With a professional career spanning over three decades, Mr. Kayode Awolu, Managing Director/CRO, Jubilee Life Mortgage Bank, is an astute, and experienced highly resourceful financial expert in experience that covers Corporate Banking, Credit Risk Management and Business Development.

A graduate of Economics from the University of Ibadan with a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, Kayode is a Fellow member of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, an Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Bankers of Nigeria, as well as an alumnus of London and Lagos Business School.

Before joining Jubilee-Life Mortgage Bank, Kayode has worked in several capacities in various banks including Standard Trust Bank (now UBA) where he rose to the level of an Assistant General Manager, Deputy General Manager at Access Bank PLC and Group Head, Corporate Banking at First Bank PLC.

As one of the “100 Purpose-Driven, Transformative and Award-Winning Professionals of Excellence That Shaped Nigeria’s Economic Growth In 2026” recognized by The Guardian, Mr. Kayode Awolu opened up his career journey, the repositioning of Jubilee-Life Mortgage Bank into reckoning and phenomenal progress, the Banks’s adherence to ethical and best global practices, amongst pertinent issues. Excerpt…

Can you describe how professional training has shaped your worldview, career journey, as well as the impact on your day-to-day activities, especially as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Jubilee-Life Mortgage Bank PLC?
My background in Economics, professional qualification as a Chartered Accountant, and continuous exposure to executive education have given me a strong appreciation of the relationship between sound financial management, effective leadership, risk management, and sustainable business growth.
Beyond the technical knowledge acquired, professional training has taught me to approach business decisions from multiple perspectives. As a CEO, every decision has implications for our customers, employees, shareholders, regulators and other stakeholders. I therefore approach leadership with a strong emphasis on accountability, continuous learning, integrity and long-term value creation.

On a day-to-day basis, this training helps me to ask the right questions, assess risks objectively, challenge assumptions and make decisions that balance immediate business realities with the long-term interests of the organisation. It has also reinforced my belief that leadership is a continuous learning process. The business environment keeps changing, and leaders must continue to develop themselves if they are to remain relevant and effective.

As an accomplished financial and mortgage banking expert with a wealth of experience spanning over three decades, what can you add to Jubilee-Life Mortgage Bank’s phenomenal progress, particularly how it has been able to earn the trust of both clients and other stakeholders under your watch and measures being put in place to sustain this feat?

The progress recorded by Jubilee-Life Mortgage Bank is the result of collective effort. It is not attributable to one individual, but to the commitment of our Board, Management and staff, as well as the confidence and support of our customers and other stakeholders.

At the heart of our progress is a clear understanding of our purpose. We recognise that mortgage banking is ultimately about helping people achieve one of their most important aspirations, the opportunity to own a home. This requires more than providing financing; it requires understanding our customers, providing appropriate solutions and delivering consistently on our promises.

We have therefore continued to focus on customer experience, service excellence, prudent risk management, technology, operational efficiency and strong corporate governance. We are also conscious that trust is earned over time but can be lost very quickly. Consequently, we place considerable emphasis on transparency, responsible banking, regulatory compliance and maintaining strong relationships with our stakeholders.
Going forward, our focus is to consolidate these gains, deepen our digital capabilities, strengthen our mortgage and financing solutions, develop our people, and continuously improve the customer experience. Our objective is to build an institution that is not only successful today but also remains resilient, relevant, and trusted for generations to come.

As an indigenous company set up with a mission to deliver exceptional banking experiences leveraging cutting-edge technology through the creation of mortgages, financing the construction of residential homes, and providing support to small and medium enterprises, what is your overall assessment of the business landscape in Nigeria?
Nigeria remains a market of significant opportunities, despite the economic and operational challenges businesses currently face. The size of our population, entrepreneurial spirit, growing demand for housing and the enormous infrastructure and development needs of the country create substantial opportunities for businesses that are innovative, resilient and responsive to market realities.

For the Mortgage Sector, in particular, the housing deficit presents both a major challenge and a significant opportunity. Addressing this gap requires collaboration among financial institutions, government, developers, investors and other stakeholders. It also requires innovative financing models that can make homeownership more accessible and sustainable for more Nigerians.

Technology is another major driver of opportunity. Businesses can leverage technology to improve efficiency, expand access, simplify processes and provide customers with more convenient ways of engaging with financial institutions.
However, businesses must also recognise the realities of the Nigerian environment, including inflationary pressures, funding costs, infrastructure constraints and changing customer expectations. The key, in my view, is resilience and adaptability. Organisations that understand their customers, manage risks prudently, invest in their people and technology, and remain focused on their core purpose will be better positioned to navigate the environment and take advantage of emerging opportunities.

Apart from Integrity, what are the other unique ways that Jubilee-Life Mortgage Bank PLC is promoting ethical business practices to impact the industry particularly, and the Nigerian economy, as a whole?
Integrity is fundamental to our business, but ethical business practice goes beyond simply doing the right thing. It requires creating systems and a culture that encourage responsible decision-making at every level of the organisation.

At Jubilee-Life Mortgage Bank, we promote ethical conduct through strong corporate governance, accountability, regulatory compliance, transparency and responsible risk management. We also recognise the importance of treating customers fairly and ensuring that our products and services are delivered responsibly.
Another important area is our people. We encourage a culture where employees understand that how we achieve our results is as important as the results themselves. Continuous training, clear policies, internal controls and appropriate oversight help to reinforce this culture.

Our objective is to build a business that generates sustainable returns while creating value for customers, employees, shareholders and society. We believe that ethical business practices and commercial success should reinforce rather than contradict each other.

As a mortgage bank, our impact also extends beyond our immediate business. Financing homes contributes to the development of communities, while supporting businesses and economic activity contributes to job creation and broader economic development. We therefore see responsible banking as part of our contribution to the Nigerian economy.

What steps do you think government needs to take to address other obvious challenges in order to fast-track economic development and wealth creation for the nation?
Government has an important role to play in creating an environment in which businesses can thrive, investments can grow and individuals can create sustainable livelihoods. In my view, there are several key areas that require continued attention.

First is the need for greater macroeconomic stability. Businesses require a predictable environment to plan, invest and create jobs. Policies that promote price stability, sustainable public finances and a more predictable investment environment will help strengthen business confidence.
Second is infrastructure. Reliable electricity, efficient transportation networks and strong digital infrastructure are essential to reducing the cost of doing business and improving productivity.
Third is access to affordable and sustainable financing. Financial institutions can play a major role in economic development, but the broader financial ecosystem must support productive lending, particularly to housing, agriculture, manufacturing and small and medium-sized enterprises.

There is also a need to strengthen human capital development. Education, vocational training and skills development should be aligned with the needs of a modern economy so that young Nigerians can participate meaningfully in emerging opportunities.

For me, the ultimate objective should be an economy that creates opportunities for Nigerians to earn, invest, own assets and build sustainable wealth. When businesses are able to operate efficiently and citizens have access to opportunities, finance and the right infrastructure, the foundation for inclusive and sustainable economic growth becomes much stronger.

Finally, policy consistency, institutional strengthening and an enabling regulatory environment are critical. Government, the private sector and other stakeholders must work collaboratively because sustainable economic development cannot be achieved by one sector alone.

What would you consider as the toughest decision that you have ever made, and what lesson did you learn from it?
One of the toughest decisions any Managing Director/CEO has to make is deciding when an employee’s performance is no longer aligned with the organisation’s expectations and, ultimately, when to exit such an individual. It is always a decision on egg-laying. If you do not exit them, poor performance is like cancer that can spread easily, but if you do it you will also be seen as inhuman, hence the difficulty of such a decision.

It is difficult because every employee represents a person, a family and a livelihood. However, retaining persistent poor performance without taking corrective action can negatively affect team morale, productivity and, ultimately, the organisation’s performance. On the other hand, taking the decision to let someone go can be perceived as insensitive, particularly when one has worked closely with the individual.

This experience has taught me that effective leadership requires balancing empathy with accountability. Difficult decisions must be taken fairly, objectively and in the best interest of the organisation, while ensuring that people are given reasonable opportunities, support and clarity to improve.
The key lesson for me is that leadership is not always about making popular decisions; it is about making responsible decisions with fairness, courage and compassion.

Can you share information on any form of attestation (certifications, awards, recognitions, etc.) to your sterling business leadership, as well as the iconic and transformative status of the Jubilee-Life Mortgage brand?
Throughout my career in banking and financial services, I have had the privilege of receiving professional recognition and attaining certifications that have strengthened my capacity for responsible business leadership. These include my professional qualification as a Chartered Accountant and Fellowship of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), as well as recognition as an Honorary Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN). I have also participated in executive development programmes at leading institutions, including Lagos Business School and London Business School.

For me, true leadership recognition is not limited to individual awards. It is also reflected in the growth of the institution, the confidence of customers and stakeholders, the development of employees, and the lasting value created for the organisation. Our aspiration is to continue building a Jubilee-Life Mortgage brand that is trusted, relevant and positioned to make a meaningful contribution to homeownership and the broader financial services industry.