Shola Ajani – CEO, School of Consulting
Shola Ajani, CMC, FIMC, is a Certified Management Consultant, Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants, and President of the Pan Africa Consultants Association.
With a distinguished career spanning over three decades across Africa, Europe, and North America, Shola has built an international reputation for excellence in consulting, leadership development, and human capital transformation.
A visionary leader and pioneer in Africa’s consulting and talent sectors, Shola began his career breaking new ground in recruitment and workforce innovation. He founded NigeriaJobsOnline, one of Nigeria’s first online recruitment platforms, and launched several landmark initiatives such as the Jobs International Exhibitions and the Human Capital Summit Africa. His groundbreaking USA & Canada Global Recruitment Tour, featured on CNN, positioned Nigeria as a hub for international talent engagement and opened new global opportunities for African professionals.
Shola’s consulting expertise spans organisational design, strategy, performance improvement, change management, and human capital solutions. He has successfully led projects for national and sub-national governments, multinational corporations, and global consulting firms. His client portfolio includes the Federal Government of Nigeria, Lagos and Bayelsa State Governments, Central Bank of Nigeria, Shell International, Novartis, London Stock Exchange, City of London Corporation, KPMG, Accenture, and UBA Africa. His work has consistently delivered transformative results, strengthening institutions, improving performance, and building sustainable capacity.
In 2019, Shola founded the School of Consulting, Africa’s first and only institution dedicated to developing professional consultants and standardising consulting practice across the continent. The School’s Certified Consulting Professional (CCP) Programme has trained and mentored over 400 professionals across Africa, and the diaspora, empowering them to establish consulting practices, deliver measurable client results, and contribute to business and public-sector transformation. Under Shola’s leadership, the School of Consulting has become a centre for consulting excellence, offering innovative training frameworks, practical mentorship, and access to a vibrant community of practitioners.
Beyond consulting, Shola is deeply committed to coaching, mentorship, and leadership development. He has personally coached and mentored over 500 professionals, helping individuals transition from employment to entrepreneurship and from leadership roles to consulting careers. He serves as a Faculty Member at the Pan African University and a Pioneer Mentor with the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme (TEEP).
A passionate author and speaker, Shola has written several influential books, including The Art of Business Consulting, The A–Z of Business Consulting, Retire into Consulting, and Winning and Retaining Consulting Clients. His insights on consulting, leadership, and entrepreneurship have inspired audiences at conferences, forums, and business summits around the world.
Shola Ajani’s life work reflects a steadfast commitment to building Africa’s consulting capacity, transforming organisations, and empowering the next generation of consultants and leaders. Through his visionary leadership, innovative training, and global consulting engagements, he continues to shape the future of the consulting profession across Africa and beyond, helping individuals and institutions perform at their highest potential and achieve lasting impact.