A new firm. Deeply experienced people.

Akapo Olukayode Josiah, B.Sc., FCA

Akapo Olukayode Josiah is a distinguished accounting and advisory professional with more than 37 years of experience spanning audit, assurance, taxation, quality management, internal controls, and business advisory services. As Strategic Adviser – Audit Quality & Professional Practice at Outliers Professionals Ltd, he provides invaluable technical guidance, professional oversight, and strategic insight that strengthen the firm's service quality, governance standards, and client delivery capabilities.

His professional journey commenced with Adetola Isichei & Co. (now Akintola Williams Deloitte), where he built a strong foundation in professional practice, audit methodology, and financial reporting. He subsequently expanded his expertise through impactful roles at Marinho and Partners and Emmanuel Adeyemo Ogunlowo & Co., gaining extensive exposure to assurance, taxation, and advisory engagements across diverse sectors.

He later joined the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC), where he specialized in technical auditing, security systems reviews, quality management processes, and internal control frameworks. His experience at Shell significantly enhanced his expertise in operational controls, risk management, quality assurance, and organizational effectiveness within a complex multinational environment.

In 1992, he founded Akapo & Partners (Chartered Accountants), where he continues to serve as Managing Partner. Through more than three decades of public-practice leadership, he has advised businesses, entrepreneurs, institutions, and corporate organizations on audit, accounting, taxation, governance, compliance, and business improvement initiatives.

His expertise is reinforced by specialized executive training in Quality Management at Lagos Business School, Commercial Quality Management Systems at Shell London/The Hague, Technical Auditing & Security Systems at SPDC The Hague, and Internal Auditing at SPDC Lagos, alongside numerous professional development programs in assurance, taxation, governance, and advisory services.

As a respected Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Olukayode brings a rare combination of technical depth, practical experience, professional integrity, and leadership insight. His collaboration with Outliers Professionals Ltd enhances the firm's ability to deliver high-quality advisory, governance, accounting, taxation, and compliance solutions tailored to the needs of a diverse clientele.

Dr. Ebe Cletus Oluwadare, PhD, MSc, MBA, FCA, CISA, ISO 27001 Lead Auditor

Dr. Ebe Cletus Oluwadare is a distinguished governance, risk, compliance, and internal audit professional with over 22 years of progressive experience spanning banking, payments, telecommunications, and publishing. As Strategic Adviser – Governance, Risk & Compliance at Outliers Professionals Ltd, he plays a critical role in strengthening the firm's risk advisory, internal control, regulatory compliance, governance, and assurance-related consulting capabilities.

He has built an exceptional career across some of Nigeria's leading financial institutions and regulated organizations. He currently serves as Head of Internal Audit at Impact Credit Guarantee Ltd, a subsidiary of the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN), where he leads enterprise-wide risk-based audits, compliance reviews, internal control assessments, governance evaluations, and strategic reporting to the Board and Audit Committee.

Prior to this role, Dr. Cletus served as Chief Audit Executive & Chief Compliance Officer at MoneyMaster Payment Service Bank, where he was responsible for regulatory compliance, AML/CFT/CPF oversight, risk management frameworks, internal controls, and enterprise-wide governance systems within a highly regulated financial services environment.

His distinguished career at Zenith Bank Plc spanned approximately fifteen years, during which he held several progressively senior positions, including Regional Audit Supervisor and Team Lead, IT Audit & Control (Card Services and E-Settlement Audit). In these roles, he led critical reviews of branch operations, information technology controls, electronic settlement platforms, cybersecurity frameworks, fraud investigations, regulatory compliance programs, and enterprise risk management processes.

Dr. Cletus combines extensive practical experience with deep academic excellence. His expertise covers governance frameworks, enterprise risk management, regulatory compliance, internal controls, cybersecurity governance, fraud risk management, operational audits, information systems auditing, and board-level assurance reporting.

His collaboration with Outliers Professionals Ltd significantly strengthens the firm's ability to deliver robust governance, risk, compliance, internal control, and regulatory advisory solutions that help organizations manage risk effectively, strengthen controls, improve governance, and achieve regulatory excellence.

Sulaiman Kola Kadri, LL.B., B.L.

Sulaiman Kola Kadri is an accomplished legal practitioner with extensive experience in litigation, commercial law, corporate advisory, regulatory compliance, employment law, banking, telecommunications, and dispute resolution. As Strategic Adviser – Legal & Regulatory Affairs at Outliers Professionals Ltd, he provides legal insight and strategic guidance that strengthen the firm's ability to deliver integrated business, regulatory, governance, and compliance solutions to clients across multiple sectors.

Called to the Nigerian Bar in 2010, Kola has built a reputation for providing practical legal solutions to complex business and regulatory challenges. His legal practice spans representation before Nigeria's superior courts of record, corporate transactions, contract advisory, labour and employment matters, property law, commercial dispute resolution, banking law, and telecommunications regulation.

He obtained his Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree from the University of Ilorin in 2007, where he distinguished himself through active participation in student leadership and governance activities. Driven by a commitment to justice, professional excellence, and continuous learning, he is currently pursuing postgraduate studies at the University of Lagos.

Before establishing Virgo Law Office (Royal Chambers), where he serves as Principal Partner, Kola gained valuable experience with several respected law firms, including M.A.O. Abiru & Co. and Nasir Olawale Runmonkun & Co. He also served as Legal Counsel at DNL Partners, further expanding his expertise in corporate transactions, legal advisory, dispute resolution, and regulatory compliance.

At Outliers Professionals Ltd, Kola supports clients on corporate governance, legal risk management, regulatory compliance, contract structuring, dispute resolution strategy, commercial transactions, and business advisory matters. His legal expertise complements the firm's multidisciplinary approach, enabling clients to navigate complex legal and regulatory environments with confidence.

Owolabi K. Olayinka, HND, B.Sc., M.Sc. (Entrepreneurship), FCA, FIIFP

Owolabi K. Olayinka is a highly accomplished finance professional with more than 20 years of experience spanning manufacturing, retail, hospitality, financial technology, professional services, and business advisory. As Senior Adviser – Finance Transformation & Business Advisory at Outliers Professionals Ltd, he provides strategic guidance on financial management, business transformation, operational efficiency, financial systems implementation, and advisory engagements.

His professional career has been shaped through significant leadership and finance roles across multiple industries. He served as Unit Accountant at Tantalizers Plc, Cost Accountant at Chellarams Plc, and Finance Manager at Woolworths Retail Stores Limited, where he developed extensive expertise in financial reporting, cost management, budgeting, performance analysis, business process improvement, and operational finance.

In addition to his corporate experience, Olayinka serves as an implementation partner on the BankOne platform for Appzone Limited, extending his expertise into financial technology, banking systems implementation, digital transformation, and technology-enabled financial solutions. His exposure to both traditional finance and modern financial technology positions him uniquely to help organizations optimize performance and strengthen financial operations.

Beyond his corporate and consulting engagements, he serves as Managing Partner of K. Olayinka Owolabi & Co. (Chartered Accountants), where he has advised businesses on accounting, taxation, financial management, compliance, and business growth strategies. He is also a respected trainer and facilitator, contributing to the development of accounting professionals and business leaders through training, mentoring, and knowledge-sharing initiatives. At Outliers Professionals Ltd, Olayinka brings a combination of technical expertise, commercial insight, practical leadership experience, and entrepreneurial thinking that enhances the firm's ability to deliver high-impact finance transformation, advisory, taxation, and business improvement solutions.