By Funsho Arogundade
Mastery has been said to be the goal of the game and not popularity or constant recognition. Billionaire magnate Dr. Taiwo Olayinka Afolabi definitely keeps this in mind. Always driven by passion, Afolabi’s entrepreneurship skill is legendary. He has grabbed every singular opportunity that came his way with both hands at a time when many of his peers lacked the ability to see beyond their noses.
The maritime magnate has definitely proven he is not one of those run-of-the mill businessmen as evident by the phenomenal growth of most of his ventures. Almost five years after he changed the face of the luxury hospitality business when he threw open the doors of his Lagos Marriott Hotel in Ikeja GRA to the general public, the Chairman of SIFAX Group —one of Africa’s fastest growing conglomerates— is all set to build another luxurious hotel.
Afolabi, through his hospitality firm, Macfolly Hospitality Ltd —the owners of the Lagos Marriott Hotel— recently announced the expansion of its luxury hospitality portfolio with the proposed addition of a new 100-room hotel to be called Courtyard By Marriott. The new facility, to be situated next door to the imposing upper-class Lagos Marriott Hotel, is a more affordable brand done in bistro style for business and luxury travellers. He recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new hospitality haven.
In the ever-evolving world of hospitality, the multi-hyphenate businessman is deploying a strong energy to redefine what it means to provide a top-tier guest experience. With his new Courtyard By Marriott that will take 24 months to complete and then open to the public in the middle of 2027, Afolabi will be expanding the definition of luxury and bringing sustainability, technology, and experiential travel to the forefront for modern travellers.
A successful businessman by all standards, the Ilese Ijebu, Ogun State-born Afolabi has his hand in several other lucrative pies across different sectors of the economy spanning aviation, maritime, logistics, as well as oil and gas.