Ladi
Delano is an accomplished British-Nigerian young entrepreneur in emerging
markets, generally south-east Asia and China. He has been involved in a variety
of sectors and also natural resources M&A and structured finance. He made
his first million dollars selling alcoholic beverages during his residence in
China. At the age of 22 in the year 2004, he started a business
called Solidarnosc Asia which specialized in manufacturing a premium
brand of Vodka called Solid XS. Delano did not stop there, however. He branched out his company
to launch The Collection; a dining and entertainment venue which is obviously a
smart move for someone who owns an alcohol business.
Delano
subsequently sold the company to a rival liquor company for over $15 million
and ploughed his funds into his next venture-The Delano Reid Group, areal
estate investment holding company focused on mainland China. Today, Delano is
the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Bakrie Delano Africa (BDA) – a $1
billion joint venture with the $15 billion (market cap) Bakrie Group of
Indonesia. Bakrie Delano Africa serves as the investment partner of the Bakrie
Group in Nigeria. The Indonesian conglomerate has provided over $900 million
worth of funds to invest in Nigeria and Bakrie Delano Africa is responsible for
identifying investment opportunities in mining, agriculture and oil & gas
and executing them.
‘The
path may have been well lit, but hardship lurked around the corner. In his
student days, Delano found he suffered from mild dyslexia and deafness in one
ear. Learning became more and more difficult and the idea of school waned.
Despite this, with the help of extra lessons, Delano made it to a top
university on a day he describes as glorious. The novelty soon wore off and
academia became Delano’s nemesis. In his second year of a political science
degree, he made up his mind. “It became quite clear that I didn’t have a
passion for my course. I think that lead to me being easily distracted and
that, ultimately, culminated in me thinking that rather than flogging a dead
horse, it would make more sense to do something I was more comfortable with.
There are two types of education and each form of
education is equally as valuable. The academic approach to education is vital;
no business can operate and be successful without those who have spent the time
to understand the academic side of anything. However, that approach to
education is not necessarily for everybody. And in my case it wasn’t. So, I
decided to withdraw from university,” he says. Delano’s decision didn’t go down
well at home, but there was no stopping
him. At least university had planted the idea of becoming an entrepreneur.’ He
says.
In April 2012, Delano moved back to Nigeria; a country with 60% of the
population under the age of 35 and a youth unemployment rate sitting at
43%.
Delano moved back to Nigeria with one of Indonesia’s biggest conglomerates, Bakrie
Group to form Bakrie Delano Africa (BDA) with the intention of investing $1
billion in Nigeria over the next five years. Also to provide jobs and help Nigerian youth develop themselves.
From London,
to Chicago, to China and West Africa; through vodka, mining and hotels; it has
been a roller coaster ride for Ladi Delano in his first 31 years and you get
the feeling he has only just got started.
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