Taopheek Babayeju has been named the Person of the Year by the Project Management Institute, USA on the 19th of September 2024 at the Global Congress in Los Angeles, California. The most coveted Eric Jenett Award in recognition of his remarkable contributions to the project management profession, technical expertise, strategic leadership, and business acumen.
Taopheek Babayeju is an exemplary leader and entrepreneur known for his outstanding commitment to excellence and dedication to service. As a transformation expert and management and technology professional, he is passionate about developing individuals, transforming organizations, and impacting society.
His exceptional contributions to the project management profession have had a lasting and profoundly positive impact, spanning over a decade. His transformative initiatives have reshaped project management practices in Nigeria and left an indelible mark on the broader project management community in Africa.
Mr. Babayeju has over two decades of rich and diverse experience in strategy, organizational, digital, and agile transformation, project, program, and portfolio management, PMO delivery, technology consulting, information and cybersecurity, change management, risk management, and learning and development. His educational background, including a bachelor’s degree in physics from Lagos State University, an MBA from Lagos Business School, and executive education from Harvard Business School and IESE Business School, along with various global certifications reflects his relentless pursuit of knowledge and expertise.
As CEO of iCentra, a leading business and technology solutions company, since 2009, Mr. Babayeju has expanded the company’s presence from Abuja, Nigeria to Texas, United States, with a contact office in London, United Kingdom, serving clients globally. Under his leadership, iCentra has driven digital, organizational, and agile transformations, establishing itself as a frontrunner in the field. Mr. Babayeju has overseen multi-million-dollar portfolios across diverse sectors, contributing significantly to enhancing operational efficiency, driving innovation, and achieving strategic objectives.
Notably, Mr. Babayeju has spearheaded transformational projects within both public and private organizations, including initiatives by Nigeria’s apex bank, the federal revenue agency, and the national oil and gas company amongst various governmental agencies and development partners.
Designated by the United States government as a Person with Extraordinary Achievement and Abilities for his documented extraordinary achievements in business, technology, and management. Mr. Babayeju has since then extended his professional practice and establishment of iCentra Solutions LLC in the United States.
Mr. Babayeju is also an angel investor and mentor to many start-ups. His expertise in technology and management has positioned him for leadership roles on the boards of several business and not-for-profit organizations. He has served on several technology and innovation initiatives, including the Presidential Committee on Innovation, contributing to the development of Nigeria’s innovation policy.
A published author and contributor at Forbes Magazine and BusinessDay newspaper, Mr. Babayeju has been an active advocate for management and technology in Nigeria and across Africa. His scholarly articles have made significant contributions to the fields of management, technology, and innovation.
His visionary leadership, technical proficiency, and business acumen have garnered him both national and international acclaim as a trailblazer in technology and management. Throughout his illustrious career, Mr. Babayeju has received numerous prestigious awards, including the 2010 Most Outstanding Contribution to Project Management in Nigeria by the Project Management Institute, Nigeria Chapter. This honor marked a historic milestone in the discipline and highlighted his exceptional contributions to the project management profession.
