Dr. Ahmed ‘Tunde Popoola – The Man Behind Nigeria’s Credit Reporting System
There are builders who construct edifices, and then there are visionaries who architect systems that transform entire nations. Dr. Tunde Popoola belongs to the latter category, a rare breed of leader who saw what others couldn’t see: that Nigeria’s economic potential was locked behind walls of information asymmetry, and that the key to unlocking prosperity for millions lay in creating a credit infrastructure where none existed. He witnessed how banks struggled with information asymmetry, how customers played institutions against each other, and how the absence of reliable credit information stifled lending and economic growth. As the founding Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of CRC Credit Bureau Limited, he didn’t just build a company; he engineered a fundamental shift in how Nigeria’s financial system operates, turning the abstract concept of “credit history” into a tangible tool for economic empowerment that now touches over 100 million lives.
On his birthday today, we celebrate a highly accomplished economist, banker, and business leader with over 30 years of experience spanning banking, public-sector and financial infrastructure building in Nigeria. ‘Tunde holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, two Master’s degrees in Economics and Banking & Finance from the University of Lagos, and a Ph.D. in Finance from Wits Business School, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. He also attended advanced executive education programmes at Lagos Business School, Wharton, Harvard, IMD Switzerland, Cambridge and Kellogg, and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).
He is widely respected within Nigeria’s professional and business community, holding fellowships and memberships across key institutions in accounting, banking, taxation, management, risk, governance, and capital markets. These affiliations reflect both the depth of his expertise and his long-standing commitment to professional excellence and ethical leadership. He also established Savannah Business School, focused on finance, leadership, and enterprise development, and has personally mentored and guided several businesses to sustainable growth across education, travel, and leadership development.
His leadership extends to corporate governance, having served, and continuing to serve, as Chairman or Independent Non-Executive Director on the boards of several companies across technology, finance, education and media. He is also a highly sought-after speaker, researcher, and thought leader in economics, finance, credit reporting, business management, and sustainability.
Professionally, Dr. Popoola built a successful career in banking, rising to Chief Finance Officer and General Manager of a publicly listed bank, before serving as the pioneer Chief Executive Officer of the Abuja Enterprise Agency (AEA) from 2005 to 2008, an FCT Administration initiative supported by DFID to drive entrepreneurship and SME development. During his tenure, he successfully transformed AEA from a conceptual initiative into a functional institution with measurable impact, launching flagship programmes that promoted youth entrepreneurship, SME capacity building, and private-sector engagement across the FCT.
His leadership delivered notable outcomes during this period, AEA introduced Entrepreneurs’ Clubs in secondary schools across the FCT, using the Students for the Advancement of Global Entrepreneurship (SAGE) curriculum. One of the standout successes was Junior Secondary School, Jikwoyi, which went on to represent Nigeria at the global SAGE World Cup in Odessa, Ukraine, returning home with the trophy and making history for both Nigeria and Africa, the creation of annual SME conferences and business plan competitions, and the development of platforms that supported SME visibility, networking, and business growth. He also designed entrepreneurship programmes for NYSC members, enabling many to launch their own businesses.
In recognition of his impact, Dr. Popoola received a special ministerial commendation in 2007 and was subsequently appointed to the AEA Board in his personal recognition and served from 2008 to 2015. This experience strengthened his understanding of SME financing gaps and entrepreneurship development, providing critical insights that later shaped his leadership in addressing Nigeria’s credit information and financial inclusion challenges.
Dr. Popoola spent 14 formative years in Nigeria’s banking sector, rising to become Chief Finance Officer and General Manager by 2005. During this time, he witnessed firsthand the fundamental problem constraining Nigeria’s financial system: banks were lending in the dark, making decisions without comprehensive information about borrowers. Non-performing loans reached 30%, and creditworthy individuals and businesses couldn’t access financing because there was no way to verify their credit history.
In 2008, when Dr. Popoola assumed leadership of CRC Credit Bureau Limited, established by a consortium of ten leading financial institutions in partnership with Dun & Bradstreet, he stepped into uncharted territory. Credit bureaus were foreign to most Nigerians. The infrastructure didn’t exist. Skeptics questioned whether such a system could work in Nigeria.
In 2011, he led the Managing Directors of the other two credit bureaus in Nigeria to meet with the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria trying to address the challenge of absence of unique identification in Nigeria. Under the auspices of the Credit Bureau Association of Nigeria (CBAN), they made a presentation to the Bankers’ Committee on February 14, 2012 titled “Credit Bureaus and Nigerian Banks: Partnering for Growth,” which advocated for a unique identification system. The Bankers’ Committee adopted a resolution that led to the introduction of the Bank Verification Number (BVN) in Nigeria, a foundational infrastructure that has since become indispensable to Nigeria’s financial system. He also took active part in the discussion of the bill that led to the enactment of the National Credit Reporting Act of 2017. As the interim Chairman of Africa Credit Information Sharing Association (ACISA), he is championing deepening credit reporting in Africa and promoting cross-border credit information sharing.
Under Dr. Popoola’s leadership, CRC has consistently refused to settle for the status quo, driving continuous innovation across Nigeria’s credit ecosystem. He has championed the development and launch of fifteen distinct products and services, including CRC Score, Nigeria’s first indigenous credit scoring system developed in collaboration with FICO. CRC also introduced the 360-Degree Customer View, which provides comprehensive customer profiling by integrating alternative data sources and behavioural insights, as well as API integrations that enable real-time access to credit information and seamless lending workflows.
In 2022, CRC underwent a strategic evolution with the establishment of CRC Data and Analytics Limited (CDAL), transitioning into a group structure and expanding its offerings beyond traditional credit reporting into comprehensive data and analytics solutions. In addition, the CRC Financial Education Centre (CFEC) has trained thousands of professionals and individuals in credit risk management, data analytics, and financial literacy, strengthening industry capacity and consumer awareness. Through international partnerships, CRC has also enhanced its technical capabilities and global alignment, enabling the adoption of world-class standards and best practices across Nigeria’s credit infrastructure. These innovations reflect Dr. Popoola’s understanding that access to credit must be accompanied by technology, education, and continuous adaptation to market needs.
Under Tunde’s leadership, CRC has garnered numerous accolades: Best Loan Application Service Provider (2014), Best Credit Bureau of the Year (2018 and 2019), and awards by Capital Finance International (CFI.co) as the Best Credit Bureau in Nigeria for six consecutive years (2020-2025). The award panel once asserted: “CRC is the largest credit reporting agency in Nigeria, responsible for over 95% of the nation’s recorded credit data from commercial banks, non-bank institutions, utility companies and retailers. This impressive market share is the result of a well-designed organisational structure, fine-tuned processes, and highly principled governance.” Forbes Africa Magazine’s 2023/2024 Edition featured CRC for its pivotal role in advancing financial inclusion.
Beyond these leadership roles, Dr. Popoola’s impact has continued to earn him wide-ranging national and continental recognition. He holds several other awards and recognitions especially for his role in entrepreneurship, business management, finance, and youth empowerment. These include Ambassador for Peace and the Nigerian winner of the 1st Pan African Prize for Entrepreneurial Teachers in 2007. He is a proud recipient of special Ministerial recognition and commendation for his innovation and promotion of youth enterprise in the FCT. He was named the Credit Bureau CEO of the year in 2018. In 2023, he was conferred with the Sir Ahmadu Bello platinum award of excellence as an icon of societal development by the National Association of Northern Nigerian Students (NANNS). He was named the most astute MD/CEO of the year in 2025 for business innovation and tactical management. He has served multiple terms as Chairman of the Credit Bureau Association of Nigeria (2015, 2018, 2021) and Chairman of the Lagos and District Society of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (2007-2009).
Dr. Popoola is involved in a lot of community service. He has been the National President of Sepeteri Community since 2001. He founded Tomeb Foundation for Youth Development and Sustainability with interest in education, entrepreneurship, leadership and sustainability. Tomeb Foundation has granted scholarships to several brilliant indigent secondary school students and students in tertiary institutions since 2012. The Foundation also studied and presented reports on Entrepreneurship and Youth Entrepreneurship in Nigeria (2013 – 2025) under the auspices of the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM). He has helped to establish and guided many businesses to sustainable profit and growth.
He is frequently invited to speak, present, and contribute research on entrepreneurship, credit reporting, finance, and economics, reflecting his strong reputation and influence across these fields.
When Tunde started CRC, his personal vision was clear: “To facilitate consumer lending and the economy in Nigeria.” Nearly two decades later, he reflects: “We are not yet there… but we have been able to change lending practices. Before the credit bureaus, there was little lending to small businesses and consumers. They had no records. Today, many banks have SME desks because we have been able to provide the data that gives the banks an ability to do their credit analysis and to minimise risk of default.”
Dr. Popoola’s impact extends far beyond corporate metrics. Over 30 million Nigerians have credit scores because of systems he built. Thousands of small businesses have accessed financing to grow and create jobs. Millions of loans have been approved because lenders have the information they need.
His legacy lives in reduced loan defaults that strengthened Nigeria’s banking system, improved Ease of Doing Business rankings, and countless stories of entrepreneurs, families, and young professionals who accessed opportunities previously beyond reach, all made possible by the infrastructure he built.
At a time when many would rest on accumulated achievements, Dr. Popoola remains focused on what lies ahead. He envisions Nigeria reaching credit penetration levels comparable to developed economies. He sees every Nigerian, regardless of social and economic status, having the opportunity to build credit history and access financial resources to pursue their dreams.
Under his continued leadership, CRC is expanding product offerings, deepening analytical capabilities, and exploring AI and machine learning to enhance credit assessment. The group structure positions the organisation to play an even broader role in Nigeria’s data economy, with potential to benefit other African nations facing similar challenges.
For all his professional demands, Dr. Popoola remains grounded in family and faith, values that guide how he conducts business and treats people. He is known for his humility and genuine commitment to developing others. At CRC, he has built a culture of excellence, innovation, and integrity that attracts and retains top talent. His mentorship of young professionals and entrepreneurs reflects a deep commitment to building human capital.
Tunde is a committed family man whose personal life reflects the same values that define his leadership – faith, care and purpose. For him, the family is a constant source of grounding and strength, providing the clarity and renewal that enable him to lead with empathy, balance, and conviction.
As he marks another year, Dr. Popoola can look with satisfaction on a career that has changed Nigeria for the better. The credit bureau he pioneered has become indispensable infrastructure. The innovations he championed have enabled millions to access opportunities. The team he built continues to drive excellence. The standards he set continue to elevate the industry.
But the work is far from finished. There are still millions without credit histories to bring into the system, innovations to develop, and a vision of full financial inclusion to realise.
Today, we celebrate Dr. Tunde Popoola, not only for what has been achieved, but for what continues to unfold. Happy Birthday to a leader whose work proves that when vision meets courage, institutions are born, and nations move forward.
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