Oluwadare Owolabi is a seasoned technology executive and transformational leader with over twenty-eight years of experience at the intersection of finance, technology, and public policy. With a proven track record in pioneering digital payment solutions, championing financial inclusion, and building homegrown institutions across Nigeria, Ghana, the United States, and India, Oluwadare has consistently demonstrated a unique ability to drive innovations that directly impact lives and communities.
An indigene of Odo-Oro in Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Oluwadare’s career has been defined by a strong commitment to inclusive development, nation-building, and economic empowerment. His professional journey reflects not only corporate excellence but also a clear understanding of the structural and policy frameworks required to move society forward—an insight he is now poised to bring to public service.
As the current Chief Executive Officer of Arca Payments, Oluwadare led the company’s rapid rise to become a top three player in Nigeria’s web acquiring space. Under his leadership, Arca developed a robust payments infrastructure and launched strategic partnerships that revolutionized retail transactions across the country. He spearheaded Arca’s entry into the public sector, helping to design technology-driven financial inclusion strategies that align with national development goals.
Prior to Arca, he served as CEO at Xpress Payment Solutions, where he secured five regulatory licenses from the Central Bank of Nigeria, including for Switching & Processing and Agency Banking. Oluwadare championed partnerships with regulators, governments, and institutional leaders, highlighting his deftness in navigating public-private collaboration. His tenure at Funds & Electronic Transfer Solutions (FETS) helped pioneer Nigeria’s mobile payments industry and earned the company one of the country’s first Mobile Money Licenses.
Earlier in his career, he held strategic leadership roles at Access Bank, United Bank for Africa, and Hewlett Packard, building deep expertise in enterprise systems, corporate governance, and regulatory compliance. Through it all, his focus has remained steadfast: leveraging innovation to serve people—especially underserved populations.
A firm believer in education and continuous learning, Oluwadare holds an MBA and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) from the International School of Management, Paris. He has further sharpened his leadership acumen at globally renowned institutions including Harvard, Wharton, and Columbia Business School.
He has chaired several national fintech bodies, including the Association of Licensed Mobile Payment Operators of Nigeria and the Fintech Advocacy Group, and worked closely with the Central Bank of Nigeria and EFInA to shape mobile money and financial inclusion policy frameworks. These affiliations reflect his longstanding commitment to public-sector collaboration and policy reform—traits that are crucial for any public servant aspiring to create lasting change.
Driven by a desire to give back to his roots and to scale impact beyond the boardroom, Oluwadare is increasingly focused on contributing to public life. He brings to the table not just private sector success, but the vision, integrity, and grassroots understanding required to represent and serve the people of Ekiti North and Nigeria at large.
