For many Nigerians, the ‘Japa’ journey to Canada is often paved with both hope and uncertainty. The challenge is not a lack of talent, as Nigeria exports some of the brightest minds in the world, but rather creating the bridge between the Nigerian potential and Canadian corporate reality.
Babatope (Babs) Atafo, is a Canada-based Nigeria that is passionate about creating a talent pipeline of professionals with globally in-demand skills, transforming the Nigerian diasporan from newcomers into industry leaders.
He believes that success in Canada can and should fuel progress back home.
From the Nigerian bar to global boardrooms
Babs’ three-decade long journey began at the Nigeria Law School in Victoria Island. With an LL.B. and B.L. in hand, he possessed the sharp analytical mind of a lawyer, but his vision extended far beyond the courtroom. He recognised early on that the future of global impact lay at the intersection of law, business, and technology. He lated obtained IT and project management credentials such as: PMP, CBAP, PRINCE2, ITIL, and Scrum Master, among many others.
After migrating to Canada and sharpening his expertise at the University of Waterloo, he didn’t just look for a seat at the table; he built his own. Today, as the president and CEO of Topron Group, an IT, aviation training and consulting firm, he is regarded as a “Polymath of Productivity.”
He has been able to blend the resilience of a Nigerian education with the specialised certifications of the global tech market,and decoding the secret to the Canadian dream.
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A portfolio of billions
Babs hasn’t just consulted, but has architected change. From $500k initiatives to staggering $4 billion portfolios, his influence spans his involvement in the digital transformation for the Federal Government of Canada, infrastructure development for the Ontario provincial police.
He was also involved in strategic solutions for global giants like JP Morgan Chase in the United States(US) and T-Mobile in the United Kingdom (UK).
The ‘Topron effect’: Creating the pipeline
What makes Babs truly impactful to the Nigerian community in Canada, the UK, US, Nigeria and many other countries is not just his personal resume but his commitment to lifting as he climbs. Through Topron Consulting and Improvtek, he created a structured ecosystem that trains Nigerians to obtain in-demand skills for positions into high-demand Canadian tech and business roles, which normally positions them to obtain work permits and permanenent residency status. The trainings come with post-training support providing credentials recognised globally.
As a global Endorsed Education Provider (EEP) for the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) since 2011, the institution has given many Nigerian professionals a platform that carries international weights.
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Topron’s alumni cuts across multinationals, technology companies, the ‘Big Four’ consulting firms, the health sector, the government of Canada and many others.
Among his alumni, is Kingsley Madu, founder and CEO of Expedier,the first black-owned digital bank in Canada (not Expedia the travel company), created to help immigrants and underserved communities build credit and access financial services, addressing the difficulties he also faced as a newcomer. Also is Ufuoma Awomosu, medical doctor and clinical business analyst, who also helps migrants settle in Canada.
Creating a legacy of ‘home and abroad’
Atafo remains deeply rooted in Nigeria. Even as he navigates the western world, his impact resonates in Nigeria through his consulting work with First bank Nigeria MTN group, and Ambrose Alli university.
Through the talent pipelines he created, many Nigerians have transitioned from “newcomer” to “subject matter expert” through his mentorship and training.
According to Atafo, “We are not just filling roles; we are defining the future of global business.”
