Adebayo Ogunlesi: The Nigerian Visionary Behind Multibillion-Dollar Deals and Burna Boy’s Lyrics
3 min read
Adebayo-Ogunlesi
For many Nigerians, the name Adebayo Ogunlesi first came with the ringing of a bell in 2016 when then U.S. President-elect Donald Trump appointed him to the “President’s Strategic and Policy Forum“–a group of high-ranking business leaders to advise on economic matters. For some, it was in 2020 when Burna Boy paid homage to him in the popular song Wonderful, snitching, “As I dey hustle like Adebayo Ogunlesi (No go talk say me I too lazy),” which of course triggered the interest in who this man was.
Today, Ogunlesi is in the headlines again, this time as the founder and leader of Global Infrastructure Partners–GIP–the private equity firm acquired by BlackRock Inc.-the world‘s largest money manager–for an astonishing $12.5 billion.
BlackRock Deal
According to Bloomberg, BlackRock will pay $3 billion in cash and 12 million shares worth approximately $9.5 billion for GIP, which manages more than $100 billion in assets. As part of the deal, Ogunlesi will join BlackRock’s board and global executive committee–a fitting next chapter for a man who‘s spent decades building an extraordinary career.
Who Is Adebayo Ogunlesi?
Family and Early Life
Ogunlesi was born in Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria, into a very prominent family. His father, Professor Theophilus O. Ogunlesi, was Nigeria‘s first Professor of Medicine. Adebayo married Dr. Amelia Quist-Ogunlesi, an optometrist from England, in 1985, and they have two sons: Geoffrey, a music executive, and Carl, a music producer.
Education
Ogunlesi’s academic journey is a testament to his brilliance. He attended King’s College in Lagos before earning a first-class degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from Oxford University. He then pursued a JD-MBA program at Harvard, where he simultaneously earned a law degree and an MBA in 1979.
Career Highlights
Ogunlesi’s professional journey has been nothing short of remarkable:
Legal Beginnings: He worked with the prestigious New York law firm Cravath, Swaine & Moore and eventually clerked for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall.
Investment Banking: He started at First Boston back in 1983 and advised on international finance projects. In 1997, he was already Head of the Global Energy Group at Credit Suisse, rising to Global Head of Investment Banking.
GIP: In 2006, Ogunlesi founded Global Infrastructure Partners, which pioneered infrastructural investments. During his time, GIP had acquired interests in London City Airport, Gatwick Airport, and Edinburgh Airport.
Goldman Sachs: He was appointed to the board of Goldman Sachs in 2012, and in 2014, he became the Lead Director.
Why He‘s an Icon
Ogunlesi’s story is one of ambition, perseverance, and unparalleled expertise. From shaping global infrastructure to featuring in Grammy-winning lyrics, he embodies the spirit of hustling with purpose.
His rise to prominence culminated in the BlackRock acquisition, which further cemented his status as a trendsetter who inspires young Nigerians and entrepreneurs around the world. Whether he is advising heads of state around the world or making history in finance, Adebayo Ogunlesi proves time and again that the hustle is worth it.
About The Author
