Shu'ara Olalekan Popoola

Shu'ara Olalekan Popoola is a seasoned Chartered Accountant, accomplished business leader, and financial technology enthusiast. He brings over four decades of experience spanning accounting, auditing, finance, insurance, and management consultancy to his new role as Non-Executive Director of InsureOnGo.com Limited, a leading web aggregator company in Nigeria. .

Professional Journey

Lekan Popoola is the Founder and Chairman of Lekan Popoola & Co. , a Chartered Accountants firm, and its affiliated group of professional services firms. His career began in 1981 with an apprenticeship at KPMG International , where he developed a strong foundation in auditing and consulting within the Financial Services Industry (FSI). In 1988, after qualifying as a Chartered Accountant, he established his own firm, obtaining a Public Practice License from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).

Lekan also has significant industrial experience, having served as:

• Finance Manager, Benkaof Beverages Nigeria Limited (1985–1991)
• Chief Accountant, ALIBERT Furniture Limited, Lagos

In the insurance sector, his expertise spans 30 years (1991–2021), where he rose through the ranks at top-tier firms, holding executive roles including:

• Deputy Chief Accountant and later Deputy General Manager, Royal Exchange Assurance Nigeria Plc (REAN)
• Head of Finance & CFO, Industrial and General Insurance Plc (IGI), Great Nigeria Insurance Plc (GNI), and Sonarwa Assurance Plc (Rwanda).

He also served as Executive Assistant to the Group Managing Director/CEO of REAN, a role equivalent to Chief of Staff, where he managed high-level corporate strategy and operations.

Education and Training

Lekan Popoola’s educational journey reflects his dedication to continuous learning:

• St. David's Primary School, Kudeti, Ibadan
• Islamic High School, Orita-Bashorun, Ibadan
• Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (Faculty of Agriculture)
• Advanced Management Programme (AMP-18), Lagos Business School, Pan African University

Professional Affiliations

Lekan is a Fellow (FCA) of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and an Associate (ACITN) of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria. He is also an intermediate member of the Computer Society of Nigeria (CSN) and a student member of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN).

Personal Interests and Contributions

Lekan is an advocate for lifelong learning, dedicating time to teaching, training, and lecturing. His hobbies include singing, dancing, writing, and engaging in public affairs analysis. A strong proponent of Yoruba language and culture, he integrates his heritage into his professional and social activities.

Lekan is also active in social and community service, having served as a Past President of the Rotary Club of Apakun, Airport Road, Lagos, and is a Paul Harris Fellow (PHF) of Rotary International.

Family and Legacy

Happily married with four children, Lekan continues to contribute to Nigeria’s professional landscape through his various ventures in chartered accounting, taxation, human capital development, and wealth management consultancy

As Non-Executive Director at InsureOnGo.com Limited, Lekan Popoola brings unparalleled expertise, visionary leadership, and a deep understanding of Nigeria’s insurance and financial technology sectors, strengthening the company’s position as a trusted leader in digital insurance solutions.