In a dynamic economic landscape, Akinwande Durojaye stands out as a paradigm of modern African entrepreneurship. By the age of 28, this Nigerian innovator had established a portfolio of six companies, achieved a place on the prestigious Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 list, and built ventures with a collective annual turnover exceeding one point two million United States dollars.
His journey from a university dormitory to managing a business empire employing over three hundred people illustrates a profound commitment to identifying practical problems and crafting innovative solutions.
From Campus Intermediary to Founder
Durojaye’s entrepreneurial instinct surfaced early. While studying for a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Information and Communications Engineering at Covenant University, he recognised a simple need: students required easier access to printing and branding services.
At just 17 years old, he began acting as an intermediary, taking orders from the student association and subcontracting the work to professional printers. This modest operation, run for a decade under his father’s company name, was the foundational experience for his future enterprise.
A Diversified Portfolio Addressing Core Needs
Formalising this initial venture led to the creation of JustBrandIt in 2014, a full-service creative agency specialising in branding, prints, and digital marketing.
Its success, serving clients from small businesses to multinational corporations like Microsoft, Oracle, and the British Council, provided a platform for expansion. Durojaye then embarked on a remarkable period of diversification, co-founding five additional companies in a short span.
Each new venture targeted a distinct, commonplace challenge in Nigerian life:
· FixMyRide: A fleet management, auto sales, servicing, and repairs company.
· FueledUp: An on-demand fuel and cooking gas delivery service operated through a mobile application.
· Lashbells Food Company: A snacks manufacturing and packaging company focusing on traditional Nigerian foods.
· Shomolu Errands and Logistics: A dispatch and courier company.
· 708 (or 7zero8): A service delivery and consulting company with a focus on general merchandise and real estate investment.
Philosophy and Foundations of Success
Durojaye’s approach is characterised by bootstrapping and strategic growth. He started JustBrandIt with “zero funding,” reinvesting profits to build the business. Similarly, FixMyRide was launched by leasing vehicles on a contract basis, generating revenue from commissions before expanding.
He credits much of his growth to word-of-mouth referrals and the paramount importance of building trust with clients, which he describes as something “money cannot buy”.
The path was not without significant hurdles, including Nigeria’s erratic power supply, difficulties in accessing formal bank loans, and managing long payment terms from large corporate clients. For Durojaye, overcoming these challenges required passion and emotional intelligence, which he cites as critical for any entrepreneur.
Recognition and Forward Vision
His achievements garnered significant recognition, most notably his inclusion in the Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 list for business in 2018. Looking forward, Durojaye plans to expand JustBrandIt’s physical presence with quick-print shops across Lagos and establish dedicated auto workshops under the FixMyRide brand to serve customers who seek quality between authorised dealers and roadside mechanics.
From mediating print jobs for fellow students to overseeing a multi-sector business group, Akinwande Durojaye’s career trajectory demonstrates how acute observation of local needs, coupled with relentless execution, can build not just a company, but a community of solutions that drive both economic independence and employment.
