In this post, Platinum Times Nigeria archives the life story and career achievements of Taiwo Afolabi.
Taiwo Olayinka Afolabi is a Nigerian business expert and lawyer.
He is the founder and CEO of SIFAX Group, a business firm that deals in Maritime, Aviation, Haulage, Hospitality, Financial Services and Oil and Gas.
Profile summary
Name: Taiwo Olayinka Afolabi
Date of birth: April 29th, 1962
State of origin: Ogun State, Nigeria
Education: University of Lagos
Spouse: Folashade Alabi
Religion: Christianity
Career: Lawyer, Business expert
Background
Taiwo Afolabi is a native of Idokunusi Ijebu in Ijebu East local government area of Ogun State.
He was born as the first child of a set of twins to Chief & Mrs Samson Afolabi on 29th April, 1962 in Ondo State.
He had his elementary and secondary school education at Ansar Ud Deen Primary School in Ondo State before obtaining his Senior school certificate at the Baptist Grammar School in Ibadan.
He later proceeded to the University of Lagos where he graduated with an LL.B. in Law.
Career
Taiwo began working with the Nigerian Express Agencies Limited in 1981 until 1988 when he founded SIFAX Group.
Since its inception, the company has grown to become one of Nigeria’s leading companies, investing in oil and gas, haulage, logistics, maritime, and aviation.
Some of the Group’s subsidiaries include Ports and Cargo Handling Services Limited, concessionaire and operator of the Terminal C, Tin Can Island Ports, Apapa Lagos; SIFAX Off Dock Limited, a bonded terminal operator; SIFAX Stevedoring Limited; SIFAX Oil and Gas Limited; SIFAX Haulage & Logistics Limited; SIFAX Logistics & Marine Services Limited; Skypower Aviation Handling Company Limited, an aviation ground handling company and SIFAX Shipping Limited.
The company, alongside its subsidiaries, has helped to provide employment opportunity for thousands of eligible Nigerians.
With about 30 years of rich entrepreneurial experience, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, through his hardwork, skills, resilience, vision and quest for excellence, has been recognized as the leading business mogul within and outside Nigeria.
He has attended several maritime and aviation-related trainings both locally and internationally on port operations, aviation ground handling operations and management.
He is an experienced Maritime consultant and a Fellow of the Nigeria Institute of Financial Management, and the Institute of Freight Forwarders of Nigeria and and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators of Nigeria.
Personal life
Taiwo Afolabi is a twin and a Christian who is happily married to Mrs. Folashade Afolabi and together they have children.
He is the father of Olayinka Afolabi and L.A.X, a Nigerian singer.
He is a member of the Institute of Directors Nigeria, Ikoyi Club 1938, IBB Golf Club, Abuja, the Building Committee of the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce and Industry, amongst many others.
Taiwo Afolabi is a sports lover, who enjoys watching and playing football.
The Taiwo Afolabi Annual Maritime Conference (TAAM Conference) is organized in honor of Taiwo Afolabi by students of the University of Lagos and sponsored by SIFAX Group.
Philantropy
Taiwo Afolabi has helped to improve the lives of many Nigerians by offering free medical care.
He donated a one thousand seater lecture hall to the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH).
Awards
Afolabi is a Member of the Order of the Niger since 2010.
Businessman of the Year award at The Sun Awards in 2014.
He has been conferred with various honorary doctorate degrees by four universities, including Ladoke Akintola University, Ogbomosho, Oyo state, Cornerstone University and Theological Seminary, Jerusalem, Israel and USA, European-American University, Dominica and Commonwealth University, Belize.
Net worth
With a net worth of over $2.5 Billion, Taiwo Afolabi is listed among the rich and influential people in the country.