MARK OLATOYE MAYOR ISOLA

How I help mentees

With over twenty years of progressive experience across commercial banking, microfinance banking, and finance companies, I bring practical industry exposure that bridges theory with real-world banking operations. I would support mentees in the following areas:
1. Career Development & Professional Growth. Guide mentees on career progression pathways in banking, from entry level.
• Provide mentorship on professional certifications (CIBN, ICAN, and risk-related qualifications) and how to balance them with work responsibilities.
2. Practical Banking Knowledge - Expose mentees to real-life banking operations, beyond classroom theory.
• Explain how different banking units interrelate—operations, credit, risk, audit, finance, and internal control.
3. Risk Management & Control Competence - Train mentees on enterprise risk management, internal control systems, and regulatory compliance.
• Provide insights into CBN guidelines, risk asset management, governance frameworks, and early warning signals.
4. Ethics, Governance & Professional Conduct - Instill strong values around integrity, accountability, and professionalism, which are core to the CIBN Code of Conduct.
5. Leadership & Management Readiness. Develop their capacity in decision-making, communication, stakeholder management, and emotional intelligence.
6. Financial Inclusion & Industry Relevance -Share knowledge from my involvement in financial inclusion initiatives, microfinance operations, and product development.

Through mentorship, I aim to contribute to CIBN’s mandate of producing competent, ethical, and future-ready bankers, while helping mentees become professionals and sustainable leaders in Nigeria’s financial ecosystem.

Key accomplishments

I began my banking career as a non-clerical staff at the defunct Afribank Nigeria Plc. Through continuous personal development, professional training, and academic advancement, I progressed steadily within the financial services industry, rising to the position of Senior Officer at Ecobank Nigeria Limited.

Over the years, I have acquired extensive experience across commercial banking operations, having worked in various units including Operations and Internal Control. I have also held key leadership positions in microfinance banks, where I served as Head of Internal Audit, Head of Enterprise Risk Management, and Head of Financial Control.

Currently, I serve as the Head of Risk Management and Control at Sovereign Finance Company Limited, Lagos, where I am responsible for strengthening risk governance, internal controls, and regulatory compliance frameworks in line with industry best practices.