I Don’t Believe In Extravagance – Taiwo Afolabi

April 29, 2012 by Kemi Ashefon

Today, everyone thought his 50th would have been a shindig much talked about. But Dr. Taiwo Afolabi (MON) would not have any of that.

“I just want to celebrate by thanking God for where he has brought me,” he says. Birthdays, he believes, should be a time to reflect and offer a hand of love.

“I’m just visiting the less privilege folks through my mother’s foundation-Ajoke Ayisat Afolabi Foundation. It was established three years ago and it’s an empowerment programme which serves all categories.”

One of the lucky few who don’t look their age, the Idokunusi Ijebu, Ogun State indigene (he was born in Ondo state) would heartily tell you he feels like a 35-year-old.

“I don’t feel the age and nothing has changed about me. I don’t feel different from when I was 40, in fact, I feel like I am 35,” he enthuses.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Sifax Nigeria Limited is a professional maritime logistician and has successfully run the company for over 22 years. He recalls: “I was with a shipping outfit, where I rose to become a manager in shipping operation and ports management before travelling abroad to study Shipping Management. I returned to the same company as its head of operations some years later.

“But from when I was in the secondary school (Baptist Grammar School, Eleyele, Ibadan) I have always loved to do business on my own and have money to spend. Then, as a boy, I went with my friends to some vendors, who gave us some newspapers to sell and when we returned in the evening, they gave us some money. I have always had a passion for business.”

So, it didn’t come as a surprise when he left the shipping company he worked with and established Sifax.

He says, “The firm is basically into ports, shipping and bonded terminal operations and in Tema Ghana, Durban, Houston USA, Rotterdam Belgium and London. We are also in Djibouti and Malabo, and Equatorial Guinea. We diverted into the aviation sector and took over the prestigious Skypower Aviation Handling Company Ltd. through its subsidiary, Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited.”

Also a lawyer, he reveals his love for privacy and prefers being behind the scene. “I have a quiet lifestyle,” he explains.

“I don’t want people to see me prominently. I always like to be in my shell keeping to myself, I don’t go out the way others do. I don’t like going to parties, it’s a lifestyle, which I have chosen and I am conscious of. I believe if you are a businessman, it’s not right to be more popular than your company. Many people know my company, Sifax but they don’t know me because I don’t believe in showing myself. I believe that only empty barrels make the loudest noise.”

Afolabi’s youthful look at 50 is amazing. “It’s a grace from God and I am conscious of how I relate with the opposite sex. You need to be disciplined and that way, you retain your youthfulness. What more? I exercise a lot, I wake at 6a.m, jog, and I go to the gym to do some tummy exercise. I also don’t eat late, although I work late. I don’t drink, but occasionally, when I go to parties, I take wine or champagne.”

Married to a woman he describes as “loving, submissive, and respectful,” he admits his family life, would not have been a success if she was not in his life.

“This attitude reflects in the life of my children,” he confesses. “I saw that in her and decided marrying. I remember she was working where I went for business and I decidedly liked her. Though I didn’t approach her initially, I got engrossed with my job, only to go back to her after three months. I travel alot and she has helped with the home front, I thank God for that aspect of my life.”

Afolabi says every year draws him closer to God because, “everything I am today is from Him. My life is in God’s hands and wherever I find myself is not by my power or by might. I am always thankful to God.”

The Sifax boss boasts many awards among which are the Maritime Quality Service Award (MQSA), the ECOWAS International Gold Award, and he was appointed the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Djibouti with jurisdiction over the whole territory of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and full power and authority of His Excellency, Ismail Omah Guelleh, President of the Republic of Djibouti.

Of these, he says, “I have always loved to make an impact in lives and I live for that cause. If you ask me what my achievements are, I would tell you that it’s the lives I have impacted and not my chain of businesses. I say humorously that with what I’ve done for humanity, if good health and youthful looks are the good things God will give me, then I’m satisfied.”

Quite fashionable, Afolabi states that he is not extravagant. “I don’t really believe in extravagance, although there are some certain basic materials that one must have.”

With white as his favourite colour, he also loves suits. “I have a designer who makes them but off the rack, I do a lot of Hugo Boss and Billionaire suits.

I like Billionaire shirts too, not because of the name but they are very well made, and well detailed. I have many of them, they are trendy and they look good on me,” he says.