Boss Of The Week

Wale Babalakin: Colossus Redefining Jurisprudence, Hospitality

Published

2 years ago

August 12, 2023

Eric

By Tayo Oyediji

Billionaire Businessman, Wale Babalakin SAN, has scored many points, and without a doubt, ranks high among individuals who are accomplished in the legal, hospitality and construction sectors of the Nigerian economy.

In giving back to the society, he is known to have written his name in gold as his philanthropic gesture has proven to be without limits. In all his endeavours that cover legal duties and entrepreneurship, Wale Babalakin has been able to distinguish himself and proudly belongs to the class of the best.

One of his major business feats is the recent grand commissioning of the new Premium Departure Concierge by his company, Bi-Courtney Services Limited at the Murtala Mohammed Airport 2, Lagos.

The new lounge is part of Bi-Courtney Services Limited’s effort to redefine the experience of high networth individuals traveling through the facility. This milestone represents the unwavering commitment to providing unparalleled services and an unforgettable experience to the distinguished business class passengers and top-rate individuals who are on executive charter flights.

Wale Babalakin has proved beyond reasonable doubt that success is in his DNA. In the first place, he is an accomplished lawyer. Secondly, he is a successful businessman, who plays big in the hospitality and construction sector. And again, he is a big supporter of his Islamic faith. A worthy old student of the great school, Government College, Ibadan (GCI).

Dr. Wale Babalakin is the Chairman of Bi-Courtney Group of Companies. He is also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), as well as a recipient of the Nigerian National Honour of Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR), which was bestowed on him in 2007.

A chip of the old block, Babalakin is the illustrious son of the highly respected and distinguished jurist, late Justice Bola Babalakin, a former Justice of the Supreme Court. He is the founder of one of the most prestigious law firms in the country, Wale Babalakin and Co., where he retains the Principal Partner position. He might be a lawyer by training, but he is well known for his exploits as the brain behind some of the most popular construction firms in the country; Bi-Courtney Limited, Stabilini Visinoni Limited and Resort International Limited.

Wale Babalakin has an impressive list of business interests and achievements. After recording major successes in the development of real estate, including the proprietorship of a few high rise buildings in Abuja and Lagos, he, through his Company, Bi-Courtney Limited, applied for the concession of the Lagos Domestic Airport, the Murtala Mohammed Airport 2, after the airport was razed by fire. Nobody gave the project a chance as it was considered too cumbersome for the capacity of a private company. But he delivered. That’s the mettle he is made of.

In a country with an acknowledged huge infrastructure deficit, the company is a frontline player in Infrastructure Development and Maintenance, with a record of delivering the first major Private-Public Partnership (PPP) financed infrastructure in the Aviation Industry.

Within three years of the concession agreement however, and in the face of serious hostility and inconsistency on the part of the government, Bi-Courtney Limited completed the new domestic airport now famously known as MMA2, which has been variously described as the best airport in Nigeria today and definitely the first airport terminal to be built in Africa with private funds. It is acclaimed the most modern, functional and well-run domestic airport terminal in the sub-Sahara Africa.

Bi-Courtney was also the first company to win a concession agreement for the reconstruction and modernisation of Nigeria’s busiest and most important highway, the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, under a Design, Build, Operate and Transfer (DBOT) agreement.

Babalakin also runs other numerous subsidiaries including Stabilini Visinoni Limited, Homan Engineering Limited, Bi-Courtney Highway Services Limited, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited, Resort International Limited, Amalgamated Estates Limited and many others is run by Dr. Babalakin

One of his subsidiaries, Resort International Limited, is a hospitality and leisure company that is currently engaged in converting the former Federal Secretariat, Ikoyi in Lagos to luxury blocks of flats, and also the development of a 300- bed hotel at MMA2. Significantly, Babalakin’s Bi-Courtney Highways Limited won the bid for the reconstruction of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway before the Federal Government revoked the pact in November 2012.

Born in Ibadan over 60 years ago to the family of Justice Bolarinwa Oyegoke Babalakin (retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria) of Gbongan, Osun State and the late Mrs. Ramotu Ibironke Babalakin (who was a UK trained nurse and ran a very successful, but philanthropic medical home in Ibadan, where she was fondly referred to by all as ‘’Iya Alanu’’ interpreted as the merciful woman).

Babalakin started as a young man with great intellect and potentials. His jurist father was the one who instilled discipline into him early in life and brought out the best in him. He eventually turned out an excellent young man from Government College Ibadan, had his A ’Levels at the Polytechnic Ibadan, and ended up at the University of Lagos, where he graduated top of his class in 1981.

He was subsequently called to the Nigerian Bar in 1982, and immediately proceeded to Corpus Christi College at the University of Cambridge for his LL.M and PhD as a Commonwealth Scholar. He completed his PhD in record time of three years. Babalakin inherited his intellectual prowess from his father, who himself had a double promotion twice at Oduduwa College, Ile-Ife, where he spent only four years for his secondary school education instead of six. Not surprising though, Babalakin has passed the same gene to his own children, who all graduated 1st Class/Summa Cum Laude from Ivy League Schools like University College London, University of Pennsylvania and Harvard. In equal measure or perhaps more, he inherited philanthropic nature from his mother. A true son of his father, he has ventured into diverse businesses and excelled in all.

Dr Babalakin started his legal career at chambers of the legendary Chief Frederick Rotimi Alade Williams, QC, SAN where he learnt directly at the feet of the late legal luminary and around the famous Black Table. Within a few years, Dr. Wale Babalakin set up his law firm, Babalakin & Co. which continues to wax strong over the last three decades as a foremost specialized multi-practice firm in Nigeria. Babalakin reached the top echelon of the legal profession and was preferred with the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in the year 2002. He has through Babalakin and Co., produced other SANs and legal icons in the persons of Messrs. Olawale Akoni, Chuka Agbu, Ms. Funke Aboyade, Mr. Tola Oshobi among others.

He is one of the very few senior lawyers in Nigeria who are seriously committed to building enduring institutions of legal practice.

Though it has not all been a bed of roses for the prolific entrepreneur, but he has exemplified the proverbial cat with nine lives in all facets. He has severally been taken through the fiery furnace but like gold, came out brighter, never bowed to pressure.

When he was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1982. That same year (1982), Wale Babalakin was one of only three Africans admitted into Corpus Christi College at Cambridge University for the pioneer Master of Laws Degree. Although his academic programme was sponsored by his father, he applied for the Commonwealth Scholarship. Wale Babalakin was awarded the LLM degree in 1983 and proceeded immediately with his doctoral programme. He received his PhD in 1986 on the eve of his 26th birthday.

Returning to Nigeria in 1986, Dr. Babalakin joined the firm of his mentor, Chief Frederick Rotimi Williams, where he worked for one year. He established his own firm, Babalakin and Co. Apart from being a practitioner, he is also involved in the publishing of Law Reports. In 2009, the owners of Nigeria’s first privately published Law Report, Optimum Law Publishers, which commenced in 1964, assigned their rights and interest in the Law Report to Babalakin & Co.

In 2005, Dr. Wale Babalakin was appointed by the then President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, as a member of the National Political Reforms Conference where he served on the Legal Reforms Committee. He also served as the Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Sub Committee which was ultimately responsible for the drafting of the constitution. He was the Vice-Chairman of the Committee for the review of the Evidence Act. He also had the unique opportunity of serving as the Chairman of two committees of the Nigerian Bar Association, namely the Real Estate and Construction Law Committee of the Section on Business Law and the Government Practice Committee of the Section on Legal Practice. He was appointed alongside Alhaji Rilwanu Lukman as Honorary Advisers to the government of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

He has served as: Pro-Chancellor and the Chairman of Council of the University of Maiduguri between 2009 and 2013. Chairman of the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of Federal Universities in Nigeria. Chairman of the Implementation Monitoring Committee of the Agreements entered into between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the various unions of the Nigerian Universities namely the Academic Staff Union of Universities in Nigeria (ASUU), SSANU, NAAT and NASU. Chairman of the Federal Government Committee to Re-negotiate the 2009 Agreement between Federal Government and the University Unions. Current Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council of the University of Lagos.

He is heavily into philanthropy. He donated an 80-bed hostel to the University of Ilorin in the name of his father, the Hon. Mr. Justice Bolarinwa Oyegoke Babalakin. He also donated an 80-bed hostel in Ibogun, Ogun State, and a 500-seater auditorium to the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic in memory of his mother, Mrs. Ramotu Ibironke Babalakin. He also sponsored the treatment of 1000 patients with various eye diseases in Aye Daade Local Government and another 4000 in Owo Local Government under the foundation set up in memory of his late mother. He has an elaborate scholarship scheme in and out of Nigeria with over 200 students in Nigeria and over 40 students abroad.

Dr. Babalakin is happily married to his best friend, Olugbolahan, a lawyer and the daughter of the Honourable Mr. Justice and Mrs. Y.A.O. Jinadu, and both are blessed with very lovely children.

Boss Of The Week

Olufemi Oladipo Adelowo: Fresh Honours for West Africa’s First Rheumatologist

Published

6 days ago

April 7, 2025

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

In recognition of his efforts, and desire to continue to affect humanity, and leave a lasting impact, West Africa’s first Rheumatologist, Dr. Olufemi Oladipo Adelowo, has once again been honoured with yet another feather on his cap of accomplishments.

Prof Adelowo’s latest feat is his emergence as the winner of the Hall of Labour Foundation (HLF) Role Model Award, an award dedicated to professionals, whose impact in perpetrating their craft has rubbed off on humanity on a positive basis.

According to the organizers, in a letter signed by its Executive Secretary, Patricia Otuedon-Arawore, Prof Adelowo’s award is predicated on his established track of outstanding contributions in the field of medicine.

The letter further noted that “this has set him apart as a great Nigerian role model”.

Adelowo will be crowned with his honours at the 28th anniversary celebration of the Foundation scheduled for May 28, 2025 at the Oriental Hotel, in Victoria Island, Lagos.

The medical expert is not new to awards and honours, however, as he has constantly amassed recognition every step of the as a result of his timeless researches, innovations and discoveries.

It would be recalled that not too long ago, The Ogbomoso Pivotal Club, a group of astute professionals, academics and entrepreneurs, celebrated the first Rheumatologist in West Africa, in addition to calling on the Federal Government to recognise Prof. Adelowo with National Honour for making the country proud.

Prof. Adelowo was recognised for his exceptional contributions to the field of Rheumatology with the prestigious APLAR Master Award, conferred by the Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology (APLAR), making him the first African to be so bestowed.

A distinguished Ogbomoso-born scholar, Adelowo received the award fro APLAR in recognition of his remarkable contributions to rheumatology, particularly in teaching, research, and professional service within the APLAR region.

Adelowo is a medical expert of repute, described as a Professor of Medicine, Consultant Physician, and Rheumatologist. He has held numerous academic and leadership roles both locally and internationally.

He served as the President of the African League of Associations for Rheumatology (AFLAR) from 2014 to 2019 and as chairman of the Executive Committee of the International League of Associations for Rheumatology (ILAR) from 2015 to 2016.

Throughout his career, Prof. Adelowo has made a significant impact in Nigeria and beyond, establishing rheumatology clinics at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), and University of Lagos Teaching Hospital (LUTH). He has supervised over 30 FMCP and FWACP dissertations and trained more than 55 rheumatologists in Nigeria, three of whom are now Professors. Additionally, over 25 of his trainees are consultant rheumatologists in Nigerian teaching and specialist hospitals, while 15 others practise in the USA, Canada, the UK, and Kenya.

The Ogbomoso Pivotal Club, had also at a special event in Lagos, honour and presented Prof Adelowo with a special award in recognition of his achievements and as an inspiration for younger generations to follow in his footsteps.

Describing the Professor at the event, President of the Club, Joel Owoade, said Adelowo was an exemplary leader whose dedication, commitment, and hard work have made him a model for others.

“Professor Adelowo is a shining light, and we are proud to be associated with him. We will continue to celebrate him and others who are making Ogbomoso and Nigeria proud in their careers and service to both the nation and the international community,” Owoade said.

Adelowo’s career path is captured as follows:

Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, University Ibadan, Nigeria, 1973

FMCP, Nigerian Postgrad. Medical College, 1982

Fellowship of the West African College of Physicians, W. African Postgrad. Medical Coll, 1993

Senior house officer UCH, Idaban, Nigeria, 1975-1978, senior registrar Nigeria, 1979-1982

Honorary registrar St. Bartholomew Hospital, London, 1980-1982

Senior lecturer, consultant physician U.I.T.H., Nigeria, 1983-1985

Medical director Adeola Specialist Hospital, Nigeria, 1985-1992

Professor medicine, consultant Ogun State University, Nigeria, since 1992

Chairman Post Graduate Medical College Board of Rheumatology

Examiner Nigerian Post Graduate Medical College, West African College of Physicians.

Prof Adelowo is presently a Consultant with the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital and Arthrimed Specialist Clinic, Ikeja, and he qualifies by scholarship to be addressed as follows: MD, FMCP, FWACP FRCP Edin FRCP (Lond) FAMedS MACR MAPLAR.

The Prof specialises in many foelds of medicine including Rheumatology Osteoarthritis, Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Scleroderma, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, and Autoimmune Disease. He also has 115 Publications, 21,100 RReads as well as 2,144 Citations.

Apart from being a renowned professional, he is also a distinguished family man, and is blessed with children.

Boss Of The Week

Eric Gumbo: The Excellent, Gutsy African Administrator

Published

3 weeks ago

March 22, 2025

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

African originality is not in contest. It is evidenced in the prodigious achievements of the rank and file of citizens, who on a daily basis continue to churn out one great after another. Among the list of prolific achievers of Africa is the undisputable Eric Onyango Gumbo; a true African son of Kenyan origin.

Masterful, focused, determined and an all round goal-getter, Gumbo is a legal egghead, who is an Advocate of the Court of Kenya, with over 20 years of legal and advisory experience across Africa, in addition to being an entrepreneurial genius, whose chain of businesses and endeavours speak volume of the mettle he is made of.

Armed with a Bachelor’s degree in Law from Moi University, and a Post graduate Diploma in Law fro the Kenyan School of Law, Gumbo has added a lot of feathers to his cap of merit, including the Commissioner for Oaths, Notary Public and being a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. He is one man, who knows his onions in the legal profession, and has used his skills to project the Kenyan justice system as well as project the African continent in the positive legal limelight.

Gumbo is the Managing Partner of G & A (Gumbo and Associates) Advocates LLP, which he founded in 2006, and later established as a Limited Liability Partnership, G&A Advocates LLP, in 2017. And as a visionary leader, he was to expand the firm further to operate in both Nairobi and Eldoret with solid partnerships and collaboration with other leading law firms across Africa.

Beyond his qualification in the normative training of Law, Eric Gumbo has over the years, also enhanced and focused his practice of law in Dispute Resolution and Commercial Law. Towards deepening his training and experience within the two areas of practice, he has also undertaken and completed programs on Financial Markets from Yale University, Arbitration from the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Kenya Branch) and Fintech Law and Policy from Duke University. He is currently undertaking a course in Green Business strategy from the Hongkong University of Science and Technology.

Gumbo is not the regular run-off-the-mill Advocate. In his career of over two decades, as an Advocate, he has successfully handled numerous highly sensitive matters according to the G and A website. Some of these include as copiously re-presented:

As part of the team selected to advise and represent Kenya’s elections management body in all the three (3) Presidential Election Petitions filed in in the Supreme Court of Kenya. Acted as legal counsel for one of the state corporations in relation to a claim presented against the state corporation by a downstream affiliate of one of the multinational oil and gas companies where the value of the subject matter was in excess of US$ 45 Million.
Advised and represented a leading electric power producer in a ground breaking transaction between it and the Government of Djibouti for drilling of three geothermal wells in Djibouti.
Provided legal advisory and contracting support to a transport-sector state corporation which involved reviewing and drafting of commercial agreements, and negotiating of diverse aspects with various contracting parties in relation to one of the countryâ€™s flagship infrastructure projects.
In the Public Private Partnership space, Gumbo is currently part of a team that is advising and representing one of the energy sector state corporations in relation to a claim filed before the Public-Private Partnership Petitions Committee in relation to a project valued in excess of US$ 320 Million.
Gumbo also continues to act for diverse entities entrusted with the carrying out of various regulatory and independent constitutional mandates in sectors such as health, energy, telecommunication, education, trade, aviation, procurement, environment and natural resources, capital markets and financial services.

Gumbo is involved in numerous other activities beyond engaging in the actual practice of law.

In the first place, he currently serves as a Non-Executive Chairperson of the Legal Aid Centre for Eldoret (LACE), and also a Council Member representing the Law Society of Kenya in the Council for Legal Education (C.L.E). This is not excluding the fact that he is also a Board Member of the Kenya Re-Insurance Company Limited (Kenya Re), a public listed company.

Larger than life itself, Gumbo’s profile keeps expanding with mouthwatering appointments, requiring zeal, experience, gusto and can-do-attitude. Recently, he was appointed by His Excellency the President of Kenya, Willam Ruto, to serve as a member of the panel mandated to recruit the Auditor General for the Republic of Kenya, and has affiliations that enhance his proclivity to meritorious practice of law. Such affiliations include memberships of the Law Society of Kenya, the East Africa Law Society, Chartered Institute of Administrators and the Legal Aid Centre of Eldoret.

A seasoned legal counsel with over 20 years of experience across Africa, Gumbo has built a strong reputation in the legal industry, specializing in financial services, regulatory matters, advisory roles, commercial transactions, and dispute resolution. He is highly sought after as a consultant, and provides advisory services to both private and public sectors on high-stakes transactions and regulatory frameworks in banking, infrastructure development, energy, and ICT.

His website also described him as “A seasoned public speaker and thought leader, he actively contributes to legal reforms and policy discussions, particularly in financial engineering, electoral law, and governance,” and “has successfully led legal teams in significant sovereign finance transactions and complex cross-border projects, showcasing his expertise and commitment to advancing the legal landscape in Africa.”

Beyond consulting for the Kenyan government, Gumbo has proved his trans-border billing by offering generous consultations to the governments of Somaliland and Tanzania as well as corporate entities such as Rasmala Trade Finance Fund, Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa and Ardmore Capital Management LLC among others.

In addition to his many endeavours, which include advocacy and consultancy among others, Gumbo find time to engage in speaking Engagements as captured below:

● Presented a seminal paper on the recent developments in electoral law in Kenya to the Faculty of law Mount Kenya University of Kenya on 31st January, 2024.
● Presented a paper on the art of persuasion and legal drafting in a symposium organized by the Law Society of Kenya for advocates in private practice on the 9th June, 2023.
● Presented a paper on trial advocacy in a seminar for advocates in dispute resolution practice in Kenya on the 15th September, 2023.
● Presented a paper on employment law and practice in commercial banking institutions on the 29th November,2023.

Married with an enviable family of adorable children, Gumbo is a great sports enthusiast, with special bias to golf, which he plays voraciously. Golf, to him, is the next big time.

Africa needs Africans. African needs prolific Africans. Africa needs Eric Onyango Gumbo!

Boss Of The Week

Oba Clement Adesuyi Haastrup: A Disciplined King on a Mission

Published

4 weeks ago

March 16, 2025

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

Beyond ancestral qualification, the newly crowned Owa Obokun of Ijeshaland, the 49th in the series, Oba Clement Adesuyi Haastrup, is a man of many parts; focused, capable, disciplined, fulfilled and down to earth. He is typically the product of what patience can produce, as his emergence was via the efforts of respected kingmakers of Ìjẹ̀ṣàland with a seal of approval by the State Governor, Ademola Adeleke. The process of emergence was grounded in the deep rooted traditions and values of the Yoruba culture.

Named as the paramount ruler in December, 2024, and crown substantive royal father on January 5, 2025, the former Deputy Governor of Osun State, has proved to be a good choice, bringing to bear his years of entrepreneurship and political sagacity to bring development and all round growth to his kingdom.

Addressed as His Imperial Majesty, Oba Looja Clement Adesuyi Haastrup, Owa Ajimoko III, the Owa Obokun Adimula and Paramount Ruler of Ìjẹ̀ṣàland, the oba launches into leadership with a combined flair of experience, vision, and dedication to service, which has steadily elevated the kingdom within a short period.

The Oba, by every standard, is not a run-of-the-mill monarch, he well trained and ground in not a few sectors of human endeavours. Not only was a former number two man of his state, he is a distinguished entrepreneur, and founder of ENL Consortium, one of the leading terminal operators in Nigeria, which under his stewardship, the company played crucial roles in the nation’s trade and logistics renewal. Beyond these, Haastrup is also a trained Pharmacist.

The new oba, who is celebrated for his academic excellence and dynamic leadership, replaced Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran II, who passed on recently.

With a legacy of public service, entrepreneurial success, and philanthropic dedication, Oba Haastrup’s enthronement heralds a new era for Ijesaland. As the Owa Obokun, his vision and leadership promise to transform Ijesaland into a beacon of unity, innovation, and prosperity. The people of Ijesaland eagerly anticipate the dawn of a brighter future under his reign.

Oba Haastrup’s reign is poised to deliver unity, prosperity, and a thriving future for the kingdom, ensuring that Ijeshaland remains a beacon of cultural heritage and progress in Nigeria and beyond.

The Dawn Commission, on its website, captures the trajectory of the disciplined oba as follows:

Prince Clement Adesuyi Haastrup was born on September 19, 1948, into the illustrious Ajimoko royal family of Ijesaland in Osun State, Nigeria. His upbringing was steeped in the values of service, discipline, and leadership that are hallmarks of his royal lineage. From an early age, he exhibited the qualities of a visionary, a trait further nurtured by his family’s deep cultural heritage and Christian faith.

Oba Haastrup’s academic journey laid the groundwork for his remarkable career. He attended Eko Boys’ High School in Lagos from 1963 to 1967, where he demonstrated an exceptional commitment to learning and leadership. He furthered his education at the Federal School of Science and later pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy at Howard University in Washington, D.C., graduating in 1974. Determined to expand his horizons, he spent several years in the United States, where he not only gained academic knowledge but also developed a global perspective and the discipline required for success.

Returning to Nigeria in 1981, Prince Haastrup immersed himself in public service. His political career gained prominence in 1990, when he was elected as the Deputy Governor of Osun State, serving under Governor Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke during the Third Republic.

In his capacity as Deputy Governor, Oba Haastrup championed significant reforms and spearheaded key initiatives that enhanced governance and public administration. His tenure saw him secure impactful public-private partnerships with federal agencies such as the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), and the Federal Housing Authority (FHA). These achievements solidified his reputation as a pragmatic and results-oriented leader, earning him widespread admiration and paving the way for his transition into the private sector.

After leaving public office in 1992, Prince Haastrup turned his attention to the business world, where he continued to make significant contributions to Nigeria’s economic development. In 2002, he founded ENL Consortium Limited, initially focusing on utility management. Recognizing opportunities in Nigeria’s maritime sector, he expanded ENL’s operations to include port management and infrastructure development.

In 2006, ENL Consortium, under his visionary leadership, secured the concession for Terminals C and D at the Apapa Port Complex in Lagos. These terminals, which handle both general and containerized cargoes, have set benchmarks for efficiency in port operations.

The company’s innovative approach included:

Extensive rehabilitation of port infrastructure
Deployment of cutting-edge equipment
Introduction of labor reforms, which improved productivity and industrial harmony

Today, ENL Consortium operates one of the largest seaport facilities in West Africa, with 11 berths capable of handling between 9.7 and 11 meters of draft. The company has diversified into power generation, estate development, and hospitality, contributing to job creation and industrial growth in Nigeria.

Prince Haastrup’s contributions have earned him recognition as one of Nigeria’s foremost maritime magnates. His leadership in transforming port operations and enhancing transparency has positioned Nigerian ports as competitive global players. His efforts have not only improved Nigeria’s standing in the maritime industry but also generated significant revenue and fostered economic growth.

Through the Clement Adesuyi Haastrup Foundation (CAH Foundation), Oba Haastrup has impacted lives by awarding scholarships to over 500 students, enabling them to access higher education locally and internationally. His philanthropic initiatives extend to feeding the hungry and empowering the underprivileged, solidifying his reputation as a compassionate and community-orientated leader.

Oba Clement Adesuyi Haastrup emerged as the Owa Obokun of Ijeshaland following a meticulous selection process by the kingdom’s esteemed kingmakers. His selection was officially approved by Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State on December 27, 2024, after the passing of Oba Adekunle Aromolaran II on September 11, 2023.

The coronation ceremony, a grand and historic event graced by dignitaries from across Nigeria and beyond, included the presentation of the Staff of Office and Instrument of Appointment. This event marked the official commencement of his reign, accompanied by traditional rites, festivities, and cultural displays that highlighted the rich heritage of Ijesaland.

Oba Haastrup’s enthronement is a powerful blend of tradition and modernity. Building on the legacy of Oba Aromolaran II, who was renowned as the first Nigerian monarch to hold a Ph.D., Oba Haastrup brings a global perspective shaped by his illustrious career in governance and business. His leadership is underpinned by a vision to bring unity, prosperity, and innovation to Ijesaland.

Oba Haastrup’s reign is poised to usher in transformative change across the kingdom. Guided by decades of experience in governance and business, his priorities include:

Agricultural Modernization: Promoting mechanized farming to enhance food production and create jobs.
Infrastructure Development: Collaborating with stakeholders to improve roads, healthcare facilities, and schools.
Economic Empowerment: Encouraging investment and entrepreneurship to drive local economic growth.
Social Harmony: Fostering unity and resolving communal disputes to strengthen bonds within the community.

Oba Haastrup is married to Olori Vicky Haastrup, the Chairperson of the Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN). The oba and his olori are blessed with wonderful children.