When Jibril Arogundade, widely known as Jibril of Lagos, says he returned to Nigeria with nothing, he means it literally. “Everything I had worked for in one year and two months gone,” he recalls, his voice steady but filled with the weight of memory. Yet, that same young man who once lost everything is now the Executive Director of CIG Motors, one of Nigeria’s most successful automobile companies. He is a man recognized among the Global 40 Under 40 for helping transform the company’s fortunes from ₦5 billion to over ₦100 billion in just five years.
His rise is not just a story of success; it is one of grit, reinvention, and the audacity to keep moving forward when everything seems lost. It’s a narrative that mirrors the entrepreneurial heartbeat of Lagos, a city that rewards courage and creativity, even when the odds are stacked against you.
At just 18, Jibril had already built what many would call a dream life. He was one of Nigeria’s earliest GSM engineers, unlocking and repairing mobile phones at a time when mobile technology was new and in high demand. “I was unlocking phones, repairing them, and making ₦250 million, ₦100 million,” he says with a nostalgic smile. “I knew how to make money, but I didn’t know how to manage it.” The ease with which he made money became both his blessing and his lesson.
That lesson came painfully. After setting up a thriving shop in Benue State, Jibril’s success became a threat to his competitors. One night, everything he had worked for disappeared. “They broke into my store and took everything, the phones, the tools, the equipment. I came back to Lagos with nothing but my clothes,” he says. The experience could have broken him, but instead, it became the beginning of something new.
Determined not to stay defeated, Jibril turned to his creative instincts. “I’ve always been a creative person,” he says. “So I went into photography, then learned cinematography and started directing music videos.” This new chapter allowed him to explore another side of himself, his ability to create, visualize, and tell stories through a lens. He soon decided to expand his horizon, moving to Cyprus to pursue a degree in Information Technology, not knowing that this move would spark another entrepreneurial breakthrough.
Life in Cyprus was far from glamorous. “For the first three weeks, I lived on long bread,” he laughs, remembering his early days as a student abroad. But it was in those challenging days that his entrepreneurial instincts kicked in again. He noticed that students who used Blackberry phones couldn’t access T-Mobile services, so he found a solution. “I started importing free T-Mobile SIM cards from the UK and selling them to students,” he says. “In less than two years, I made my first $100,000.”
For Jibril, business has always been about spotting opportunities where others see limitations. But he also knew when to move on. “When everybody started flying to the UK to get their own SIMs, I knew it was time to pivot.” His next venture was in entertainment, where he organized concerts featuring top Nigerian artists like Olamide. The shows brought a taste of home to Nigerian students abroad and helped promote African music culture in Cyprus. However, the entertainment business was unpredictable. “Some concerts made profits, others didn’t. My last concert almost wiped me out,” he admits.
After completing his studies, Jibril returned to Nigeria with a renewed sense of purpose. He launched SmartCab, a ride-hailing company that used only brand-new cars, something unheard of at the time. “When I came back from Cyprus, I saw yellow taxis everywhere in Lagos and thought, this can’t be the Giant of Africa. We deserve better.” He wanted to redefine transportation in Nigeria and give commuters a premium experience.
That vision led him to CIG Motors, where he went to buy cars for his fleet. It was there he met Chief Diana Chen, the company’s chairman. That meeting, he says, changed everything. “Five minutes into our conversation, everything shifted,” he recalls. “I saw that instead of struggling alone, I could learn and grow within a bigger system.” It was the beginning of a partnership that would transform both his life and the company.
Over the next seven years, Jibril rose through the ranks, first as General Manager of Commercial, then as Group Head of Communications for Choice International Group Africa Region, and eventually as Executive Director of CIG Motors. His impact was nothing short of revolutionary. Under his leadership, the company’s revenue grew from ₦10 billion to over ₦100 billion. He pioneered innovative initiatives such as “Drive Now & Pay Later,” “The Swap,” and “The G-Style Experience.” He was also the mastermind behind the marketing brilliance that saw Davido become the brand ambassador for GAC Motors after the now-famous “Chivido” wedding moment.
Today, CIG Motors, distributor of GAC, JMC, Wuling, DFM, and FAW, has become synonymous with excellence, largely due to the strategic leadership and relentless energy of Jibril Arogundade. “Perception is everything,” he says. “Branding is not just logos and adverts; it’s storytelling. People connect with people, not machines. You must be the brand yourself.”
His leadership style is intense yet human. He starts his day early, with prayers at 6:30 a.m., followed by meetings, reviews, and strategy sessions that run deep into the evening. “I lead with passion and presence,” he explains. “Every sale, every campaign, every decision matters.” His team describes him as a visionary who sees branding as art, where every car sold must evoke emotion and connection.
But beyond the boardroom, Jibril is a devoted husband and father. “After all the meetings, events, and travel, home is where I find peace,” he says with a smile. “My wife and kids keep me grounded. That’s what real enjoyment means to me.”
Born in Lagos on February 28, 1987, Jibril’s life embodies the essence of Nigerian resilience. With a degree in Information Technology from Eastern Mediterranean University and an MBA from the Metropolitan School of Business & Management in the UK, he combines technical knowledge with strategic leadership. His decade-long experience spans industries such as automobile, fintech, entertainment, software development, transportation, and real estate.
He is more than an executive; he is a builder of brands, people, and possibilities. His ability to blend creativity with strategy has made him one of the most respected young executives in Africa’s corporate space. As a Forbes BLK member, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Jibril continues to inspire a generation of Nigerians who believe that failure is not the end but the beginning of something greater.
From losing everything at 18 to building billion-naira businesses and shaping one of Nigeria’s most recognized automobile brands, Jibril Arogundade’s story is one of extraordinary transformation. It is proof that greatness often starts from the ground, and that sometimes, losing it all is the only way to find your true power.
