Segun Awolowo

About Segun Awolowo

Trade wasn't just moving goods across borders when Segun Awolowo took the helm at the Nigerian Export Promotion Council. It was about reimagining how Africa's largest economy could compete on the global stage.

Olusegun Awolowo Jr. was born on September 27, 1963, into a family steeped in public service. His grandfather, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, was a towering figure in Nigeria's nationalist movement and early governance. The blood ran deep.

He trained as a lawyer, choosing the discipline of law as his foundation. This background shaped how he would later approach trade policy—with precision and an eye for sustainable structures. When he eventually moved into trade promotion, he brought that legal mind to bear on export challenges.

From 2013 to 2021, Awolowo served as Executive Director of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council. During his tenure, he pushed Nigerian businesses to think beyond borders. His focus was on creating pathways for local enterprises to reach international markets with confidence.

The work caught continental attention. In July 2021, he was unanimously elected President of the National Trade Promotion Organizations from ECOWAS member states. It was a significant endorsement—his peers across West Africa choosing him to lead their collective trade efforts.

Awolowo understood that export promotion wasn't just bureaucracy. It required connecting manufacturers to markets, simplifying processes, and building trust with international buyers. He worked to position Nigeria as a reliable trading partner in the region and beyond.

His career reflected a quiet consistency. While others chased headlines, he built institutional capacity. The structures he helped establish at the council and across ECOWAS would outlast his tenure.

Olusegun Awolowo Jr. died on November 20, 2025. He left behind a legacy in trade architecture—the unglamorous but essential work of opening doors for Nigerian businesses to thrive on the world stage.