Life is in phases. Men evolve in stages. Some are born great; some achieve greatness; while others have greatness thrust upon their destinies. This enduring truth adapted from the words of a famous sage, offers an illuminating insight into the story of Seyi Tinubu, son of His Excellency, Bola Tinubu, GCFR, President, Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The typology of greatness fits Seyi with peculiar lessons.
He was born into a noble family.
He is undeniably a hardworking young man.
He is a man of grace, seemingly destined for remarkable exploits.
More significantly, he is an ebullient young Nigerian who has maximised the circumstances of his birth without allowing them to define the limits of his ambition. Through self-discovery, discipline and determination, he has sought to convert both his latent and manifest potentials into tangible accomplishments.
His biological father, Bola Tinubu, first gained national prominence as the transformational Governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007,following a remarkable career in the oil and gas industry as an accounting executive with Mobil Nigeria, now ExxonMobil, a multinational corporation. Today, he stands as President of Nigeria, the proverbial Giant of Africa.
Yet Seyi, even with his privileged background, chose to carve a niche for himself, pursuing excellence through his intellectual acumen, personal skills and determination. He deliberately devoted effort to education, career, entrepreneurship and leadership through discipline, sharp focus and unwavering dedication. His exceptional proclivity to build an identity independent of his family name represents a quality not often associated with children born into wealth, influence and political prominence.
He is, in many respects, a study in the possibilities of inherited privilege transformed into personal purpose.
Born on October 13, 1985, Seyi received his elementary and secondary education in the United Kingdom before proceeding to Lincoln University and the University of Maryland in the United States. Rather than becoming distracted by the privileges that accompanied his upbringing, he concentrated on his education and intellectual development.
He earned an LLB and a Master’s degree in Corporate and Commercial Law from the University of Buckingham, United Kingdom. In 2013, he was called to the Nigerian Bar, qualifying as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
With these formidable credentials, Seyi made his mark in legal practice,subsequently diversifying into other dignified ventures in the service of mankind. He rose to become Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Loatsad Promomedia, a leading advertising and digital media company in Nigeria, while also establishing himself as a notable corporate player in real estate.
Seyi’s humanity has particularly found salutary expression in his commitment to philanthropy and public charity, with a focus on advancing national development. He developed the Noella Foundation, a non-profit organisation established to support education, healthcare and youth empowerment, in addition to the STEP: Seyi Tinubu Empowerment Project, dedicated to mentoring a generation of creative young people and promising technology entrepreneurs. Through these selfless interventions, thousands of job opportunities have been created, decent livelihoods promoted among young people, and girl-child education advanced across the country.
He is the co-founder of TELD NGO, an initiative designed to improve the material well-being of Nigerians, particularly underprivileged youths. Through the organisation, young people have been trained and equipped with life-changing skills, encouraging enterprise, promoting self-reliance and contributing to the growth of the local economy
By this commitment to youth development, Seyi clearly demonstrates his belief that the future of Nigeria is inseparable from the capacity of its young population to acquire knowledge, develop skills and participate meaningfully in society.
He has equally distinguished himself as a sports enthusiast. He plays polo with admirable zeal and is committed to developing horse stables, while also keenly following local and international football.
Perhaps Seyi’s most outstanding contribution to nation-building is the formation of the City Boy Movement (CBM) in 2022. A youth-oriented mass mobilisation support group. The movement rallied support for Tinubu and contributed to his overwhelming victory in the 2023 presidential election. Today, it exists as a formidable youth-based organisation with a nationwide grassroots structure, promoting government policies and programmes in the biggest democracy in Africa.
Conceived as a youth-oriented mass mobilisation support group, the movement played a prominent role in mobilising young Nigerians for the presidential campaign of Tinubu and contributed to the eventual victory of the All Progressives Congress candidate in the 2023 presidential election.
Today, the City Boy Movement has developed into a formidable youth-based organisation with a nationwide grassroots structure, promoting government policies and programmes and encouraging young Nigerians to participate actively in the political process.
But the City Boy Movement is not merely a political organisation.
It is an ideological platform motivating young Nigerians to occupy the centre stage of national politics, shape the narrative of their national heritage and assert themselves in governance, leadership and decision-making processes.
The membership appeal cuts across social status, gender and religious inclination, seeking to connect youths in cities and communities with a shared sense of political participation and national responsibility.
Remarkably, the City Boy Movement has gained popularity and credibility as a platform for social and political moral rearmament for a new Nigeria. Inspiring a new generation of Nigerians to become active participants in shaping the country’s future. It represents a bold and revolutionary testament to Seyi’s patriotism, ingenuity and foresight.
Away from the demands of politics, public engagement and business, Seyi is a consummate family man even at a young age. He is faithfully married to his long-standing sweetheart, Layal Jade, who is also a successful entrepreneur. She is the Chief Executive Officer of Tot Toys, a thriving children’s educational toyshop and recreation/learning centre dedicated to moulding the character of children and nurturing them to become cultivated men and women of tomorrow.
His labour of love for the advancement of the youth and the development of Nigeria remains evident, having attracted widespread commendation in both local and international circles.
Seyi has been honoured with the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award at the Leadership Excellence Awards (2017); Business Person, Entrepreneur Africa Award (2019); Special Recognition Award at the Justival Award Night (2019); Patron of Man O’ War Lagos (2019); Most Influential People of African Descent Under 40 (2019); Excellence Award in Media Enterprise, Sapio Club (2019); and the Europe Business Assembly (EBA) Award for Best Enterprise and Manager of the Year (2019).
He is also a recipient of the prestigious ECOWAS Youth Ambassador for Entrepreneurship and Youth Development Award (2019) and a notable inductee of the Institute of Public Resources Management and Politics, Ghana (2020).
A culturally accomplished connoisseur of tradition, he was installed as the Òkanlòmọ of Yorubaland by the Alaafin of Oyo on December 21, 2025, a title meaning “the beloved son of the land.”
Seyi remains humble, kind, approachable, reasonable and responsible despite his elevated and dignified background.
He deserves every goodwill for his immense contributions to youth empowerment and national development as a bright lawyer, innovative entrepreneur, accomplished youth mentor, colourful patron of culture, relentless philanthropist, sports administrator and committed family man.
That for me and other well meaning admirers is the essence of the “good son” in the Nigerian context. Not merely the son who inherits a distinguished name, but the one who seeks to give that name meaning through his own deeds. An exemplary figure in our national life. President Tinubu specially merits great garlands for giving Seyi the platform to excel. Tinubu’s track record of excellence, brilliance, courage, integrity, leadership prowess and daring latitude in Nigeria’s social, economic and political landscape are legendary and inspiring virtues Seyi must have obviously emulated to chart his own path in life, with commendable outcomes.
In working feats, Seyi stands confidently on the shoulders of a giant, his iconic father who is also the indomitable patriarch of modern Nigeria. The father is leading the nation with rare charisma and competence, profoundly impacting present and future generations with enduring reformative policies, in the face of the socio-economic and political challenges confronting Africa’s most populous land.
Also, Seyi is progressively on the move in his own right.
A City Boy carrying a soothing dream of caring for Nigerians, especially the teeming youth, whether rich or poor.
A friend and brother.
The “good son” of the nation indeed!
Dr. Michael Nwoko is the Coordinator of the City Boy Movement (CBM), Contact and Mobilisation, South-South Zone, comprising Delta, Edo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross River and Akwa Ibom States as well as the Convener/National Coordinator of the Youth Structure for Asiwaju (YS4A).
