MICHAEL OWOLABI is a qualified Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. He attended Edo State University (LL.B 1992), Nigeria Law School (BL 1993) and the University of Lagos (LL.M 1997).

Starting from 1994, Michael spent the first years of his career in Investment Banking, Treasury and Strategy with Guaranty Trust Bank PLC and Societe Generale Bank Limited before becoming an entrepreneur in 2004 with the founding of Black Pelican Limited (IL Bagno, Bathroom Direct, BPL Wellness, BPL Logistix and Bagno Technik) other companies include BPL Energy Limited, Abigail Michael Limited and Toll Brothers Limited Between 2000-2003.

Michael gained substantial experience working in advisory roles at both Federal and State Governments levels (first in the Office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as Special Assistant in the Budget Office and later as Special Adviser to the Governor of Kwara State) where he developed skills in the areas of budgeting, strategy, debt management, scenario planning, governance, public administration, and leadership.

Michael has attended several management courses within and outside Nigeria including Citibank School of Banking, NY, Harvard Business School, Boston, Institute Européen d ‘Administration des Affaires (INSEAD) Fontainebleau, France and IMD Lausanne, Switzerland. Michael also founded Detainees Welfare Foundation, a not for profit dedicated to providing awaiting trial detainees with legal assistance.