Olu Salu

Purposeful social innovator and programme leader with more than ten years of experience in leading cross-sector initiatives and ecosystem building in the technology, non-profit, and consulting sectors.

Proven track record of developing and heading large-scale global programmes that enhance partnerships, speed up inclusive economic development, and enlarge entrepreneurial communities through strategic partnering and impact-driven delivery.

I am an experienced Programme and Partnerships Leader with over a decade of success designing and managing large-scale initiatives across education, enterprise, and sustainable development. My career spans leadership roles in non-profits and social enterprises, where I have combined strategic planning with hands-on delivery to create measurable social impact.

At Brickify Ltd, I lead sustainability and livelihood programmes that empower communities through circular-economy innovation. I oversee the whole programme cycle — strategy, budgeting, delivery, and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) — while coordinating multi-stakeholder partnerships with government, NGOs, and investors. My leadership has directly benefited more than 100 people and secured over £35,000 in funding.

Previously, with Sanctuary Housing and the YMCA, I supported youth development and community empowerment projects, managing workshops, volunteer engagement, and one-to-one mentoring. At the IBA Foundation, I managed enterprise programmes for young entrepreneurs, delivering regional training and donor reporting that strengthened organisational performance and sustainability.

As a former President of the Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumni Association of Nigeria, I have led multi-partner networks and international collaborations. Recognised through several global fellowships — including Commonwealth, BMW Foundation, and Tony Elumelu Foundation — I bring strong expertise in partnership development, inclusive leadership, and values-based programme management.

I hold a PGD degree in Community Development and Social Welfare from the University of Lagos, where I focused on participatory development, social policy, and programme design for community empowerment. I also earned a Bachelor’s degree in Forest Resource Management from the University of Ibadan, grounding my understanding of sustainability and environmental resilience.

In addition, I am an alumnus of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders at Arizona State University (USA), where I completed advanced training in Civic Leadership and Public Management. This fellowship, along with subsequent international leadership programmes such as the Commonwealth Professional Fellowship and BMW Foundation Responsible Leaders Network, has enhanced my global perspective, strategic leadership, and partnership-building skills.