Demola Aladekomo

"Demola Aladekomo opens up to Joy Marcus about his experiences in business and other issues"

"Q::How do you feel that Chams is listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange?"

"A::We were not the earliest indigenous IT company listed on the stock exchange; others before us focused on mainframe systems, while we were the first to concentrate on microcomputers. I also don’t see us as “creators” of the company, because true creation belongs to God alone. People may call themselves founders, but in my view, only God can truly create, while humans simply develop what already exists."

"Q::You spoke about turbulent times. Can you shed more light on that?"

"A::Our most recent major challenge involved the national identity card project. Chams led the development of identity management technology in Nigeria, spending years creating a system to produce and print ID cards on PVC, instead of the earlier paper-and-lamination method. After this breakthrough, the government approached us because of our role in pioneering the solution. Although the National ID Card programme began in 1996, it only made real progress after Chams joined in 1998. By April 1999, we had produced the first one million ID cards without receiving any payment from the government."

"Insurance must be seen, felt and sold like commodity that it is. It should be sold everywhere."

"There is a need for insurance companies and her professional bodies to leverage this platform by partnering with relevant companies and agencies in the technology sector to create and provide specialised services which would help update their internal and external operations."

"Any business born out of the desire to serve humanity is destined to succeed."

"My entrepreneurial journey began when I started selling coconut candy to my classmates. I turned a two-kobo investment into ten kobo—eventually saving nearly a pound in shillings."

"Since vision often points to an unknown future—filled with twists, turns, pain, and pleasure—we must rely on a force greater than ourselves. Faith in God is that force."

"This principle goes far beyond money. It’s about your time, talents, and treasures. Giving is like a farmer sowing seeds—scattering them, not always knowing where they will land or who will benefit, but trusting that in time, they will return in abundance."

"Patriotism is more than just loyalty to your country. It is about believing in its potential, contributing to its growth, and using your expertise and resources to make it better."

"If you want to serve humanity, start with your country. Be proud of where you come from—and let that pride drive you to build solutions that not only help your nation, but also show the world what we’re capable of."

"In my 30 years at CHAMS, I experienced both extremes—successes that elevated us and failures that brought us to our knees. Yet through it all, I learned one vital truth: These too shall pass."

"If I could go back in time, one of the things I would do differently is this: Avoid loans as much as possible."

"Remember, it’s not just about building a business. It’s about building a legacy."