Profile of Dr. Yemi Cardoso

Yemi Cardoso is a citizen of Lagos State in South-west Nigeria.

He attended Corona School Ikoyi and St. Gregory’s College, Lagos for his primary and secondary education respectively.

His undergraduate studies earned him a Bachelor’s Degree (B.Sc.) in Managerial and Administrative Studies from Aston University, in the United Kingdom in 1980.

He furthered his education at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government (HKS), where he earned a Master’s degree in Public Administration in 2005, as a Mason Fellow.

In recognition of his outstanding achievements in the private and public sector, Cardoso was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) (honoris causa) by Aston University in 2017.

He is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, among several other honours to his credit.

As Chairman of the Board of Directors of Citibank Nigeria, Dr Yemi Cardoso is a financial and development expert with over thirty years’ experience in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors.

In 1999, Yemi was appointed the first Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget for Lagos State.

In this capacity, he wrote and monitored the implementation of the blueprint which catalysed economic development in the world’s sixth largest megacity.

He also served on the board of several leading companies including Texaco and Chevron Oil Plc.

Dr Cardoso is a member of the Belgian-based Cities Alliance Think Tank, which aims to shape and influence policy and decision making on urban development in Africa and has strong relationships with key international donor agencies.

His dedication to life-long learning has garnered for him recognition from various institutions, including as:

•Trustee of the Harvard club of Nigeria from 2022 till present
•Trustee of the Harvard Kennedy School Nigeria Alumni from 2020 till present
•Board Advisor of the Lagos Business School from 2019 till present
•Trustee of St. Augustine University from 2018 till present
•Global Alumni-elected Board member of Harvard Kennedy School from 2006 – 2010.