For many Nigerians, the 'Japa' trip to Canada is often filled with both hope and uncertainty. The challenge is not lack of talent, as Nigeria exports some of the brightest minds in the world, but rather the challenge is to build a bridge between Nigerian potential and Canadian corporate reality.
Babatope (Babes) Attafo, is a Canada-based Nigerian passionate about building a talent pipeline of professionals with globally in-demand skills, transforming the Nigerian diaspora from newcomers to industry leaders.
He believes success in Canada can and should spur progress domestically.
From Nigerian bars to global boardrooms
Babes' three decade long journey began at the Nigeria Law School in Victoria Island. With LLB. And despite having the BL in hand, he had the keen analytical mind of a lawyer, but his vision extended far beyond the courtroom. He recognized early on that the future of global influence lay at the intersection of law, business and technology. He has of late obtained IT and project management credentials such as: PMP, CBAP, PRINCE2, ITIL, and Scrum Master, and many others.
After immigrating to Canada and honing his expertise at the University of Waterloo, he didn't just look for a seat at the table; He created his own. Today, as Chairman and CEO of Topron Group, an IT, aviation training and consulting firm, he is considered a “polymath of productivity.”
He is able to combine the flexibility of a Nigerian education with the specialized certifications of the global tech market and understand the secret of the Canadian dream.
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portfolio worth billions
Babs has not only mentored, but engineered change. From $500k initiatives to a staggering portfolio of $4 billion, his impact spans digital transformation for the federal government of Canada, to his involvement in infrastructure development for the Ontario Provincial Police.
He was also involved in strategic solutions for global giants such as JPMorgan Chase in the United States (US) and T-Mobile in the United Kingdom (UK).
The 'Topron Effect': Building Pipelines
What makes Babs truly impressive to the Nigerian community in Canada, UK, USA, Nigeria and many other countries is not just her personal resume, but also her commitment to lifting while climbing. Through Topron Consulting and ImproveTech, they created a structured ecosystem that trains Nigerians to acquire in-demand skills for positions in high-demand Canadian technical and business roles, which typically positions them to obtain work permits and permanent residence status. The trainings come with post-training support providing globally recognized credentials.
As a Global Endorsed Education Provider (EEP) for the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) since 2011, the Institute has given many Nigerian professionals a platform that holds international significance.
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Topron alumni span across multinationals, technology companies, 'Big Four' consulting firms, the health sector, the Government of Canada and many others.
His alumni include Kingsley Madu, founder and CEO of Expedia, the first black-owned digital bank in Canada (not travel company Expedia), which was created to help immigrants and disadvantaged communities build credit and access financial services, addressing the difficulties he faced as a newcomer. There is also Ufuoma Awomosu, a medical doctor and clinical business analyst who helps immigrants settle in Canada.
Creating a legacy 'home and abroad'
Atafo's roots run deep in Nigeria. Even as he tours the Western world, his influence resonates in Nigeria through his work with First Bank Nigeria MTN Group and Ambrose Alli University.
Through the talent pipelines he has created, many Nigerians have transformed from “newcomers” to “subject matter experts” through his mentorship and training.
According to Attafo, “We are not just filling roles; we are defining the future of global business.”
