Babawande Afolabi
Babawande Afolabi is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Green Africa Airways Limited, a Nigerian startup airline founded in 2015 and based in Lagos. The value carrier recently took delivery of its first aircraft, an ATR 72-600, at its base in Lagos State, with the second and third aircraft expected to follow soon.
As it edges closer to flying, Babawande Afolabi revealed its first routes which include flying from Lagos to the Nigerian cities of Akure, Ilorin, Abuja, Enugu, Owerri and Port Harcourt. However, the value carrier plans to add more destinations as the airline scales up its operations.
Before Green Africa Airways, Afolabi worked in the finance and airline sectors, with experience spanning investment banking for financial institutions and emerging market clients at Morgan Stanley, as well as a corporate strategy at American Airlines.
Afolabi completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and Economics from Illinois Wesleyan University in 2010 and holds a Master of Business Administration from Stanford Graduate School of Business (2014).
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Afolabi started his vision for Green Africa Airways in 2013. So far, the airline has received its air transport license from the Nigerian Government, with the air operator’s certificate in the pipeline. He also received funding from New York-based Kuramo Capital, an African-focused investment outfit with a presence in Nigeria and Kenya.
Afolabi’s Green Africa is anchored by a successful group of senior industry leaders led by Tom Horton, the former Chairman and CEO of American Airlines, Wale Adeosun, Founder and CEO of Kuramo Capital, William Shaw, CEO of InterJet, Virasb Vahidi, former CCO of American Airlines and Gbenga Oyebode, Founder and Chairman of Aluko and Oyebode.
Apart from Green Africa, Babawande Afolabi founded Future 100 in 2017, a community-focused initiative and Green White Group LLC in 2013. He also served as Summer Associate at American Airlines and Analyst at Morgan Stanley.