Yahaya Yahaya was shaped by a family of civil servants that valued discipline and responsibility. Those roots remain the compass of his life today. At just 36, Yahaya, a Nigerian lawyer turned entrepreneur, has grown into one of Nigeria’s most intriguing entrepreneurs, building a portfolio that cuts across mining, real estate, workspace solutions, fashion and social impact.
Yahaya has always believed that ideas are plenty in Nigeria but that very few are followed through with structure and execution. “In Nigeria, ideas are plenty. What is scarce is governance and execution, that is where I focus,” he told BusinessDay. It is this philosophy that has helped him move from one opportunity to another with a strong sense of discipline.
Mining has been one of his boldest bets. In Nasarawa State, he is a private sector operator in the Uke Gold Project, an initiative of the state government designed to formalise artisanal mining and unlock structured commercial production. The project is moving from small-scale ore collection to modern exploration and pilot plant processing, with maiden drilling programmes in view.
His work in real estate shows the same attention to scale and detail. As Group Managing Director of The Mall Nigeria, Yahaya is pushing forward the completion of The Mall Karu in Nasarawa State.
In Ikeja, he is pioneering Pay and Work, Africa’s first workspace hospitality club. The project is built around the idea of giving businesses and professionals not just offices, but communities. At the same time, he is reviving McRabbit, a lifestyle brand offering underwear, Moodwear tees and collectible toys, supported by influencer-led marketing and sustainable packaging.
He has also seeded the Yahaya Alapansanpa Youth Empowerment Fund, designed to support education and create opportunities for young people. His cultural role as Head of Planning and Strategy for the Ilorin Emirate Durbar Committee places him at the heart of one of Nigeria’s most diverse cultural festivals, built around the theme of unity in diversity.
Looking ahead, Yahaya is not slowing down. In the next two years, he plans to deliver maiden drilling and first resource statements for Uke Gold, complete The Mall Karu, expand Pay and Work into a scalable network of workspaces, and push McRabbit into African and diaspora markets. “We are not chasing size, we are building institutions that will outlast us,” he said with conviction.
At just 36, Yahaya Yahaya is still very much at the beginning of his journey, but already he is showing what is possible when governance meets execution.
