On Monday, June 16, 2025, the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo Campus, witnessed a homecoming that will be remembered for years to come. The return of the CEO of iCentra and recipient of the prestigious PMI Eric Jenett Person of the Year Award, Taopheek Babayeju was more than a visit. It was a powerful message of purpose, a celebration of excellence, and a direct investment in the future of young Africans.
The Aderemi Makanjuola Lecture Theatre was filled with energy and expectation as students, faculty members, and industry leaders gathered for the Inspiring Excellence Tour, organized under the TAB Development Initiatives. Themed “Inspiring Excellence, Empowering the Next Generation,” the event brought together minds and aspirations for an afternoon of impact.
YOU CAN ALSO READ: From Mustang Moves to Fintech Mastery – Tosin Eniolorunda’s Journey Through Crisis, Risk, and Revolution
Babayeju, a proud LASU alumnus, took the stage with humility and passion. His keynote was a masterclass in vision, strategy, and personal transformation. Speaking from experience, he challenged the students to embrace purpose-driven lives. “Life is a project,” he said. “You must manage it with intention. Success doesn’t come by accident, it comes through excellence, service, and leadership. Those who create value don’t chase money; money finds them.” His words resonated deeply with the audience, many of whom saw in him the embodiment of what is possible through discipline and focus.
But it wasn’t just words that Babayeju brought home. He came bearing tools for transformation. He announced the launch of #Project1500, a capacity-building initiative aimed at training 1,500 young professionals across Africa in Digital Transformation, Agile, and Project Management. LASU, he revealed, would be the first beneficiary, with 100 final-year students from the Departments of Physics, Project Management, and related courses selected for the first cohort. It was a gift of knowledge and opportunity that drew cheers and applause across the hall.
In a further gesture of support, Babayeju unveiled a ₦5 million endowment fund for the Best Final-Year Physics Project, a ₦500,000 award to be given annually for the next ten years. The initiative is designed to encourage research excellence and innovation, empowering students to think beyond boundaries and create solutions that matter.
The leadership of the university welcomed the initiative warmly. the Dean of the Faculty of Science, Professor Moses Akanbi described the moment as a defining one for the university, noting the importance of giving back and the example Babayeju has set for future alumni. Dr. Oluwafunmilayo Ometan, Acting Head of the Department of Physics, praised Babayeju’s dedication to academic development, stating that his return was both symbolic and impactful.
After the main event, Babayeju led a delegation on a courtesy visit to the Vice-Chancellor’s Office, where they were received by Professor Oseni Afisi, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics), on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, mni, NPOM. During the meeting, Professor Afisi commended Babayeju for his generosity and enduring connection to LASU, highlighting the Project1500 and the endowment fund as clear indicators of his commitment to youth development.
In a touching moment of solidarity, Mr. Kayode Akinade, Group CEO of Glovis Almond Group and long-time associate of Babayeju, pledged a ₦10 million donation to the Faculty of Science through the Kayode Akinade Foundation, further reinforcing the theme of the day: giving back, lifting others, and building legacy.
YOU CAN ALSO READ:
The Inspiring Excellence Tour also featured interactive sessions with students, including a quiz session, mentoring conversations, and the distribution of signed copies of Babayeju’s book UNLOCK. Accompanying Babayeju were other distinguished guests including Bashorun Ibraheem Babayeju, CEO of Ocean Midas; Mr. Taiwo Oshikoya, General Manager at Ocean Midas; Mr. Bolaji Junaid, CEO of WhyFinite; and Mr. Akinade, all of whom engaged with students and exemplified the spirit of leadership the tour was designed to promote.
As the program ended with a guided tour of the Physics Department and Faculty of Science, the air was filled with optimism. Many students described the event as transformational, a moment that sparked new dreams and reinforced the belief that their journey, too, could lead to greatness.
With LASU as its first stop, the Inspiring Excellence Tour is set to continue across selected institutions nationwide, planting seeds of leadership, service, and innovation. And in that single day, at that single campus, one alumnus reminded an entire generation that excellence is not just possible, it is necessary.
