Ayodeji Ariyo Gbeleyi
Ayodeji Ariyo Gbeleyi (born 16 November 1964 ) is a Nigerian chartered accountant, technocrat, and public administrator. He was appointed Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) by President Bola Tinubu in June 2024. He previously served as Commissioner for Finance in Lagos State between 2013 and 2015 under Governor Babatunde Fashola.
Early life and education
Gbeleyi holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the IESE Business School, University of Navarra, Spain. He has also attended executive training programmes at the London Business School, the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, and Lagos Business School.
Professional qualifications
Gbeleyi is a chartered accountant and a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN). He is also a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Directors of Nigeria (CIoD) and the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN). He is a registered capital market operator with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of Nigeria.
Career
Gbeleyi has more than 30 years of post-qualification experience across manufacturing, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), banking, project finance, telecommunications, infrastructure, and public administration.
Private sector
In the private sector, Gbeleyi worked in finance and treasury management roles before joining Celtel Nigeria Limited, where he became the company's pioneer Chief Treasury Officer. He led the structuring of a US$1.1 billion project finance deal that won Euromoney's Project Finance Magazine "Telecoms Deal of the Year" for Europe, Middle East, and Africa in 2005.
Public service
From 2013 to 2015, Gbeleyi served as Commissioner for Finance in Lagos State under Governor Babatunde Fashola. During his tenure, Lagos State issued an ₦87.5 billion bond, which was approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in 2013, as well as two tranches of a $200 million World Bank development policy operation facility.
In January 2022, President Muhammadu Buhari appointed him as Chairman of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN).
In June 2024, President Bola Tinubu appointed Gbeleyi as Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE). He has since launched initiatives such as the Enterprise Business Review Forum to enhance efficiency and governance at the agency.
Board memberships and appointments
Gbeleyi has served as chairman, non-executive director, and board member for several companies and organizations. These include AXA Mansard Health Limited, a subsidiary of AXA Insurance Group in West Africa, and Northwest Quadrant Development Company Limited, a special-purpose vehicle for the Lekki Free Zone.