Society Watch
South Africa-based Nigerian businessman, Oladipupo Olaseni, is regarded as a model and prototype for entrepreneurial astuteness and leadership.
His company, Goalsbam Ventures, with a net worth conservatively pegged in billions of Naira in net worth, is registered in Nigeria, South Africa and Canada, as an export company dealing primarily in the exportation of Nigerian food stuff in containers to South Africa. He has several outlets in the country where these commodities are sold.
Olaseni’s other business interests include real estate, in Nigeria and South Africa, and a travel management company.
Olaseni is also a stakeholder in the beauty and fashion industry, with several outlets across South Africa.
Born to an Awori father, and a mother from Ikorodu both in Lagos, Yusuf studied Ticketing and Reservation at Anis International School of Aviation, in Lagos.
He also bagged a degree in Public Administration from the prestigious University of Lagos.
Given his experience as a tourist, he set up a complete travel and ticketing agency then known as OlaMayo Limited fully registered in South Africa. And in less than two years of operation, it became a success story.
Olaseni’s propensity to build structures and reinvent himself as a leader is proven, since he relocated back to Nigeria in 2017.
In his words, “people merely survive in Nigeria. The day-to-day life in Lagos is quite challenging. I did not realise that until I began travelling to experience other cultures and climes.
“Give it to Nigerians. Comparing life in Nigeria to some of the cities I have travelled to around the world, I’ll say it is more hectic here. The average child that goes to school and graduates here in Nigeria must be really determined. And that is my story, I can identify with that.
“Our education, health and other core sectors are not as well structured as what is obtainable in developed countries globally. When the basic amenities are provided, it makes life easier for citizens. However, there are abilities in disabilities. Anyone that can survive Nigeria can live through anywhere else in the world.”
So far, he has travelled to not less than 19 countries across different continents, including the US, Canada, UK, UAE, Turkey, Belgium, France, Holland, Singapore, Kenya and Ethiopia.
He thinks of himself as privileged to be where he is today, even though he did not grow with a silverspoon. He grew up with his mother, a trader in raw foodstuff, and a one-time distributor of Dangote and BUA products in Daleko Market Mushin.
Although he started importation business on a small scale, he recounted how he added investment to scale up his importation business.
According to him, the property he inherited from his late father was sold, and the money amounted to N6 million.
The money, which was supposed to be shared between himself and his elder brother, was invested in his importation business, with then permission of his elder brother.
Married to a South African lady who runs a fashion business, Olaseni revealed that he decided to invest in the fashion industry in South Africa, after his wife complained about certain challenges her business was experiencing.
Though he had stepped in to offer consultative services, he later realized how much of a goldmine was in that industry. He saw opportunities, and diversified to fashion, including owning a chain of stores across major cities in South Africa.
Olaseni is passionate about his people back in Nigeria, and what concerns them. He admitted to being interested in politics since that’s the most assured way to be of service to the people on a large scale.
As a pragmatic personality, Olaseni is a staunch believer in the ideology that if you don’t remain laid-back, nothing changes; as such, he is willing to be the change he wants to see.
Olaseni, who now attends congresses of the All Progressive Congress just to see and understand how things are being done and actively participate at ward and local government levels, said: “If we don’t get involved in how decisions are being made, we do not have a choice. We will have to live with the choices others make for us,” he submitted.
