Olaopa was the Chief Research Officer, Policy Analyst and Speech Writer at the
State House, Abuja. He was also the Assistant Director/Secretary of the White Paper Panel for Nigeria's
1995 Ayida Public Service Reform where he was responsible for the implementation of the reform. He has also been the Coordinator, Education Sector Analysis and Head, Policy Division, Office of the Minister in the
Federal Ministry of Education. He was a one time Deputy Director/Head, Technical Secretariat, Reform Strategy Team, Management Services Office. He has also been the Director of Programmes at the Bureau of Public Service Reforms. Also, Olaopa was a Special Assistant on Reforms to the Head of Service of Nigeria on Public Service Reforms. He was also the Director of External Linkages & Reforms Department at the Office of Head of the Civil Service of the Federation; as well as the Director, MDAs Department, Bureau of Public Service Reforms. He rose to the position of
Permanent Secretary in the
Nigerian Civil Service and he served in that capacity the State House, Abuja; the
Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, before ending at the Federal Ministry of Communications Technology. He established the
Ibadan School of Government and Public Policy in 2016 after his retirement from the civil service. == Awards & recognitions ==