Business titan relives career life at ABU ‘Lunch with the Vice-Chancellor’ programme
. Lists integrity, excellence, continuous learning, relationships building, resilience as key to business successThe second edition of the ‘Lunch with the Vice-Chancellor’ programme introduced by Ahmadu Bello University took place at the weekend with a renowned business executive and entrepreneur, Lawal Garba, sharing his career life with students of the institution.
The programme was introduced last year by the university to create a relaxed and direct platform where the Vice-Chancellor could interact with the students.
In the course of interaction with students the Vice-Chancellor would listen to their experiences and aspirations, and share with them some of the opportunities, challenges and responsibilities that come with being a student of the university.
Lawal Garba, FNIQS, MFR, a distinguished alumnus of Ahmadu Bello University having been its graduate after studying Quantity Surveying, is the Chairman/CEO of Trobell International Nigeria Ltd.
Garba was the keynote speaker at this year’s ABU ‘Lunch with the Vice-Chancellor’ programme that was held at Yusufu Bala Usman Hall, ABU Main Campus, Samaru, Zaria at the weekend.
The lecture, ‘The Lawal Garba Way: Building Enterprises, Creating Opportunities, Transforming Lives’, offered students of the university valuable lessons in professional excellence, entrepreneurship and service to society.
Garba, who distinguished himself as a Quantity Surveyor, became the first graduate of Quantity Surveying to establish a property cost-control function in the banking sector.
Speaking at the occasion, the guest lecturer explained that his journey as a business executive and entrepreneur was not defined by privilege but by persistence, discipline, hard work and faith.
According to him, success did not come overnight as it came through sacrifice and setbacks like losing opportunities which he thought were certain.
Garba also said success came through difficult decisions, including walking away from short-term gains that did not align with long-term integrity.
The business executive stated that most importantly, it came through consistency – showing up every day when results were not immediate.
He told the story of his company – Trobell Nigeria Ltd, which he said was established on a vision of excellence, integrity and long term value creation.
Garba also said they started modestly, taking on projects that required not just technical competence but also trust.
“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.
He stressed that business is not simply about making money but it is about creating solutions and that the greatest asset any entrepreneur possesses is not capital but reputation.
The keynote speaker further told students of the university five lessons for success, saying “integrity is everything”
He said he had seen situations where contracts worth millions were awarded based solely on trust built over the years – not aggressive marketing.
The business entrepreneur stressed the need for guarding one’s name jealously by never compromising integrity, even when no one is watching.
He mentioned excellence as another lesson for success, stressing that success is the result of consistent excellence.
“In one instance, a small detail in a documentation or execution made the difference between approval and rejection of a major project”, he stated.
Garba said continuous learning is another lesson for success.
He recalled a time when traditional methods dominated the business sector, but those who refused to learn digital tools and modern project systems gradually became irrelevant.
“The day you stop learning”, according to him, “is the day you start becoming irrelevant”.
Garba further stressed the need for building relationships, as no successful person succeeds alone. “Your network matters”, he said.
He explained that some of the most important opportunities in his journey came not from formal applications, but from relationships built over time.
“Treat everyone with dignity. Maintain relationships. One conversation can change your life forever”, he said.
Lawal Garba also spoke on the need to be resilient. He stressed that failure is not the opposite of success, but part of success.
He said there were moments when bids were unsuccessful, or projects faced unexpected challenges, saying instead of giving up, they reviewed, learned, improved and returned stronger.
“Every setback carries a lesson; every challenge creates strength. Never allow temporary difficulties to destroy permanent opportunities” he counseled.
He said Nigeria remained one of the most promising countries in the world and that the opportunities before the students were enormous.
Garba told students of the university that opportunities exist in the following but not limited to: agriculture, technology, mining, energy, manufacturing, infrastructure, digital economy, creative industries.
He said what they must do is to, among many others, develop valuable skills such as data analysis, engineering competence, or digital literacy that make them relevant in the job market.
He also advised them to read beyond their academic disciplines, just as he had to learn business and management which is beyond Quantity Surveying which is what he studied in ABU, Zaria.
The business executive also spoke on leadership and service, saying true leadership is not about position, but about responsibility and service.
The greatest leaders are those who create opportunities for others, stressing that the most fulfilling part of success is not personal achievement, but seeing young professionals grow, families supported, and communities improved through their work.
Lawal Garba expressed gratitude to Ahmadu Bello University for giving him the opportunity to share his professional experience with students.
He urged his alma mater to continue to produce leaders, innovators and nation builders who will transform Nigeria and Africa.
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Public Affairs Directorate,
Office of the Vice-Chancellor,
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (NEWS/NAM/AHW&PIC/YOU/DAH)
Sunday, 6th September, 2026
