Mr. Lawal, a thoroughbred professional accountant, is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN). He became an associate member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Nigeria in 1982 and for his contribution to the noble profession; he was made a fellow of the same institute in 1991.

He commenced his accounting career with a professional firm of chartered accountants, Messrs Z.O. Ososanya & Co and later worked as the Group Financial Controller of Life Flour Mills Limited, Sapele in Delta State, Nigeria for several years before joining IGI Plc.