A renowned business executive and entrepreneur, Lawal Garba, has shared lessons from his professional journey with students of Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, Zaria, urging them to uphold integrity, pursue excellence and remain committed to continuous learning.
Garba, a distinguished alumnus of the university and Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Trobell International Nigeria Limited, was the keynote speaker at the second edition of ABU’s Lunch with the Vice-Chancellor programme held at the Yusufu Bala Usman Hall, Main Campus, Samaru, Zaria.
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The programme, introduced by the university last year, provides a relaxed platform for direct interaction between the Vice-Chancellor and students, enabling them to discuss their experiences, aspirations, opportunities and challenges.
Speaking on the theme, “The Lawal Garba Way: Building Enterprises, Creating Opportunities, Transforming Lives,” Garba reflected on his career journey and offered students practical lessons on professional excellence, entrepreneurship, leadership and service.
A Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, FNIQS, and Member of the Order of the Federal Republic, MFR, Garba said his rise as a business executive and entrepreneur was not built on privilege but on persistence, discipline, hard work and faith.
He said his journey was characterised by sacrifices, setbacks, difficult decisions and the consistency required to keep pursuing long-term goals even when immediate results were not forthcoming.
Garba, who studied Quantity Surveying at ABU, distinguished himself in the profession and became the first graduate of Quantity Surveying to establish a property cost-control function in the banking sector.
He said Trobell International Nigeria Limited was established on the principles of excellence, integrity and long-term value creation.
According to him, the company’s early projects reinforced the importance of credibility and trust in business.
“In one early project, we were selected not because we were the biggest firm, but the client believed in our commitment to deliver. This reinforced a lifelong lesson that credibility often matters more than size,” he said.
Garba told the students that business should not be viewed solely as a means of making money but as an avenue for creating solutions and opportunities.
He identified five key principles that had shaped his career: integrity, excellence, continuous learning, relationship-building and resilience.
On integrity, Garba described reputation as one of an entrepreneur’s greatest assets, urging students never to compromise their values even when nobody was watching.
He said some major contracts were secured based on trust and credibility built over the years rather than aggressive marketing.
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Garba also stressed the importance of excellence, noting that consistent attention to detail could determine whether a major project succeeds or fails.
On continuous learning, he warned that professionals who refuse to adapt to new technologies and modern methods risk becoming irrelevant.
“The day you stop learning is the day you start becoming irrelevant,” he said.
The entrepreneur further emphasised the importance of building and maintaining relationships, saying many of the opportunities he encountered came through relationships developed over time rather than formal applications.
“Treat everyone with dignity. Maintain relationships. One conversation can change your life forever,” he advised.
Garba also encouraged students to develop resilience, describing failure as an integral part of the journey to success.
He said unsuccessful bids and unexpected project challenges provided opportunities to review mistakes, learn, improve and return stronger.
“Every setback carries a lesson; every challenge creates strength. Never allow temporary difficulties to destroy permanent opportunities,” he said.
The business executive urged the students to take advantage of opportunities in sectors including agriculture, technology, mining, energy, manufacturing, infrastructure, the digital economy and creative industries.
He advised them to develop relevant skills such as data analysis, engineering competence and digital literacy, while also reading beyond their academic disciplines.
Garba noted that his own transition from Quantity Surveying into business and management demonstrated the importance of acquiring knowledge outside one’s primary field of study.
On leadership, he said true leadership was not about occupying a position but about accepting responsibility and serving others.
According to him, the most fulfilling aspect of success is not personal achievement but the ability to create opportunities for young professionals, support families and contribute to the development of communities.
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Garba expressed appreciation to ABU for providing him with the opportunity to share his experiences with the students and urged the university to continue producing leaders, innovators and nation-builders capable of transforming Nigeria and Africa.