Dr. Taiwo Olayinka Afolabi
Dr. Taiwo Olayinka Afolabi is a lawyer and the Chief Executive Officer of SIFAX Group, a multinational with diverse business interests and investments in Maritime, Aviation, Oil & Gas, Haulage & Logistics, Financial Services and Hospitality.
Dr. Afolabi started his professional career with a shipping company, Nigerian Express Agencies Limited, where he rose to become the Head of Operations before establishing SIFAX in 1988.
The company, which started as a freight forwarding agency in Lagos, Nigeria, has today grown into a multinational operating across the world with presence in the United States, United Kingdom, Ghana, South Africa, Holland, Belgium, Morocco, Spain and Djibouti, among others.
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With over thirty years of entrepreneurial experience, Dr. Afolabi’s organizational and business strength and business ingenuity have remained an invaluable assets to SIFAX Group, making it a major player in the Nigerian economy, and generating both direct and indirect employment for thousands of eligible Nigerians.
Dr. Afolabi completed a bachelor’s degree in Law from the University of Lagos and a master’s degree in International Law and Diplomacy from the same university.
A seasoned maritime consultant, Dr. Afolabi is a Fellow of many professional bodies including the Nigerian Institute of Financial Management (NIFM), Institute of Freight Forwarders of Nigeria (IFFN) and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators of Nigeria. He has attended several maritime and aviation-related trainings both locally and internationally on port operations, aviation ground handling operations and management.
As a result of his experience, Dr. Afolabi is a sought-after speaker and facilitator at various industry conferences and mentoring programmes.
Dr. Afolabi is also a philanthropist whose philanthropy has provided hope and support to many public causes, with focus on education. Many schools have received immense support and assistance including a 1,000 capacity lecture theatre at Ladoke Akintola University, Ogbomosho and an 18-seater Toyota Hiace bus donated to the medical students association of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State.
Dr. Afolabi 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. He is also a recipient of numerous awards from diverse organizations including the 2014 Business Person of the Year by Daily Sun. The Federal Government of Nigeria also honoured him with the Member of the Order of Niger (MON) in 2010.
Dr. Afolabi is a member of the Institute of Directors Nigeria; Ikoyi Club 1938; IBB Golf Club, Abuja and the Building Committee of the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce and Industry.