SIFAX Group, a conglomerate with investment in Maritime, Aviation, Logistics, Oil & Gas, Financial Services and Hospitality, has spent over N250 million on corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes across Nigeria in 2021.
The company’s CSR is focused primarily on education, health, economic empowerment (youth and women) and the physically-challenged.
On education and health, hundreds of indigent students enjoyed full scholarship while equipment and facilities were donated to public educational and health institutions. Individuals with medical emergencies also received financial support.
Youth and women economic empowerment also took a large chunk of the budget with skill acquisition trainings organized for unemployed youths and women across the country. Business grants were also extended to those who completed the training programmes. Some targeted and disadvantaged poor households were also catered to as food items were donated to them on a monthly basis.
Various initiatives targeted at the physically-challenged children living with conditions like autism, down syndrome and the blind were also supported by the company in the course of the year.
Most of these projects were executed through its philanthropic arm, Ajoke Ayisat Afolabi Foundation (AAAF) which has offices in Lagos, Zaria and Umuahia.
Speaking on the 2021 CSR projects, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, Group Executive Vice Chairman, SIFAX Group, said one of the key pillars of the company’s business philosophy is to positively impact humanity and the society in any economy where the company carries out its operations.
According to him: “Right from the inception of our company in 1988, we have integrated social impact into our business strategy. Our businesses are not designed for profit making alone. We see ourselves as a platform that support social causes that provide access to opportunities, engender social stability and economic prosperity. We are motivated to do more when we see the physical impact of these CSR projects on the beneficiaries who today run into thousands.”
Foluke Ademokun, Executive Coordinator, AAAF, on her own part, noted that the beneficiaries of the various programmes are making a judicious use of the opportunities, adding that the Foundation seeks to partner with more sponsors, both domestic and international, as well as other stakeholders, in order to touch more lives.
After operating for a little over 15 months and following a growing customer base as well as increasing demand, SIFAX Shipping ICT Limited, a subsidiary of SIFAX Group and operator of the Ijora Inland Container Terminal, Lagos, has embarked on a massive expansion of the capacity of the terminal.
The terminal, commissioned in October 2020, was established to alleviate the difficulties experienced by various port users, including truckers, shipping lines, agents and consignees, in accessing the Apapa ports due to the congestion within that area that has defied all solutions. The terminal operates by moving consignments to its facility through barges for onward delivery to customers, thereby avoiding traffic congestion.
According to Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, Group Executive Vice Chairman, SIFAX Group, “It sounds so unbelievable that the off dock terminal is just one year old, going by the impact made in such a short period of time. Our stakeholders have been treated to a whole new experience in cargo clearance. Consignments are moved to the terminal through barges without the hassles of traffic congestion. Goods are cleared in record time while the location of the terminal makes it attractive for truckers. All these have increased our patronage and made the initial terminal capacity inadequate to satisfy the increasing demand.”
The terminal has consequently acquired adjoining properties to increase its total capacity from the 15,000 square meters at inception to 83,000 square meters. In order to ensure that the terminal operates in line with global standards in terms of infrastructure, the company has contracted China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) Nigeria Limited, a world-class construction company, for the construction of the terminal’s pavement.
Speaking at the contract signing ceremony in Lagos, Paul vd Linden, Managing Director, SIFAX Shipping ICT Limited, said the strategic nature of the terminal and the need to build a durable infrastructure at the facility necessitated the choice of CCECC.
According to Linden, “CCECC is a notable construction company with a track record of excellent service across the country. Having expanded the size of the terminal, we needed to put the terminal floor in a world-class state and that’s the reason CCECC was contracted. Due to the heavy-duty equipment that have been deployed, a super solid concrete surface that can withstand the pressure became necessary. We are excited with this agreement signed with CCECC and we are convinced they will deliver the project within the agreed.”
He further stated that some of the future plan of the terminal, which has been positioned as a model in terms of technology deployment, modern facilities, excellent customer service and infrastructural development, include the building of a strong quay in readiness to berth feeder vessels, as well as the purchase of more cargo handling equipment and a transit park for trucks using the facility.
Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, Group Executive Vice Chairman, SIFAX Group, has described the death of Olowu of Owu kingdom, Oba Adegboyega Dosunmu, Amororo II, as a great loss to the company and the nation.
The monarch, who died at the weekend, was the Board Chairman of SIFAX Group.
Afolabi said the company would miss the fatherly counsel of the monarch, who under his chairmanship, the company experienced phenomenal growth in various sectors like Maritime, Aviation, Oil & Gas, Logistics, Hospitality and Financial Services, among others.
He said: “Kabiyesi was not only a father to me, but also a source of inspiration for us as a company. Being the board chairman of a large corporation like ours comes with a huge responsibility but despite his age, we found his contribution and counsel very useful. His experience came handy either when expanding existing business or foraying into a new territory.
“He has left a leadership vacuum that would be difficult to fill for us as a company. His impact as an influential traditional ruler in the country would certainly be felt. I extend my condolences to his beloved family, the Owu kingdom and the people of Ogun state.”
Oba Dosunmu studied Drama and Television Production in 1963 at the Hendon College of Technology in London and also obtained a bachelor’s degree in Theology from the Landmark Baptist College Tennessee, USA in 1987.
The late monarch ascended the throne in 2005 after a sterling civil service career that included serving as the Head of Drama department at the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation. He was also the producer of the popular television series of the 1970s, Village Headmaster, which holds the record as Nigeria’s longest running television series. The TV programme was on air for over 20 years.
He joined partisan politics and was elected the Chairman of Abeokuta Local Government in 1976.
Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, Group Executive Vice Chairman of SIFAX Group has bagged the BusinessDay Life Time Achievement Award.
The award was bestowed on him at the Nigerian Business Leadership Award organised by BusinessDay recently.
He was represented at the event by Bode Ojeniyi, Group Executive Director, SIFAX Group.
Oluwakayode Alonge, Group Head, Human Resources; Kunle Owobamirin, Senior Manager, Shipping; Bode Ojeniyi, Group Executive Director and Olumuyiwa Akande, Group Head, Corporate Communications all of SIFAX Group at the 2021 BusinessDay Nigerian Business Leadership Award where Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, Group Executive Vice Chairman, SIFAX Group bagged the Life Time Achievement Award held at Oriental Hotel, last Saturday.L-R: Oluwakayode Alonge, Group Head, Human Resources, SIFAX Group; Bode Ojeniyi, Group Executive Director, SIFAX Group; Dr. Ogho Okiti, Managing Director, BusinessDay Media Limited; Kunle Owobamirin, Senior Manager, SIFAX Shipping and Olumuyiwa Akande, Group Head, Corporate Communications, SIFAX Group at the 2021 BusinessDay Nigerian Business Leadership Award where Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, Group Executive Vice Chairman, SIFAX Group bagged the Life Time Achievement Award held at Oriental Hotel last Saturday
For its phenomenal growth and impactful service delivery in the course of the year, SIFAX Group, a group of companies with investment in Maritime, Aviation, Oil & Gas, Haulage & Logistics, Financial Services and Hospitality, has won the Most Outstanding Maritime Brand of the Year at the 2021 Brandcom Awards.
The Group Head, Corporate Communications, Olumuyiwa Akande, also clinched the Most Outstanding Corporate Communications Professional of the Year (Maritime) award.
The annual event is organised by the Brand Communicator, a leading brand and marketing magazine.
Speaking at the occasion, Joshua Ajayi, Publisher of Brand Communicator and Convener of Brandcom awards noted that SIFAX Group has distinguished itself as a force to be reckoned with in terms of quality service delivery and excellent customer relationship, which he noted, have set the company apart among its competitors. He also noted that since Olumuyiwa Akande took over the reins as the Head of Corporate Communications of SIFAX Group, he has ingeniously and creatively positioned the Group favourably as a reputable brand noting that the media has tremendously enjoyed his support which has translated to better media mileage and corporate reputation for the company.
“Today, we are celebrating a brand and corporate communications expert. SIFAX Group as a brand has grown over the years to become a household name in the country and beyond. The company offers quality service delivery while also affecting the society positively through its socially-impactful initiatives. Behind such
feat is a communications expert who has favourably positioned the brand through novel and innovative ideas. We appreciate the work done by SIFAX Group and its Head of Corporate Communications, Olumuyiwa Akande. That is the reason we are conferring these awards on them”, he said.
While receiving the award on behalf of the Group, Captain Ibraheem Olugbade, Executive Director, Administration, Ports & Cargo Handling Services Limited, a subsidiary of SIFAX Group, said the honour is a motivation to continually deliver best value by the SIFAX Group family to all its stakeholders. “With this award we promise to continually give our best to make sure that we maintain the standards we have set in the industry. We are grateful for this award and we say thank you to Brandcom”, he narrated.
In his own words, Olumuyiwa Akande, Group Head, Corporate Communications, dedicated his award to his team members and all SIFAX Group staff who have supported him in achieving success on the job. “I am very excited to have won this award. It means a lot to me and I assure that I will continue to give my best to make sure that SIFAX Group remains a golden and valuable brand”, he explained.
The Board of Sky Capital and Financial Allied International, the financial subsidiary of SIFAX Group, has appointed Ayoku Liadi as the company’s Group Managing Director.
In this new role, Ayoku will oversee all Sky Capital’s subsidiaries and affiliates in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Gambia.
Sky Capital Group presently has investments in banking, insurance brokerage and asset management while some of its subsidiaries and affiliates include Skye Bank Guinea, Skye Bank Sierra Leone, Bloom Bank Gambia and Sky Capital Asset Management.
Ayoku is an accomplished financial expert with over twenty-five years of progressive experience.
Prior to his appointment at Sky Capital, he was the Deputy Managing Director, UBA Nigeria, where he was in charge of about 500 branches nationwide.
He also served as the MD/CEO of Guaranty Trust Bank, Sierra Leone between 2011 and 2013 where he recorded outstanding achievements and led the bank to become the most profitable bank in 2013. His exceptional leadership also earned the bank the prestigious KPMG award for the Best Customer Service Bank in 2012.
Ayoku holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, an ACA from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and is currently pursuing his Master’s degree in Marketing from the University of Lagos.
His expertise in business transformation, operations, financial control and relationship management has earned him several awards throughout his career. He is an alumnus of Kellogg Business School, USA; Cranfield Business School, UK; IMD Business School, Switzerland and other prestigious institutions.
Speaking on the appointment, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, Group Executive Vice Chairman, SIFAX Group, said the quality of the new helmsman was informed by the Group’s vision to drive pan- African expansion of Sky Capital Group.
He said: “As part of the Group’s expansion and transformation plan, which is targeted at strategic positioning, improved service delivery, corporate re-engineering and next level strategic growth, we are delighted to appoint Mr. Ayoku Liadi to provide strategic leadership and drive growth at our financial subsidiary, Sky Capital & Financial Allied International.
Though the company is relatively young in the market, we believe this quality of leadership will position it for the level of success we are targeting.”
SIFAX Group, a group of companies with investment in Maritime, Aviation, Oil & Gas, Haulage & Logistics, Financial Services and Hospitality, has announced the appointment of Wunmi Eniola-Jegede as the Executive Director, Business Development and Strategic Planning.
Eniola-Jegede, with over 20 years’ experience in human resources and strategic planning, was until her appointment the Director, HR, Admin and Strategic Planning at the Ondo State Development and Investment Promotion Agency (ONDIPA).
Prior to that, she had worked as HR Consultant to the Ondo State Internal Revenue Service; Revenue Manager, Lagos State Internal Revenue Service as well as HR & Admin Manager at Surveillant Fire Limited.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Ado-Ekiti, Certificate in Business Management from the Houston Community College Systems, Houston, Texas and an MBA in Human Resources (Distinction) from the Devry University, Keller Graduate School of Management, Houston, Texas. She is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management.
Bode Ojeniyi, Group Executive Director, SIFAX Group said the appointment was to further strengthen the company’s executive management team for improved performance.
“SIFAX Group recognises the correlation between peak performance and quality human capital. To drive business growth and deliver excellent services to the satisfaction of our clientele, we need first-class materials and that’s why we continue to add quality staff to the company at all levels.”, he said
As part of its corporate social responsibility, SIFAX Group, a conglomerate with investment in Maritime, Aviation, Oil & Gas, Haulage & Logistics, Financial Services and Hospitality, has donated a brand new Hyundai H1 Space Bus to a charity organization, Mission to Seafarers.
The charity organization provides spiritual and humanitarian services to seafarers who call the Nigerian ports.
Speaking at the official handover of the vehicle in Apapa, Lagos, Mrs. Wunmi Eniola-Jegede, Executive Director, Business Development and Strategic Planning, SIFAX Group, said the donation was in line with the company’s robust stakeholder engagement strategy which focuses on the public good of the various sectors the company operates.
L-R: Olumuyiwa Akande, Group Head, Corporate Communications, SIFAX Group; Wunmi Eniola-Jegede, Executive Director, Business Development and Strategic Planning; Chief Adebayo Sarumi, Chairman, The Mission to Seafarers and Rev. Bimbo Aduroja, Chaplain, The Mission to Seafarers during the donation of a brand new Hyundai H1 space bus to The Mission to Seafarers by SIFAX Group at their Apapa office in Lagos.
She said: “SIFAX Group appreciates the contributions and impacts of the Mission to Seafarers to the maritime industry. Seafarers tend to be lonely and be far away from relatives and loved ones for a long period of time. This loneliness and long period of absence, if not well managed, could be counterproductive and affect performance. We believe the wellbeing of the seafarers is the wellbeing of the maritime industry.
“We are happy your organisation’s several outreaches and other programmes have been able to bridge this gap and give the crew men a sense of belonging. This donation is to support the good work the organization is doing and to further empower for better result”.
On his own part, Chief Adebayo Sarumi, Chairman, The Mission to Seafarers, noted that the agency’s main aim is to reach out to the various needs of seafarers whose ships berth at the Nigerian ports.
He said: “The Mission to Seafarers is a non-governmental organisation with about 300-year-old history. Looking at the dangers and perils faced by seafarers globally, our aim is to promote their spiritual, moral and physical well-being and that of their families too irrespective of nationality, race, gender or creed. We have lacked vehicle to move us around and we thank SIFAX Group for heeding to our call through the donation of this bus. It will go a long way in helping us achieve our objectives.”
Sarumi further appealed to various stakeholders in the maritime industry and beyond to support the organization, especially in the provision of new infrastructure and facelift of the old ones.
Lagos, 19 May 2021: Marriott Hotels, the signature of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of 30 extraordinary brands, today announced its debut in Nigeria with the opening of the highly anticipated Lagos Marriott Hotel Ikeja. The hotel reflects the newest global design vision for Marriott Hotels, featuring sophisticated and intuitively designed spaces for today’s modern traveller, enabling guests to relax, work and find inspiration during their stay.
“We are excited to have opened the Lagos Marriott Hotel Ikeja, bringing Marriott Hotels’ transformed vision to Nigeria,” said Volker Heiden, Area Vice President – Sub Saharan Africa, Marriott International. “Lagos is a vibrant and bustling city with much to see and do for leisure and business travellers. What better place to debut the Marriott Hotels brand in Nigeria with its thoughtful service and intuitive spaces that enable guests to be inspired during their stay.”
Lagos Marriott Hotel Ikeja offers 206 guestrooms and 44 suites each with expansive views of the city. The spacious guestrooms are thoughtfully designed with contemporary décor and intuitive in-room amenities. Natural colours, crisp lines, purposeful lighting and comfortable bedding create an intimate and peaceful space for guests to get into their best headspace for success. Deluxe walk-in showers and spa-like lighting complete the relaxed experience throughout the room. In line with Marriott Hotels’ newest global design strategy, local accents add a sense of place to the sleek aesthetic. Open workspaces allow for flexibility to connect anytime.
The Greatroom at the heart of the hotel blends modern elements with local touches inspired by Nigeria’s rich heritage and traditional crafts. The multi-use space is designed for guest to socialise, relax and work.
The M Club is an exclusive space reserved for Elite members and Club paying guests and provides complimentary breakfast, evening drinks, hors d’oeuvres and premium beverages throughout the day. The M Club also offers the brand’s signature Mind Menu, a selection of delicious snacks and beverages with active ingredients to enhance mind and body. Accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the M Club provides free Wi-Fi, printing services and power supplies to ensure uninterrupted productivity for business travelers.
Guests can relax in the hotel’s tranquil spa offering rejuvenating and restorative treatments, steam rooms and saunas. Guests seeking to stay active during their stay can enjoy complimentary fitness classes at the Fitness Center, and make use of the state-of-the-art fitness equipment and outdoor pool.
Lagos Marriott Hotel Ikeja caters to small and large-scale events with 1,380 square metres of sophisticated event space, including the largest ballroom in Ikeja. The hotel offers six breakout rooms and nine event rooms. The meeting spaces can be adapted to cater to a variety of event formats and group sizes, with pivotable walls, moveable partitions, soft seating and modular furniture. Ideas are easily captured with tech-savvy tools such as rewritable surfaces, magnetic panels and shared-screen technology to support productivity and collaboration.
The hotel boasts a diverse selection of restaurants offering regional and international cuisine. The Azure Grill Restaurant, with stunning views of the pool terrace, serves a variety of dishes cooked to perfection on an authentic charcoal grill. The WAKAME specializes in Asian-Fusion cuisine originating from China, Japan, Thailand and Northern Indian. The Koriko & Co is an all-day dining buffet restaurant featuring international favourites and live cooking stations.
Lagos Marriott Hotel Ikeja is located in the heart of Lagos, just 15 minutes from the Murtala Muhammed International airport and a short distance to the third main land bridge providing easy access to the other side of the Ikeja. The hotel is in close proximity to the city’s main attractions, leisure facilities and shopping malls including the Ikeja City Mall. The hotel also shares its area with The Shrine and Motherland – two globally acclaimed African music entertainment hubs.
“We are exciting to welcome local residents and travellers to our inspiring space and look forward to creating experiences that nurture their creativity,” said Rudi Janse van Rensburg, General Manager, Lagos Marriott Hotel Ikeja. “Guests at Lagos Marriott Hotel Ikeja will be able to free themselves of distractions when they step into our hotel, allowing them to focus solely on being the best they can be.”
Guests of the hotel can enroll in Marriott International’s global travel program, Marriott Bonvoy and enjoy more value, more choice and more access across the 30 brands within the portfolio. Existing members can enjoy their member benefits at this exciting new hotel.
Lovers of premium hospitality service in Lagos are in for an exciting experience as the Lagos Marriott Hotel, Ikeja opens its doors for business.
The 250-bed, 5-star hotel, located in the serene GRA, Ikeja, is a partnership between the renowned global hotel brand, Marriott International and SIFAX Group, a conglomerate with investments in various sectors of Nigeria’s economy and beyond.
The hotel, built on 11 floors, has various modern facilities like exclusive crew lounge, VIP lounges, 1,000-capacity ballroom, executive meeting rooms, 400-capacity car park, 206 standard rooms, 44 suites (including three presidential ones), well-equipped gym and continental restaurants, among others.
At a press conference in Lagos, Janse van Rensburg, the hotel’s General Manager, said the desire to offer premium hospitality servicesto the Lagos market was responsible for the huge investment in the hotel.
L-R: Bode Ojeniyi, Group Executive Director, Corporate Services, SIFAX Group; Janse Van Rensburg, General Manager, Lagos Marriott Hotel; Wunmi Eniola-Jegede, Executive Director, Business Development and Strategic Planning, SIFAX Group and Chike Ogeah, Managing Director, Mac-Folly Hospitality Limited at the press conference to announce the opening of the Lagos Marriott Hotel, Ikeja GRA, Lagos
He said: ““Every client of Lagos Marriott Hotel is set for an unimaginable premium experience like never before. We assure them of world-class hospitality, super customer satisfaction and royalty treatment. Frequent travelers who have points using the Marriott hotel franchise globally can also redeem their points here in Nigeria too. We have an in-club system for our premium members located on the first floor of the hotel.
“The unique selling propositions of this hotel are the various amazing products we offer our clients which are non-existent in the country’s hospitality industry. The security of our guests is very paramount to us and that’s why every door and window in the facility is bomb-proof. Our pricing is also very commensurate with the quality that weoffer.”
Rensburg further noted that the hotel, which is in the classic premium category on the Marriott quality ranking, will be managed by the franchise owner, Marriott Hotel, for quality assurance purposes.
Speaking also at the event, ChikeOgeah, Managing Director, Mac-Folly Hospitality Limited, the SIFAX Group’s hospitality subsidiary, applauded Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, Group Executive Vice Chairman, SIFAX Group, for bankrolling the multi-billion naira investment, adding that his vision of a premium hospitality business in Lagos has manifested through the new hotel.
He said: “The building of this hotel took us six years. We took our time to tastefully select all the materials and equipment that were used in order to serve our clients the best. As a man that has travelled all over the world and experienced first–hand hospitality at its peak, our Chairman, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, decided to build this hotel in Nigeria in order to promote the hospitality and tourism industry in Lagos and provide opportunities to further improve the economy.”
