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I learnt my entrepreneurial acumen from my mother –Taiwo Afolabi

Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, SIFAX boss

Dr Taiwo Afolabi, the enigmatic founder and Group Executive Vice-President of SIFAX Group, is a mercurial entrepreneurial genius.

From the little beginning as a freight forwarding company in 1988, he has nurtured SIFAX into a gigantic conglomerate which has diverse interests in shipping, haulage, oil and gas, financial services, ground handling operations and hospitality.

Dr Afolabi, whose philanthropy is legendary, is 60 years old today, Friday, April 29th, 2022.

In this sit-down interview, Dr Afolabi takes us through his 60 years of eventful and impactful journey, his early life, his business tutorials, his daring venture into the world of business, his philanthropy and his family.

Tell us about yourself:

I am Dr Taiwo Afolabi, the founder and Group Executive Vice Chairman of SIFAX Group.

Obviously, I am an entrepreneur, business leader, mentor and many more.

I am an indigene of Ogun State and by the grace of God, I am 60 years old.

I was born in Ondo on April 29, 1962.

As my first name indicates, I am a twin, I have a twin brother. I had my primary school at Ondo and my secondary school education at Baptist Grammar School, Ibadan.

I hold a Law degree from the University of Lagos as well as Masters in International Law and Diplomacy from the same university.

I have been running my business for over 33 years now. I actually launched my company in 1988 as a freight forwarding firm in Lagos, Nigeria, after working with an uncle, under which I learnt the rudiments of the clearing and forwarding business.

From the little beginning in 1988, SIFAX Group has grown to become one of the leading indigenous corporations in Nigeria with thousands of jobs created, both direct and indirect.

We have also spread our tentacles to other African countries as well as Europe and America.

Our core business focus is integrated logistics, but over the years, we have diversified to other areas including financial services, oil and gas and hospitality.

Aside from running my business, another thing I am passionate about is societal impact.

As an organization and in my individual capacity, we support causes and individuals who are not privileged in society.

Our key intervention areas are education, health and youth and women empowerment.

We have a foundation which is devoted to implementing our beliefs in this regard.

I have also been privileged to be a recipient of national honour in Nigeria, a Member of the Order of Niger (MON) while I am also the Honorary Consul General of Djibouti in Nigeria.

I am a family man. I am married to a beautiful and supportive woman, Mrs Folashade Afolabi, and blessed with children, who are all doing well in their different endeavours.

How do you feel turning 60?

Let me start by expressing my appreciation to God Almighty who has remained my source and inspiration over the years.

He has not only kept me alive but has also granted me grace, meets all my needs, and grants me good health, peace of mind and a great family. I am indeed a grateful man as I turn 60.

I am sure some of my peers have died and so many are not as privileged as I am.

These and many more give me unending joy because of the grace.

I am probably not the smartest, but God’s grace has found me and beautified my life.

So, as I turn 60, I am grateful to God. I am happy that life has been kind to me. I am grateful for the modest impact God has accomplished through me.

I am grateful for a wonderful family and I am grateful for a greater future.

You started your career with your uncle and later left to float your own business. What was the motivation for this?

Well from a tender age, I have always been entrepreneurial in my thinking.

My mother was a trader and through her, I learnt the rudiments of trading and that passion has stayed with me ever since.

So starting my business was a natural progression for me after spending some years learning the ropes from my uncle who owned a clearing and forwarding business in Lagos.

I rose up to become the Operations Manager in the company. By this time, I was well grounded and ready to take on the next challenge.

Apart from expressing my passion, I also set up the business to take advantage of emerging opportunities and to provide a platform for others to fulfil their dreams through job and wealth creation.

Today, our companies employ about 5,000 staff and you know the implication of such a number of employees, especially the ripple effect on their immediate and extended families as well as the society.

If you also throw in the number of businesses, both large and small, that do business with our various companies, you will see how far we have come in impacting society.

Those are some of the things that motivated me to start my business then.

What are the key lessons life has taught you in the last 60 years?

There are many of them.

One is that you must be strategic in your thinking and planning in order to become outstanding.

An ordinary approach will always deliver ordinary results. If you look at the growth pattern of SIFAX Group, it is a result of well-thought-out plan.

The integrated approach has helped us.

From running a clearing and forwarding firm to starting inland container depots across Lagos to bidding and winning the concession of a port terminal to setting up a haulage business that conveys goods from these ports to the container depots, to bidding and winning concession of a ground handling company, to launching the Marriott Hotel and a financial services company.

You will see that these businesses are complementary in nature and this has given us some form of advantage over competitors.

I also need to emphasise the place of humility. Let me tell you, before God, we are all equal, whether you are rich or people.

Everybody deserves respect.

Humility will attract people to you and they can go to any length to support you if they know you are not arrogant.

I have always believed in living a simple and humble life which is scriptural because God admonishes us to live humbly and promised to elevate us.

I have also studied the lives of many successful godly people and you’d see humility in them.

I have many VIPs – ministers, successful businessmen and top government officials as associates, but I always come back to my constituency which is my old time friends and schoolmates and I cherish them greatly.

I won’t abandon them because I now have new friends. I’ve gone to several places and people doubt if I were the Dr Taiwo Afolabi they have heard so much about.

I always tell them that simplicity owns the world.

Life has also taught me the importance of friendship and relationship building.

It is a skill that is important to get ahead in life. Value friendship. I have some of my friends that have been with me for over 40 years, some since our secondary school days and we are still together today.

Obviously, the need to give back.

Most of the time, God blesses us more than what we need so we could support and care for others.

This is a lesson I learnt from a tender age and I haven’t deviated from it till today.

Your company opened Lagos Marriott Hotel about a year ago. What motivated you to launch this business?

I have been privileged to travel around the world in the course of doing business and pleasure and this has exposed me to international standards in the hospitality industry across the globe.

So the major reason for the investment in the hotel is to provide the same level of comfort, class and superior customer experience for Nigerians.

Nigerians are reputed for hard work and relaxation, and enjoyment should naturally follow after working so hard.

The hotel provides the perfect ambience to relax, refresh, connect and celebrate the achievements that follow their hard work.

In the last one year of operation, the hotel has disrupted Lagos hospitality landscape.

It has become the favourite venue for major individual and corporate events.

Aside from this, as a corporation, we always look for opportunities to impact our country.

I have this vision of creating jobs for as many Nigerians as possible.

Hundreds of eligible Nigerians are currently employed in the hotel while the indirect employment and other ancillary benefits can’t be quantified.

So, job creation is another key factor in setting up the business.

There is a need to build the next generation of entrepreneurs. What role do established business titans like you should play?

The reason many people don’t succeed in business and careers is due to a lack of mentorship.

They go into business without the guidance and support of mentors who have done successfully what they are trying to do.

Mentorship is key for young entrepreneurs in Nigeria. By the way, let me say that the future of Africa is entrepreneurship.

Young people must be encouraged and supported to pursue their dreams.

This is going to help in reducing poverty and the high rate of employment on the continent. It is the duty of successful businessmen and women across the continent to mentor and support these budding entrepreneurs.

These young entrepreneurs need to be mentored and guided so that Africa can witness true prosperity.

I have been involved in this both directly and indirectly. My company supports various platforms and initiatives that identify and nurture budding entrepreneurs.

I also have people I personally take under my wings that I support their dreams and mentor as well.

You are noted for your philanthropy. What is the philosophy behind this generous giving?

There is so much poverty in Africa and privileged individuals must be deliberate in helping the poor.

It is part of the core philosophy of my life and business.

We are not in business to make a profit alone. We believe in making an impact. We help individuals and communities as much as we can.

I can say I inherit the trait from my mother who was fond of meeting the needs of needy people around her while I was growing up.

I saw the joy and satisfaction on my mother’s face after supporting these people and I believe I unconsciously imbibe the principle of sharing from her.

Giving is one key success factor. I wish people realise that giving leads to abundance.

It has been a way of life for me and has seen its impact over the years.

When people come to me for help and I do it, I am always appreciative of the opportunity God has given me to be a blessing to others.

Giving comes with a sense of satisfaction and inner joy.

I see giving more as a divine mandate to pull people out of poverty through job creation and philanthropy.

Our company is also involved in this philanthropy and its key focus includes education, health and youth and women empowerment.

We provide support for public educational and health institutions.

We make donations to schools and hospitals.

We donated a 1,000 capacity lecture theatre to Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso.

We donated a brand new bus to the medical students association of Obafemi Awolowo University.

We have a foundation with offices in Lagos, Zaria and Umuahia that provide support to the widows and the less privileged.

Many indigent students in their hundreds enjoy full scholarships from the foundation.

Women are trained in various skills and then given grants to start their businesses. The list is too long to recall.

How do you balance your busy business schedule and family?

I am so privileged to have an understanding wife and family who believe in my vision and support me fully in the journey.

When you run a business that is as diverse as SIFAX Group, you are bound to be busy and on the road most time.

I travel often both locally and internationally and this has a way it affects family time.

But as much as I can, I create time for them. I make sure the little time we have together is judiciously used.

We also go on vacation together to maintain our bond.

My wife is very supportive and she is my number one fan. By the way, she is a prayer warrior and you don’t need to be told that I feature prominently in her prayers.

She backs me up spiritually and takes good care of the home front so I could have the presence of mind to pursue my targets.

She has also done well when you look at the way our children have turned out so well.

She understands my schedule and gladly tolerates my absence.

But she knows that I don’t take her for granted. I respect and honour her.

I create time for her even in the midst of my busy schedule.

Advice for young entrepreneurs

For the young entrepreneurs, I would say first hold on to God, and be honest and patient.

What is not enough now will eventually become a surplus for you but there are processes you need to take.

There are some factors that help in the journey of entrepreneurship. One is vision. You must have an idea of what you want to do and the impact you want to make.

Two, hard work is very important. All successful people are hard workers. Laziness hinders greatness.

Three, solve a problem and success will naturally come. Money goes in the direction of value.

Four is persistence. You must develop the courage and resilience to keep going in the face of daunting challenges because the journey is full of different ups and downs.

Don’t give up easily. If you fall, rise, take a lesson and continue your hustling.

What is your biggest challenge as a businessman?

Risk. Business is a very risky venture. Even after doing all the due diligence, things can still go bad. It remains a big challenge but no gain no pain.

When you lose, you start all over again.

I have done a business in Europe where I lost about €4million within seven months and that hasn’t stopped me from starting again or investing in another one.

Business is a risk and for those who want to make it big, you must be able to calculate your risk well and make an informed decision.

But the ability and the power to overcome after a loss lies in you.

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NIMASA deepens maritime security as 492 Deep Blue personnel graduate in tactical training.

Funso OLOJO, Port Harcourt.

The Nigeria’s maritime security received a massive boost as 492 personnel of the iconic Deep Blue project have graduated from tactical trainings received across some of the best security institutions in the world.

Unveiling the graduants in their tactical attires at the Elele military barrack, Port Harcourt, the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Administration( NIMASA), Dr Dayo Mobereola, said the occasion gave the agency a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment on its task to ensure Nigeria’s maritime domain is secured.

According to him, the 492 graduating Deep Blue personnel undergone specialized trainings conducted across several strategic training locations across the world, including Italy, Switzerland, Australia, Syria and

Nigeria.

He disclosed that the training has therefore exposed the personnel, taken from across different units of the Deep Blue project, to global best practices and international operational standards in maritime security operations.

“Today’s event is a demonstration of

operational readiness, institutional resilience and Nigeria’s determination to maintain a safe, secure and economically viable maritime environment.

“With many people are not fully aware of the level of operations and integration and technological capacity that supports these achievements.

“The Deep Blue architecture integrates two special mission aircraft equipped with advanced maritime surveillance sensors, three special mission helicopters for over-the-sea operations and surveillance, two special mission vessels for deep sea operations, eight unmanned aerial vehicles for real-time intelligence gathering, 16 fast interception boats for rapid tactical response and 15 armed coastal patrol vessels.

” The Command, Control, Communication, Computer and Intelligence Center, the C4I, serves as

the central coordination hub for military domain awareness and operational response.

“As many of you may recall, the Gulf of Guinea was once regarded as one of the most challenging military

maritime regions in the world due to incidents of piracy and robbery.

“Today, through the Deep Blue project and the collective efforts of all stakeholders, we are proud to say that Nigeria has

transformed the narrative which has resulted in zero piracy incidents since 2022.

“This has restored trust among global shipping operators, investors, and maritime stakeholders.

Mobereola expressed appreciation the Minister of Marine and Blue

Economy, Adeboyega Oyetola, for what he described as his exemplary leadership, strategic guidance, and steadfast commitment to promoting maritime security initiatives in Nigeria.

He also acknowledged the role the Minister of Defense, General

Christopher Musa and the Minister of State for Defense, Dr. Belo

Matawale for their continued support and commitment towards strengthening national security and enhancing interagency cooperation in the maritime domain.

Mobereola commended the Nigerian Navy, Air Force, Army, the Nigerian Police Force, the Department of State Services, (DSS) and all security and intelligence agencies whose professionalism and

cooperation continue to strengthen the operational success of the Deep Blue project.

Hee made special mention of Deep Blue project technical partner HLSI, Security Systems Technologies Limited, for their invaluable support, technical expertise, commitment to capacity development, and strategic partnership in the implementation and sustainability of the Deep Blue project.

NIMASA DG also congratulated the graduating personnel for successfully completing the important steps of their professional journey.

“This strength you have received comes with enormous responsibility as you are expected to uphold high standards of professionalism, discipline, integrity, and the discharge of your duties.

Tge event was by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, the Minister of Defense, General

Christopher Musa and the Minister of State for Defense, Dr. Belo

Matawale, high military personnel from Navy, Army and Sir force.

Headlines

WHO honors NFVCB over tobacco control in entertainment industry

Funso OLOJO, Editor

The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) has been honoured with the World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General’s Special Award, African Region, receiving a Certificate of Appreciation for its outstanding contributions to tobacco control advocacy and the promotion of responsible media content in Nigeria.

The NFVCB is the only institution among the five-person African Region winners unveiled as part of the activities commemorating World No Tobacco Day.

This recognition by the DG of the WHO, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, acknowledges the Board’s leadership in regulating the depiction and promotion of tobacco and nicotine products in Nigerian films, music videos, skits, and other audiovisual content, particularly those accessible to young audiences.

The WHO Director-General’s Awards are presented annually ahead of World No Tobacco Day on May 31 to honour individuals and organizations across WHO’s six regions for exceptional work in advancing the implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC).

NFVCB was recognized for its landmark 2024 regulations prohibiting the promotion, and glamourization of tobacco and nicotine products in entertainment content.

The regulations require that any necessary depiction of tobacco use in films and videos must carry health warnings, receive the highest classification rating, and be restricted to audiences aged 18 years and above.

The regulations also mandate producers to place a disclaimer and disclose any relationship with the tobacco and nicotine industry while prohibiting tobacco brand display and product placement in entertainment content.

The policy aligns with the implementation guidelines of Article 13 of the WHO FCTC on tobacco depiction in entertainment media.

With the introduction of the regulations, Nigeria became the first country in Africa and only the second globally to establish such comprehensive safeguards against the glamorization of tobacco use on screen.

Research and WHO guidance have consistently shown that the portrayal of tobacco use in entertainment media normalizes smoking behaviour and increases the likelihood of tobacco uptake among young people.

Through clear regulatory standards, the Board is helping to reduce exposure to pro-tobacco imagery while promoting socially responsible storytelling within Nigeria’s creative industry.

The recognition also aligns with the 8-Point Agenda of the Honourable Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa, aimed at strengthening policy frameworks, promoting responsible creative content, preserving cultural values, and positioning Nigeria as Africa’s creative capital by 2030.

Speaking on the recognition, the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NFVCB, Dr.Shaibu Husseini, described the award as a validation of the Board’s efforts toward promoting responsible storytelling and safeguarding public interest through effective content regulation.

“This award is a validation of the work we have done with the Nigerian creative industry to promote responsible storytelling.

“The goal has never been to censor art, but to ensure that our films do not inadvertently market products that are harmful to public health,” he stated.

Dr. Husseini reaffirmed the Board’s commitment to supporting initiatives that promote healthy societal values, protect children and vulnerable audiences, and strengthen the positive influence of Nigeria’s entertainment industry globally.

The ED also expressed appreciation to the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, filmmakers, producers, and advocacy partners, especially Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), National Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA), and Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK), for their collaboration in advancing the policy.

The Board stated that it would continue to strengthen enforcement of the regulations, expand public education and stakeholder engagement, and deepen collaboration with WHO, the WHO FCTC Secretariat, and relevant stakeholders in promoting responsible entertainment content and public health protection.

Business

Taiwo Afolabi calls on African businesses to scale up their operations for global relevance

Gloria Odion, Maritime reporter

Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, Chairman, SIFAX Group, has called on African entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders to prioritise the growth of large, sustainable corporations capable of competing globally, rather than operating fragmented and small-scale enterprises that limit the continent’s economic potential.

Speaking at the sidelines of the Africa CEO Forum held in Kigali, Rwanda, Afolabi said Africa’s economic transformation would depend significantly on the emergence of strong indigenous corporations with the scale, structure, and capacity to drive industrialisation, create jobs, attract investment, and compete internationally.

According to him, discussions at this year’s forum reinforced the urgent need for African businesses to embrace collaboration, long-term thinking, regional integration, and strategic expansion.

He said: “Africa cannot achieve its full economic potential with thousands of weak and fragmented businesses operating in silos.

“What the continent needs are strong institutions and large corporations that can survive beyond their founders, scale across borders, attract global capital, and compete with the best companies around the world.”

Afolabi noted that while entrepreneurship remains critical to Africa’s growth story, the continent must deliberately move beyond subsistence and lifestyle businesses towards building enduring enterprises with robust governance systems, innovation capacity, and continental reach.

He stressed that African governments, financial institutions, and private sector stakeholders must create enabling environments that support business scalability through improved infrastructure, access to finance, favourable regulations, and intra-African trade.

“The conversations at the Africa CEO Forum clearly showed that Africa’s future lies in integration and scale.

“The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) presents a historic opportunity for businesses to expand beyond national borders and build truly pan-African enterprises,” he added.

Afolabi noted that SIFAX Group’s long-term vision is anchored on strengthening intra-African trade and supporting the successful implementation of AfCFTA through investments in logistics, ports, transportation, and digital finance solutions across Africa.