The Founder

Godwin Ehigiamusoe is social entrepreneur who has applied the concept of social enterprise to successfully build a number of businesses which address the needs of persons and businesses at the bottom end of the society.
In response to the increasing incidence of poverty in Nigeria, in the late 1980’s, he founded Lift Above Poverty Organisation (LAPO) a pro-poor development organisation which addresses constrained access to finance; poor health and social exclusion.
LAPO has grown into a number of mutually reinforcing institutions in microfinance, micro-insurance, micro-leasing and healthcare, technology and education in Nigeria and Sierra Leone
In 2010, LAPO capitalized LAPO Microfinance Bank a regulated premium microfinance institution in Nigeria. In 2019, he set up Benin Medical Centre-BMC a well-resourced medical and diagnostic facility in Benin City, Nigeria and he led Goxi Microinsurance Company Limited to become the first licensed microinsurance company in Nigeria which provides innovative insurance policies to low-income people and their micro and small businesses.
Godwin Ehigiamusoe earned first and second degrees in Sociology and Anthropology; Sociology of Development respectively of the University of Benin.
He earned a Doctorate degree in Policy and Development Studies with distinction in a dissertation on Policy Instruments and Financial Inclusion.
He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria.

He won the Fola Adeola Training in Enterprise- FATE Foundation’s Model Entrepreneur Award in 2008; Outstanding Social Entrepreneur -Africa Award- Schwab Foundation in 2010; and co-winner Lagos Business School’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2014.
In 2016, he was awarded Doctor of Science honoris causa by the University of Benin, Benin City his alma mater.

His publications include Understanding NGOs – 1998; Poverty and Microfinance in Nigeria -2000; Issues in Microfinance: Enhancing Financial Inclusion 2011; Touching Lives: My LAPO Journey (memoir) 2021; Twelve Commandments for Business Owners: A Guide to Business Success 2023