Nigerian-owned businesses accomplish the American Dream
By Meliqueica Meadows
Of the St. Louis American
America is often called the land of opportunity by immigrants, a sentiment often not shared by African Americans. However, the success stories of several local minority-owned firms show that with hard work and determination, anything is possible.
Lawrence Nwachukwu created Basilico Engineering, Inc. with the dream of following in his father’s footsteps. Launched in 2000, Basilico is an engineering firm, certified by the state as a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and by Lambert-St. Louis International Airport as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE).
The legacy of his father, Basil A. Nwachukwu, who founded Basilico Builders LTD in Nigeria, is prominently featured on the company’s website. Lawrence immigrated to the U.S. in 1982 and moved to St. Louis in 1987.
Like most immigrant families, the Nwachukwus stressed hard work and determination. Growing up, Lawrence had a natural proclivity towards math and science, which led him to a career in engineering.
“Success is sometimes a choice and not necessarily an issue of chance,” he said. “For everyone that is given anything, it is great to always use that opportunity. We can work to succeed even with a little.”
He used his personal savings and 401K for startup funds, with no outside loans. For over three years, Nwachukwu did not draw a salary from the firm. In just a few years, the company has grown and is involved in much current development in the city.
The company currently employs about 15 employees and specializes in civil, environmental and geotechnical engineering. Basilico also provides services in material testing and construction inspection.
Nwachukwu is a member of the National Association of Black Engineers and the firm is registered with the American Council of Engineering Companies and the American Society of Civil Engineers. Nwachukwu holds a B.S. in civil engineering and a master’s in civil/environmental engineering. He has worked with private firms and public agencies such as the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD) and Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT).
Lawrence attributes his success to “perseverance and attention to detail.”
While Basilico is eagerly snatching up its part of minority inclusion in the city’s development, he said it is imperative for minority-owned firms to look out for one another.
“If I win, but my brother or sister hasn’t, then I haven’t really won after all,” he said.
‘The market is so wide’
Solomon Akinduro, president, CEO and principal owner of AFRAM Corporation, also contributes his success to hard work and divine guidance.
“I stepped out on faith realizing that with God all things are possible,” Akinduro said. He became a Christian in 1975 while still living in Nigeria and later became a minister.
Akinduro came to this country as a student in 1984 with just $200 in his pocket. He started AFRAM in 1993. Today the engineering firm employs about 70 people. AFRAM Corp. is a St. Louis-based engineering and construction management firm. Some of the company’s projects include the East Terminal Expansion, University Center, Light Rail System, Taxiway H, R, P and Apron Reconstruction, and Elm to Larson Sanitary Relief Sewer, with clients such as the city of St. Louis, MSD, Lambert airport and the St. Louis Library.
Akinduro said AFRAM’s key to success has been quality service and “the ability to understand the needs of our clients.”
Akinduro obtained a master’s in construction management from Washington University in 1992, and a B.S. in construction science in 1988 from Roger Williams University in Rhode Island.
AFRAM Corp. is a certified MBE/DBE firm with a strong commitment to use other qualified minority- and women-owned firms. It recently expanded with the acquisition of Sung Architecture and Golden Key Development, a construction firm.
“St. Louis, in five to ten years, will be like Chicago, and the market right now is so wide,” he said. He added that he is confident about the company’s future, because “we’ve got the people in place. I want AFRAM to live beyond me.”
‘Get a business degree’
Abe Adewale immigrated to America 22 years ago as a teenager. Although he spent his formative years in this country, he said certain Nigerian ideals are still present in his life today.
“I still have some influences from my Nigerian culture like tenacity and being dogged about being successful, particularly in education,” he said.
The father of four said that example is needed for the youth today.
“Kids today say, ‘I want a beauty shop,’ but you better get a business degree,” he said.
In February of this year, ABNA Engineering was honored by the city of St. Louis with the Mayor’s Spirit of St. Louis Award, given to businesses that make major expansions or improvements, open or relocate to the city or participate in major city projects.
It is just the latest honor in a string of accolades for the firm headed by Adewale and his wife, Nicole. Both are graduates of the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta where they obtained degrees in civil engineering. Founded in 1994, the company employs 70 engineers, designers, surveyors, construction technicians and specialists.
In 2005 ABNA received a Business of the Year Award from Slay and has been ranked among the largest engineering firms in St. Louis by the St. Louis Business Journal for the last five years. The company also received national recognition from Inc. magazine as the 39th Fastest Growing Inner City Business in the nation.
The company recently purchased and renovated the 76-year-old building located at 4140 Lindell Blvd, the previous home of the Archdiocese of St. Louis and Catholic Charities. The undertaking cost $1.4 million.
Nicole said, “It’s been easy to attract good employees, and we have a lot of people who come here simply because of the location.”
One of the company’s major projects is the riverfront development, as well as projects for the likes of IDOT, Abe’s former employer. Current projects include work on massive civic infrastructure undertakings like the billion-dollar Mississippi River Bridge project and the Lambert airport tunnel and runway additions.
The company has continued to expand, opening offices in East St. Louis and Chicago.
“I think that there’s a lot of potential for Nigerians and blacks to work together,” Abe said. “The next step for us is to look at a project like that to contribute to.”
Nicole said, “The more strong minority-owned companies there are in St. Louis, the more we will be taken seriously and be respected.”
