Ibidapo Lawal
Ibidapo Lawal is a Nigerian businessperson and entrepreneur. He is the founder of commodities export and trading company, Neveah Limited. His company was named the Best Sectoral Exporters of Solid Minerals by Nigeria Export Promotion Council in 2022 and was ranked 21st fastest growing company in Nigeria and 1st in the Metals and Mining category by the Financial Times in 2025.
Early life and education
Lawal did his bachelor's degree at Lead City University, Abuja. He left Nigeria in 2012 for his Masters in Business Administration at Drexel University, Pennsylvania. Lawal has Undergone training in Executive Management and Finance at Wharton School of Business.
Career
Before founding Neveah Limited, Lawal started his first venture in 2007 as a teenager by founding Activo Global Investments, a startup that provided training and consulting services on exportation in Nigeria.
Neveah Limited
Lawal founded Neveah Limited in 2014 and by 2023 had around 70 employees. The Punch Newspapers describes the company as a commodities export and trading company, dealing in agricultural commodities, base metals and minor metals.
The company exports to 15 countries in Europe, Asia and North America. Neveah Limited was named the Best Sectoral Exporters of Solid Minerals by Nigeria Export Promotion Council in 2022 and was ranked 21st fastest growing company in Nigeria and 1st in the Metals and Mining category by Financial Times in 2025. The company developed an aluminum recycling plant in Ogun State to recycle aluminum and copper waste for export to markets globally, which aimed to create 6,500 jobs.
In 2021, the company started accessing working capital from the capital market in form of commercial papers and started with N10 billion. As of September 2024, the company has raised a cumulative total of N25.51 billion through its Series 1-15 Commercial Paper issuances to address working capital needs and have repaid them.
Philanthropy
The Ibidapo Lawal Foundation has empowered more than 8,000 persons and has donated to the less privileged. The foundation donates academic materials, including books and food items, to aid the education of the children.