At a remarkably young age, Segun Lawson has evolved from a geology student intrigued by Africa’s untapped gold deposits to directing multi-million-dollar mining operations across West Africa, transforming natural resources into revenue while navigating some of the region’s most complex mining landscapes.
In a recent interview with Business Insider Africa, Lawson reflected on a journey that began in geology classrooms and corporate finance advisory roles before gradually evolving into building one of West Africa’s emerging gold producers.
“I studied geology at university, so I’ve always been a geologist,” he said. “Then I worked in corporate finance advising junior mining companies and junior oil and gas companies.”
Subsequently, after completing his MBA in 2008–2009, he began reassessing why Africa’s mining sector, particularly in Nigeria had consistently struggled to attract large-scale investment despite its rich geological potential.
“Rather than go back into the job market, I looked at why these projects in Nigeria hadn’t taken off,” he said. “We started packaging projects for fundraising and technical advancement. It began as a consultancy.”
