioning. He has led initiatives that highlight the role of microfinance in promoting empowerment, financial inclusion, and sustainable development. Under his leadership, LAPO’s communications have focused on amplifying real-life stories of transformation, showcasing how access to finance helps families, small businesses, and entire communities achieve resilience and growth.
Speaking on his recognition, Akande described the listing as “a testament to the power of purpose-driven communication and the incredible work we’ve been doing to amplify the voices that matter most.” He explained that his approach to communications is rooted in simplifying complex ideas into relatable and meaningful experiences for audiences, a practice that has guided his career across different institutions.
Beyond his corporate work, Akande is an active member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and other professional bodies. He credits his professional development to a combination of personal resolve and mentorship from industry leaders including Godwin Ehigiamusoe, chairman of LAPO Microfinance Bank; Osaren Emokpae, chairman of Havilah Group; Ireke Amoji; the late Mike Obiajulu Meze, former managing director of Dali Communications; Kayode Akinyemi, CEO of Powerlight Communications; and Pastor Jacobs Akan. He also acknowledges the support of his family and the dedication of his colleagues at LAPO Microfinance Bank, whom he describes as “an incredible group whose creativity inspires me every day.”
Akande’s academic and professional qualifications provide a strong foundation for his work. He holds a Master’s Degree in Diplomacy and Strategic Studies from the University of Lagos and a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics and Nigerian Languages from the University of Ilorin. He is a Chartered Marketer certified by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (UK) and a Certified Digital Marketing Professional from the Red & Yellow Creative School of Business, South Africa. He is also a Registered Practitioner of Advertising under the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) and a Microfinance Certified Member (MCIB) of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN).
Through these diverse qualifications and experiences, Akande has built a reputation as a versatile marketing communications leader who bridges corporate objectives with broader social impact. His work underscores the growing recognition of public relations not only as a business tool but also as a driver of inclusion, equity, shared prosperity, and national development.
The PR Power List 2025 celebrates professionals who are not only raising standards within the industry but also using communication as a force for positive change. For Akande, the recognition is both a personal milestone and a reflection of the broader work being done at LAPO Microfinance Bank to give voice to the underserved and to position microfinance as a catalyst for sustainable progress in Nigeria and Africa.
