Business
SPIDS LOGISTICS BOSS, AYO AKINRINSOLA RECOUNTS GRASS TO GRACE STORY +Why He Is Eyeing Ondo Governorship Seat
The grass to grace story of SPIDS LOGISTICS LIMITED boss, Ayo Akinrinsola is not only inspiring, it is also must read for those who want to build their business from the scratch. Having graduated from The Obafemi Awolowo University his search for jobs without success led him to start a Logistics firm on a small scale and today the business has grown beyond his expectation. He also stated why he will be contesting for Ondo state governorship in the next election in this interview
Why did you decided to set up a business after school and not search for jobs?
Of course i do searched for jobs after i graduated from the Obafemi Awolowo University but the jobs are not coming forth. The expectation was that i get a job,but i realised it was not easy as i thought it would be, after my NYSC I came to Lagos and did some job tests but at the end I was not shortlisted for the job I applied. I have a friend who was into Logistics, I joined his team instead of staying at home on a voluntary basis. With that I learnt the rudiments of the business, I also did teaching job because I don’t like to stay idle, at that time I got a scholarship for a Post Graduate course in Netherlands, after the course I came back to Nigeria and I decided to leverage on my experience on the business to start immediately, I reached out to my contacts and thats it. Fortunately for me I got a contract from a Telecommunication company, they needed a warehouse which i got for them, that was my first job and from there we were expanding gradually.
What would you say is working for you in this kind of business this far?
The grace of God has kept us going, Apart from that you must be a very good resource manager to succeed on this job, accountability also matters, transparency and discipline. Another thing that has sustained us is the good name, I have a name to protect, you can give me your job and go to sleep. We have got referrals from big organisations, multinationals, it is because we have integrity. I don’t also joke with staffs welfarism their salary is very important because they too have to make a living.
Could you please define the exact nature of the task at Spids Logistics?
We are into warehousing management, supply chain management we do warehouse sourcing and management, we do customize warehousing, distribution of goods and services. We source for warehouse for multinationals and big organisations, we help them keep their goods and also help distribute to the end users
Does one need a lot of money to set up a business like this?
You don’t need a lot of money to set up business like this, I started by understudying somebody who was also into the business, in the process i met so many people who took interest in me. The most important thing is if you meet people who believe in what you can do, you don’t need huge capital to start the business, the business is all about trust and integrity
You studied Accounting in the University, how much of that would you say has helped you in this business?
It has in a way, I studied Accounting at Obafemi Awolowo University, I did Financial Management in Netherlands, I did other course that is related to management.Yes my educational experience has helped and is still helping me in the business especially in the area of cost management. But it is not always what you study in school that come to play outside there, it is all about what you can do, the people you relate with and your perception. Because of competition I sleep less, I am always looking for new ideas that can give us the edge over others.
How would you describe life as the CEO?
It is quite challenging, when you have a lot to think about, the business, staff welfarism, family, the growth of the business matters to you more. It is not all work and no plays, I play golf for relaxation, nobody is perfect but i try as much as possible to strike a balance between my work and family.
How would you describe your lifestyle?
I live a simple lifestyle, i don’t drink alcohol,i don’t smoke and i don’t womanize. During my leisure time i like to dance, i play indoor games like Basketball, Scrabble, Chess. I love gadgets, cars but i only buy them when i think it is necessary.
Give us a brief about your immediate family?
I got married in 2005, to the glory of God we are blessed with three children
Why the sudden interest in politics?
I have being following politics since the days of SDP and NRC in the early 90s, I remember when i clocked 18 i was excited that i would be able to vote. I am from Ile Oluji in Ondo state, i was born with a silver spoon but I wasn’t trained with a silver spoon, i am from a Polygamous family. I joined Politics because i want to impact in the lives of my people especially in Ondo state, that state is blessed with natural resources that if well managed will create job opportunities for the youths in that state. People will not run to Lagos to seek for job again, this is the time to make impact. I admire people like Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, he is the Architect of a new Lagos that is why people like me can succeed in this environment. I am a supporter of well organised Political Party, APC as a party understand the plight of the common man.
So why do you want to contest for the Governorship and not from a lower profile?
This is the time that i still have the energy, i want to manage the endowment of the state, i want to bring my experience as a resource management to bear in the governance of Ondo state. In Ondo state we have oil, bitumen and others, we need accountability in governance of the state, who says we cant have sea port in Ondo state? I have thought about it very well and i am convinced it is possible.
How would you describe the current political situation in Nigeria?
If you see the manifestoes of the two major political parties in Nigeria the All Progressives Congress APC is the only party that has the interest of the people in their plan. APC is a party of highly intellectuals who know how to meet the needs of the common man, they know what it entails to make the common man relevant, they know the pain that the common man is going through. You can see leadership by example since APC took over, President Buhari and his Vice Yemi Osinbajo led by example by cutting their salaries by half, the wind of change is blowing and i am ready to channel that wind into my state Ondo so that people will also enjoy the new things, there is no better time than now.
Was it because you want to contest for an election that you set up an empowerment scheme for the youths?
Before the end of the year we are going to launch the scheme fully and it is called, AYO AKINRINSOLA YOUTH EMPOWERMENT FOUNDATION. I am concentrating on the artisans, market women, petty traders, farmers, commercial drivers, unemployed youths, civil servants, pensioners, widows. This is what i have being doing before now, it has being part of my lifestyle to help people, it is not because i want to run for an elections. I just want to extend it to the state and allow more people to benefit.
Business
Ogun Unveils Plan for ₦1bn AI-Driven Digital Classroom at Remo Secondary School
Ogun Unveils Plan for ₦1bn AI-Driven Digital Classroom at Remo Secondary School
The Ogun State Government has announced plans to deliver a 900-capacity, Artificial Intelligence-enabled digital learning complex at Remo Secondary School, Sagamu, in a move aimed at strengthening technology-based education across the state.
Governor Dapo Abiodun disclosed activities marking the institution’s 80th anniversary, noting that the proposed facility represents a deliberate investment in modern learning infrastructure designed to prepare students for a rapidly evolving, knowledge-driven global economy.
He explained that the digital classroom project complements ongoing smart-education initiatives within the school, which already features a functional resource centre and a state-of-the-art robotics laboratory established to nurture innovation, problem-solving skills, and digital competence among learners.
Reaffirming his commitment to the school’s growth, the governor announced a financial pledge of ₦100m, stating that ₦50m representing half of the amount would be released immediately to kick-start development efforts. He also assured stakeholders that at least one of the outlined projects would be fully executed before the end of his administration.
Abiodun further disclosed that the state government had upgraded the school’s science laboratories, equipping them with modern facilities and teaching tools to ensure safer and more effective practical learning experiences for students.
He added that renovation works had also been completed on both the male and female hostels to improve accommodation standards, enhance security, and promote the overall well-being of boarding students.
Describing Remo Secondary School as a symbol of enduring heritage, the governor said the anniversary celebration went beyond mere commemoration of years of existence, emphasising the institution’s long-standing role in shaping generations of leaders and professionals.
He praised members of the old students’ association for their unwavering support and contributions to the school’s development, stressing that their collective efforts demonstrate a shared commitment to sustaining its legacy of excellence.
According to him, the projects and improvements carried out at the school reflect a strong belief in education as a foundation for future growth, as well as the power of collaboration between government, alumni, and the wider community.
Abiodun also revealed that the institution had been recognised as one of Ogun State’s model schools, urging students to remain focused on their academic pursuits, uphold strong moral values, and continue the tradition of excellence for which the school is known.
Business
BUA Group Chairman, Abdul Samad Rabiu, Calls for Shift from Extraction to Value Addition at AFC Event during Mining Indaba 2026
BUA Group Chairman, Abdul Samad Rabiu, Calls for Shift from Extraction to Value Addition at AFC Event during Mining Indaba 2026
Cape Town, South Africa
Founder and Executive Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu CFR CON, has called for a decisive shift in Africa’s development strategy, urging governments, financiers, and the private sector to move the continent from raw material extraction to large scale industrial processing and value addition.
Rabiu made the remarks as Special Guest of Honour at an Africa Finance Corporation forum during Mining Indaba 2026, where African leaders, policymakers, financiers, and industry executives gathered to discuss the future of mining, industrialisation, and real sector development on the continent.
Commending AFC for its role in mobilising long term capital for Africa’s industrial sectors, Rabiu noted that the institution’s leadership and recent S&P Global rating with a positive outlook underscored the importance of strong development finance institutions in shaping Africa’s growth trajectory.
Drawing from BUA Group’s experience, he recounted the company’s decision over sixteen years ago to transition from cement importation to local production in Nigeria, despite the capital intensity and long gestation periods associated with mining and heavy industry.
“At the time, Nigeria was importing cement despite being richly endowed with limestone,” Rabiu said. “We were spending more time chasing foreign exchange than selling cement. The real question was not whether the resources existed, but whether there was enough conviction to stop importing and start producing locally.”
Today, he noted, BUA mines and processes about forty thousand tonnes of limestone daily, producing roughly one million tonnes of cement every month. That shift has helped Nigeria move from being a cement importer to a net exporter, saving the country billions of dollars in foreign exchange annually.
Rabiu stressed that such transformation would not have been possible without patient, long term financing from DFIs, particularly the Africa Finance Corporation, which has supported BUA’s cement and industrial operations with over four hundred million dollars in financing.
He added that a significant portion of those facilities has already been repaid, demonstrating that well structured African industrial projects are not only developmental but also commercially viable and recyclable.
Turning to the broader continental picture, Rabiu highlighted what he described as a structural paradox: Africa remains one of the world’s most resource rich regions, yet exports the bulk of its minerals and agricultural produce in raw or minimally processed form.
He cited examples across gold, cobalt, copper, iron ore, diamonds, and cocoa, noting that while Africa supplies much of the world’s raw inputs, it captures only a fraction of the value created downstream.
“Africa does not lack resources,” he said. “What it lacks is processing capacity, industrial scale, and disciplined execution.”
He argued that the same challenge extends beyond mining into agriculture, where Africa holds a majority of the world’s arable land yet continues to import billions of dollars’ worth of food annually.
Rabiu called for coordinated action among governments, DFIs, and the private sector, urging DFIs to scale long term financing targeted at beneficiation and industrial value chains, while governments adopt deliberate policies that incentivise local processing and invest in power, transport, and industrial infrastructure.
“Industrialisation does not happen by accident,” he said. “Countries that industrialised did so by design, not by chance. Africa must do the same.”
He concluded by stressing that Africa’s opportunity lies in aligning private enterprise, patient capital, and supportive policy to move the continent from extraction to transformation, and from potential to shared prosperity.
Business
Adron Homes Celebrates 14 Years of Excellence, Reaffirms Commitment to Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities
Adron Homes Celebrates 14 Years of Excellence, Reaffirms Commitment to Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities
Adron Homes and Properties Limited, a leading player in Nigeria’s real estate industry, proudly celebrates its 14th Anniversary, marking over a decade of transformative impact in affordable housing delivery, sustainable community development, and structured urban growth across the country.
Over the last fourteen years, Adron Homes has evolved into a nationally recognised real estate powerhouse, delivering over 60 livable estates and communities across Nigeria and enabling more than 100,000 Nigerians to achieve their property ownership dreams. With strategic developments spanning Ibeju Lekki, Lekki-Epe, Badagry, Shimawa, Papalanto, Sagamu, Abeokuta, Ibadan, Osun, Ekiti, Abuja, Nasarawa, Niger State, and other emerging urban corridors, the company continues to reshape access to land and housing through affordability, innovation, and long-term planning.
Speaking on the milestone, the Chairman/CEO of Adron Group, Aare Adetola Emmanuelking, described the anniversary as a celebration of vision, resilience, and unwavering commitment to empowering Nigerians through property ownership.
“Fourteen years ago, we set out with a clear vision to make property ownership accessible and achievable for every hardworking Nigerian. Today, we celebrate not only the growth of Adron Homes but the countless families whose dreams have become reality through our communities. Our journey has always been about impact, empowerment, and building environments where people can truly thrive.”
Highlighting the company’s philosophy of developing structured environments rather than just selling land, the Chairman emphasised Adron Homes’ focus on sustainable urban planning and community building.
“At Adron Homes, we build cities, not just estates. Each development reflects thoughtful planning, infrastructure, accessibility, and a long-term vision for modern living. As Nigeria continues to urbanise rapidly, our mission is to ensure that growth is inclusive, structured, and sustainable.”
Aare Adetola Emmanuelking also acknowledged the role of customers, staff, stakeholders, and media partners in the company’s sustained growth and national relevance.
“This milestone is a testament to the trust of our customers, the dedication of our workforce, and the unwavering support of our partners and stakeholders. Together, we have demonstrated that affordable housing can be delivered with quality, innovation, and integrity.”
Looking ahead, Adron Homes reaffirmed its commitment to expanding mass housing solutions, embracing technology-driven real estate innovations, and strengthening partnerships that contribute to Nigeria’s economic development and housing accessibility.
“The future of Adron Homes is defined by innovation, expansion, and deeper community impact. We remain committed to democratizing property ownership, building sustainable communities, and shaping the future of real estate in Nigeria for generations to come.”
As Adron Homes marks 14 years of excellence and national impact, the company continues to position itself as a catalyst for structured urban development and a trusted partner in the realization of property dreams across Nigeria.
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