Are you a dynamic leader in the financial services sector looking to make a tangible social and economic impact? LAPO Microfinance Bank Limited, a pioneer in pro-poor financial services, is seeking a high-performing State Business Lead to drive business growth, financial inclusion, and operational excellence across its key locations.

About LAPO Microfinance Bank Limited

LAPO Microfinance Bank is a leading pro-poor financial institution committed to the social and economic empowerment of low-income households. Originally established in the late 1980s as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) by Godwin Ehigiamusoe, the institution was created in response to the challenging economic conditions of the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) in 1986.

Over the decades, LAPO has grown exponentially. Approved as a State Microfinance Bank by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in 2010 and scaling to a National Microfinance Bank in 2012, LAPO MfB now serves over a million people across Nigeria. The institution operates under the core values of Integrity, Innovativeness, Simplicity, Excellence, and Customer-centeredness, with a singular, powerful mission: Improving lives.

The Role: State Business Lead

As the State Business Lead, you will be at the forefront of driving LAPO’s financial inclusion agenda within your assigned state. This senior operational role requires a strategic thinker who can seamlessly translate organizational targets into successful field-level execution. You will be responsible for leading field teams, driving deposit and loan portfolio growth, and expanding LAPO’s footprint into commercial B2B lending across various sectors.

Key Responsibilities

In this role, you will lead and coordinate business development efforts to achieve sustainable growth. Daily responsibilities include:

Business Growth & Acquisition: Lead all business development activities within the assigned state to drive customer acquisition, loan disbursement, and savings mobilization.
Strategic Expansion: Identify and expand LAPO’s financial inclusion reach into underserved communities and diversify the portfolio into commercial B2B segments across all sectors.
Leadership & Supervision: Supervise, support, and mentor field officers, branch teams, and agents to ensure high performance and alignment with company goals.
Portfolio Management: Actively monitor portfolio quality, keeping Portfolio at Risk (PAR) levels exceptionally low through sound credit assessment and recovery efforts.
Operational Compliance: Conduct regular field visits to assess branch operations and ensure strict compliance with credit policies, operational guidelines, and regulatory requirements.
Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain robust relationships with community leaders, cooperatives, and local business stakeholders.
Market Intelligence: Conduct ongoing competitor analysis and market intelligence gathering to identify new business opportunities and recommend relevant product/service improvements.
Reporting: Provide structured, data-driven weekly and monthly performance reports to regional management.

Key Requirements

To succeed as the State Business Lead, you must possess strong financial acumen, exceptional leadership capabilities, and a deep understanding of microfinance operations.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Economics, Finance, Microfinance, or a related field. A professional certification in Microfinance or Banking will be a distinct advantage.
Experience: A minimum of 5 to 8 years of proven experience in microfinance, banking, or broader financial services, with at least 3 years spent in a supervisory or managerial capacity.
Core Competencies:
- Demonstrated experience in community-based lending, rural banking, and financial inclusion initiatives.
- An outstanding track record in loan portfolio management and successful business expansion.
- Strong analytical, communication, and relationship-management skills.

Why Join LAPO MfB?

At LAPO Microfinance Bank, you will be part of a mission-driven team that directly contributes to poverty alleviation and economic development. This role offers the unique opportunity to lead large field teams, design impactful market strategies, and build a rewarding career in an organization that genuinely cares about its employees and customers.