Pastor Kola Oyeneyin stands out as a prominent Nigerian entrepreneur and activist, whose visionary leadership has significantly impacted the business and social landscape of Nigeria. As the founder and CEO of Venia Group, he has pioneered venture creation and development, earning recognition from the prestigious London Stock Exchange. His journey in the corporate world began with a three-year tenure as a Business Analyst at Hewlett-Packard in the United Kingdom, followed by a pivotal role as the Business Manager at Lekki British School.
In January 2011, Pastor Kola’s entrepreneurial spirit led to the establishment of Venia Group. The company’s innovative subsidiaries, such as Venia Business Hub and AutoGenius, have revolutionized the provision of serviced offices, co-working spaces, and digital insurance platforms in Nigeria, catering to the needs of startups and SMEs.
Beyond his business acumen, Pastor Kola embodies a philosophy of empowerment and service. He describes himself as someone “raised to raise, supported to support, assisted to assist, motivated to motivate, inspired to inspire, blessed to bless, loved to love.” This ethos has propelled him towards change and development, culminating in his appointment by the Vice President of Nigeria as a member of the Advisory Group on Technology and Creativity in 2018. His entrepreneurial excellence was also recognized when he was nominated as Entrepreneur of the Year by the Future Awards Africa in 2012.
Pastor Kola’s passion extends into the realm of politics and advocacy. He founded the GenVoices initiative, a non-partisan group aimed at engaging youth in political discourse and action. His leadership in the Occupy Nigeria movement and the establishment of Sleeves Up, a youth empowerment foundation, underscore his commitment to societal progress. Notably, he spearheaded Nigeria’s first Youth-Led Presidential Debate in 2011 and various voter registration campaigns.
Kolawole Oyeneyin, a multifaceted individual, intersects the domains of investments, technology, economic development, public policy, and human capital. As a partner and co-founder of Volition Cap, an African-focused private equity company, and the Founder & Chairman of Venia Group, he continues to drive innovation and investment. His role as co-Lead at Opportunik Global Fund further showcases his expertise in managing funds for retail investors.
A faith-driven leader, Pastor Kola’s influence spans across human capital development, mentoring, and the creation of high-impact networks. Through initiatives like The Kola Oyeneyin Foundation, The KO Circle, Adullam Nation, and the Believers in Business Network (BBN), he invests in people and platforms that advance humanity.
His academic achievements include a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Harvard University, where he was recognized as an Edward Mason and Gleitsman Fellow, and honored with The Eric Yankah Award for his distinguished contributions. He also holds a degree in Computer Science from the University of Nottingham, UK.
In recognition of his global influence, Kola was named one of the “The Most Influential People of African Descent” by MIPAD in 2020, and in 2022, he became an Archbishop Desmond Tutu Fellow of the African Leadership Institute. Balancing his entrepreneurial pursuits with nation-building efforts, Pastor Kola remains dedicated to his family, mentees, and active engagement in his Christian faith.
