ABUAD awards honorary doctorate to Cavista chair Niyi Olajide

Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) has awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters to Niyi John Olajide, the chairman of Cavista Holdings, at its 14th convocation ceremony on Wednesday.

The event drew Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe, who each spoke about what Olajide's businesses have brought to the state.

For ordinary Ekiti residents, the interest is in jobs and local spending. Cavista is the parent company of Agbeyewa Farms, a large cassava operation, and Glocient Hospitality, which runs the Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort and Conference Centre.

What the dignitaries said

Oyebanji called Olajide an international businessman who has put money into his home state rather than only talking about it. According to the governor, the investments run into millions of dollars and have created work for thousands of people across farming, hospitality and other ventures.

He singled out the ongoing work at Ikogosi, saying a stronger resort could pull more visitors into Ekiti and lift the communities around it.

The Ooni said he had looked into Olajide's record and came away impressed, describing him as someone whose commitment to his home state deserved recognition. He said he hoped the investments would keep opening doors for Ekiti people.

The Ewi said the state has waited more than two decades for investors ready to stand beside the development work of ABUAD's founder, Aare Afe Babalola. He expressed hope that Olajide's example would draw other successful Nigerians abroad and in the private sector back into Ekiti's economy.

Who is Olajide?

Olajide founded and chairs Cavista Holdings, which has interests in technology, agriculture, hospitality, financial technology and energy. Its businesses include Cavista Technologies, Agbeyewa Farms, Glocient Hospitality, PayZeep and Matna Foods, which makes food-grade cassava starch.

He also founded Axxess, a home healthcare technology company based in Dallas, Texas, in 2007. It now operates in the United States, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

He studied at the University of Texas at Dallas, which named him a Distinguished Alumnus in 2015, and he co-chaired a $750 million fundraising campaign there. In 2023 he was elected board chairman of the Corporate Council on Africa, which works to deepen trade and investment ties between the United States and African countries.

ABUAD's citation said the degree honours his work as an entrepreneur, investor, healthcare innovator and philanthropist, and his push for better access to healthcare and education.

The university did not say what the honorary degree requires of him, and neither Olajide nor Cavista has announced new projects tied to the award.