On this maiden edition of the Milestone Spotlight, we are taking a look at the incredible 20-year journey of Mr Kunle Owobamirin, General Manager, Groupage and Export, SIFAX Shipping.
When Mr. Kunle Owobamirin walked into the company in October 1995, he was stepping away from uncertainty—and into possibility.
He was formerly working with an ISP company (Internet Service Provider) in Portharcourt before joining SIFAX Group, and had just fled Port Harcourt at the height of the militancy era, escaping what he describes plainly as a life-threatening environment. “I came all the way from Port Harcourt during the militancy period in 1995. It was very unsafe. I was almost killed. I packed my things and took the next flight to Lagos because I had never experienced anything like that before.”
What awaited him was a young organisation that had just secured a port concession and was beginning to chart its future. Kunle admits he was new to the maritime industry at the time. “I was a greenhorn,” he says. “But when I heard what concession meant and the futuristic nature of the work, I said to myself, this is going to be a wonderful journey.”
That journey has now spanned over two decades.
Seeing the Future Before It Arrives
From the start, Kunle was drawn not by size or salary, but by vision. He joined at a time when systems were still forming and structures evolving. “What I saw then was the future,” he explains. “Even when things were small, I could see what it could become.”
Over the years, he played critical roles in shipping operations, vessel handling, documentation processes, and regulatory navigation often pushing for smarter, more efficient ways of working. His strength, he says, is simple: solving problems.
“No matter how big a problem is, there is always a solution,” Kunle notes. “Anywhere there is a solution, there is value.”
The Power of Belief and Mentorship
While his growth was driven by personal determination, Kunle is quick to credit those who believed in him when others did not. One such figure is Oscar Bashashi – an expatriate employed to restructure SIFAX Shipping, and a leader who spotted his potential early.
“He told me after completing one of the tasks he assigned to me, ‘What you have written—few people can do this. I see something in you,’” Kunle recalls. “When someone believes in you like that, you don’t forget it.”
That encouragement became a turning point, motivating Kunle to invest deeply in his own development, earning professional certifications, advanced diplomas in shipping and port administration, and continuously expanding his expertise.
Leadership Built on Empathy
Among several roles which ranges from documentation processing, shipping and vessel operations, cargo releasing and cargo consolidation, logistics solution, and negotiation, and problem solving, Kunle is known not only for operational excellence but also for his people-centered leadership style. For him, leadership is not about control but understanding.
“If you don’t have empathy, you won’t get results; your greatest instrument is your people. Make them comfortable, fight for them, listen to them, even the things they don’t say.” he says.
He believes strongly in delegation, structure, and innovation, noting that true leadership ensures the work continues seamlessly even in the leader’s absence.
Milestones That Matter
Among his proudest achievements is his role in managing Ro-Ro vessel operations during a period that recorded zero cases of theft or damage, a feat he attributes to teamwork and strong controls. He also speaks with pride about pioneering LCL Consolidation operations, an initiative he believed in for years before it finally took shape.
“I kept believing in it,” he says. “Today, it has government approval, and we are still among the very few doing it at this level in Nigeria. That gives me great joy.”
Why He Still Shows Up
After more than 20 years, what keeps him coming back each morning?
“I haven’t reached my target yet,” Kunle says simply. “When I get there, then I’ll know I’ve tried.”
He acknowledges that the journey hasn’t always been easy—structures were imperfect, recognition wasn’t always timely—but he is encouraged by the changes he sees today. “Things are improving. The structure is getting better. Talent is beginning to be seen.”
Looking Ahead
Kunle is optimistic about the company’s future and its place on the continental and global stage.
“I see us becoming a household name across West Africa,” he says. “In the next 10 years, I see a strong, regulated company flourishing all over the world. What we are seeing now is just the beginning.”
A Message That Lingers
His advice to younger colleagues is both practical and profound:
“Don’t just come to work—let the company feel your impact. Do something nobody has done before. Put a special delicacy on what you do and let the aroma speak for you.”
