African Spotlight: Babawande Afolabi and the rise of Green Africa
The founder and CEO of Green Airlines, Babawande Afolabi, is making a name for himself in Nigeria’s aviation industry with his new low-cost carrier. Afolabi is a successful serial entrepreneur, having created profitable businesses such as a logistics firm and a real estate development company.
Babawande wrote a cold email to Oby Ezekwesili, former World Bank Vice President for Africa, in December 2013. Surprisingly, she replied, becoming the country’s first top leader to believe in and support the notion of a new value airline. During the same period, he came up with the moniker Green Africa Airways while on vacation with his family in Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
Green Africa Airlines was founded to make air travel more affordable and accessible to Nigerians. The founder, who attended Ambassadors College in Ile-Ife, wanted to ensure that everyone, including his professors, could fly at a reasonable cost and pursue their objectives. To achieve this vision, he pursued an MBA at Stanford GSB, where he gained knowledge about the aviation industry and worked as a summer associate at American Airlines in Dallas, TX.
The airline boasts a modern fleet of planes and offers a range of affordable fares. What sets this airline apart from other low-cost carriers is the inclusion of extra amenities, such as complimentary checked baggage and in-flight entertainment. Green Africa Airways focuses on serving the Nigerian market first before expanding operations beyond Africa.
Babawande Afolabi is a forward-thinking entrepreneur who isn’t afraid to challenge the status quo and take risks. He’s making a noteworthy impact on the aviation industry in Nigeria.
