Dr Kola Olugbodi

Dr. Kola Olugbodi is Africa’s foremost background check expert and the pioneer of the background screening industry in Nigeria and West Africa. He is the Founder and CEO of Background Check International (BCI), the first indigenous background screening company in the region.

With a B.Sc. in Demography and Social Statistics from Obafemi Awolowo University and an MBA in International Business from Texila American University, Kola is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Management. He began his career at the National Population Commission and later worked in the banking sector before transitioning to entrepreneurship.

He is the Founding Chairman of the Society for Professional Background Screeners Nigeria and the first African member of the Professional Background Screeners Association (PBSA), USA. He also sits on the advisory board of the International Due Diligence Association (IDDA), USA, and is an alumnus of the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP).

Dr. Kola has been featured as a speaker at several high-profile events, including the 2024 Convocation Lecture of the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, and the Excellence in Leadership Conference hosted by Daystar Christian Centre. He is also the author of the memoir Through It All: Memoir of My Many Trials & Triumphs and host of the inspirational YouTube talk show, Through It All with Kola Olugbodi.

He holds fellowships from the Institute of Information Management (FIIM), Nigerian Institute for Industrial Security (FNIIS), Society for Professional Background Screeners (FSPBS), and African Quality Academy (FAQA). He is a member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), ASIS International, and NIIS.

His numerous recognitions include the Marketing Edge Personality of the Decade, finalist for CNBC’s West Africa Entrepreneur of the Year, and awards from Rotary International, PSR National Merit, and BAOSA for professional excellence.

Kola chairs the boards of Employsure Services Ltd, iCyrus Infotech Solutions, Julalex Training Academy, and serves on the boards of Lionheart Ability Leaders Foundation and Raising Star Africa. He is a Lead Faculty at Project Enable Africa and a passionate advocate for personal development, ethics, and inclusion.

He is happily married to Oluwatoyin Olugbodi, with whom he has two wonderful children.