Godwin Ehigiamusoe, Ph.D. (August 21, 1958 ) is a Nigerian entrepreneur, microfinance practitioner, investor, and philanthropist, and owner of LAPO.
LAPO is a well-known loan company in the Nigerian market today. Although, Cynthia Ikponmwosa is the current MD/CEO of LAPO Microfinance Bank.
Who is the owner of LAPO?
Godwin Ehigiamusoe is the owner of LAPO stands for “Lift Above Poverty Organization” was originally established as a Nigerian NGO in 1987 with a determined mission to help local Nigerians to move out of poverty. It was expanded as an MFI in 1990, and was registered as a microfinance bank in 2007.
Ehigiamusoe earned his Bachelors in Sociology in 1981 and Master in Sociology of Development, with a specialization in Development Studies in 1996 degrees from the University of Benin.
He then furthered his education and obtained a Doctorate in Policy and Development studies with emphasis on microfinance policy instruments and financial inclusion at Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State.
Ehigiamusoe is married to Ngozi Elizabeth Ehigiamusoe, and together they have five children. He is passionate about reading, writing, and watching documentaries.
“Over the last three years, LAPO’s total assets have grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.3% to stand at ₦67.3 billion as at 31 December 2017.
LAPO is a Nigerian organisation with a microfinance bank dedicated to self-employment through microfinance and an NGO, a non-governmental, non-profit community development organization focused on the empowerment of the poor and the vulnerable.
Ehigiamusoe since the beginning of his career worked in the microfinance sector as a rural cooperative officer. He founded LAPO (Lift Above Poverty Organization) in 2010. It is a pro-poor development organization with operations in Nigeria and Sierra Leone.
He stepped down as the MD of LAPO Microfinance bank in November 2019. LAPO, under the leadership of Ehigiamusoe, has evolved into a vast collection of mutually reinforcing institutions/businesses providing social and economic empowerment services to Nigerians and Sierra Leoneans.
In 2012, Ehigiamusoe was appointed as the chairman of the Orange Insurance Brokers Limited, an insurance brokerage firm. Three years later he also became the chairman of Orange Printing and Publishing Company.
