ABUAD honours Cavista Holdings chair, Olajide, with Doctor of Letters

…as Oyebanji, Ooni, Ewi hail businessman’s investments in agriculture, tourism, job creation

The Chairman of Cavista Holdings, Mr Niyi John Olajide, has received an honorary Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) degree from Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), with Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, and prominent traditional rulers commending his investments in agriculture, tourism and job creation in the state.

Olajide received the honour during the university’s 14th convocation ceremony on Wednesday October 21st, which was attended by prominent political and traditional leaders, including Oyebanji, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe.

The dignitaries praised Olajide’s contributions to employment generation, industrial development and the economic transformation of Ekiti State.

Oyebanji described Olajide as an accomplished international businessman and a patriotic Ekiti indigene who had chosen to complement the state government’s efforts to attract private investment and industrialise the state.

The governor said Olajide, through Cavista Holdings, the parent company of Agbeyewa Farms and Glocient Hospitality, had invested millions of dollars in Ekiti’s economy, creating employment opportunities and contributing to the development of the state’s agricultural and tourism sectors.

He particularly commended the businessman’s involvement in the ongoing transformation of Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort into a world-class tourist destination, saying the investment had the potential to strengthen Ekiti’s position on Nigeria’s tourism map.

Governor Oyebanji said Olajide’s investments demonstrated how private capital could complement government efforts to stimulate economic growth, create jobs and improve the livelihoods of residents.

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The governor described him as one of the leading investors in Ekiti, noting that his business interests had generated employment for thousands of people through agricultural, hospitality and other ventures.

According to the governor, the investments had also helped to reposition Ikogosi and its surrounding communities as an emerging destination for tourism and hospitality.

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, also praised Olajide’s contributions to Ekiti, describing him as an enigmatic personality whose investments and commitment to his home state deserved recognition.

The monarch said he had personally examined information about Olajide’s background and activities and was impressed by his accomplishments.

The Ooni further commended Olajide’s contribution to employment and community development, expressing the hope that his investments would continue to create opportunities for the people of Ekiti.

The Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe, said the state needed more entrepreneurs willing to invest their resources and expertise in its development.

The monarch noted that, for more than two decades, Ekiti had looked forward to having more investors willing to complement the developmental contributions of ABUAD founder, Aare Afe Babalola.

He expressed optimism that Olajide’s emergence as a major investor would encourage other successful Nigerians in the diaspora and the private sector to channel resources into the state’s economy.

Olajide is the founder and chairman of Cavista Holdings, a diversified investment company with interests spanning technology, agriculture, hospitality, financial technology and energy.

He is also the founder and chairman of Axxess, a Dallas, Texas-based home healthcare technology company established in 2007. The company has grown into an international enterprise with operations across the United States, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

Through Cavista Holdings, Olajide oversees several businesses, including Cavista Technologies Limited, Agbeyewa Farms, Glocient Hospitality, PayZeep and Matna Foods Limited.

Agbeyewa Farms is a major cassava farming enterprise, while Glocient Hospitality manages Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort and Conference Centre. PayZeep operates in financial technology, while Matna Foods is involved in the production of food-grade cassava starch.

The businessman’s interests in agriculture and hospitality have placed him at the centre of efforts to expand private-sector participation in Ekiti’s economic development, particularly in areas where the state has sought to attract investment, generate employment and develop its tourism potential.

Beyond his business activities, Olajide has held leadership positions in international business organisations. He was elected chairman of the board of the Corporate Council on Africa in 2023, a position that places him within efforts to promote trade and investment relations between the United States and African countries.

A graduate of the University of Texas at Dallas, he received the institution’s Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2015, becoming its youngest recipient at the time. He also co-chaired a $750 million capital campaign aimed at expanding student opportunities and supported the establishment of the university’s Africa Regional Office in Nigeria.

He has served on the boards of organisations in the home healthcare industry and civic institutions in the United States, while his philanthropic activities have focused on healthcare, education, poverty alleviation and women’s empowerment.

His honorary degree from ABUAD, according to the university’s citation, recognises his accomplishments as an entrepreneur, investor, home healthcare innovator, civic leader and philanthropist, as well as his advocacy for improved healthcare access and quality education.