UNIFEMGA: Babalakin Gives Tips on Overcoming Business Challenge
Arguably, he is referred to as one of most successful businessmen in Nigeria. His tentacles cut across banking, construction, aviation and he has recorded huge such successes in his endeavours that sometimes people forget that he is a lawyer and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
Although, he sees himself more as a lawyer who considers business as his hobby, those who have followed his career trajectory since he left Cambridge University 29 years ago would attest to the fact that Babalakin knew what he wanted out of life, embraced it as a young man and today, his consistency has paid off.
The Oduduwa Hall of Obafemi Awolowo University was jam-packed on Saturday May 9, when dignitaries from all walks of life converged under the same roof to tap from the fountain of knowledge, where Babalakin was a guest speaker at the OAU Muslim Graduates’ Association annual Reunion Convention and public lecture /scholarship award.
Leading dignitaries included chairman board of trustees of the association, Alhaji Rafiu Ebiti; National President, Prof. Abdul Wahab Egbewole; chairman of the occasion, and Secretary General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Prof. Is-aq Oloyede; Chief Imam of OAU Central Mosque, Prof. Abubakar Sanusi,; Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academics, OAU who represented the Vice- Chancellor, Prof. Tale Omole; Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State who was represented by Engr. Basil Lawal, Alhaji Ahmed Tunde Popoola, Alhaji Abdul Waheed Odeyimka and other dignitaries too numerous to mention.
Founded over two decades ago, apart from providing annual scholarship award for outstanding undergraduates and postgraduate students worth over N3.5 million per annum, the aims and objectives of the association are to educate, enlighten and address societal issues.
In his lecture with the theme ‘Challenges of Doing Business in Nigeria: The Muslim Options’, Babalakin said apart from lack of funds, creating an enabling by government would help Nigeria to become one of the leading 20 economies in the world.