Starcomms Chairman Promotes African Investment in Columbia

Chief Maan Lababidi (OON), chairman of Starcomms Nigeria Plc., has demonstrated his support for the inflow of foreign direct investment to Africa as a whole and Nigeria in particular by sponsoring the recently concluded 7th Annual African Economic Forum.
The forum was organized by the SIPA-Pan African Network, African Business Club and the African Law Students Association of the prestigious Columbia University. The forum took place at the Columbia Business School in New York City. This year’s forum, which had the theme: “Africa Turning Golden: How a Continent is Moving Forward,” was a gathering of experts in global business. The Forum has been adjudged the largest Africa-focused event at Columbia University.  According to the organizers of the forum this year, scholars and business people from diverse fields, discussed opportunities and challenges as well as strategies for a prosperous Africa.
“Our generation has witnessed remarkable changes that revolutionized our thinking with respect to African growth and development. Today, we seek to highlight the rebirth of the beautiful African minds that have emerged as a result of these changes,” said Chidi Iwuchukwu & Rebecca Engle co-chairs of the forum
Though of Syrian-Lebanese origin, Chief Lababidi has his imprint on many sectors of the Nigerian economy, employing thousands of Nigerians. His interests in the country cut across businesses like flour mills, luxury hotels, fisheries, telecommunication networks and construction companies. He has been deploying his resources into promoting the flow of foreign investments into Nigeria in elite circles. He is a founding member of the African Round Table (ABR) and the Nigeria-Arab Association.  He holds the chieftaincy titles of Baba Oja of Lagos and Baba Adinni of Ijebuland. The chief was honoured with the Order of the Niger (OON) award by President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2002.
He has also devoted his time to supporting sound educational pursuit for young Nigerians. For the past three years, Lababidi, through Starcomms Plc. has been partnering with the Columbia Business School to organize forums in Nigeria where representatives of the school rub minds with aspiring Nigerians. The annual collaboration with the Columbia Business School was designed to enhance the skills and experience of Nigerian professionals who may want to proceed to the institution for further education. The globalization of business in recent times has made it imperative for Nigerian business professionals to look beyond the shores of the country for capacity building.
Chief Maan Lababidi is the executive chairman of the Fou’ad Lababidi Foundation which oversees the administration of the Lababidi Islamic Academy, a post primary educational institution. Chief Lababidi holds a Bachelors Degree and a Masters Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Texas USA where he graduated with Honors in both cases.