He started work with the Nigerian government as a pharmacist at the Orthopaedic Hospital, he later left and joined Lion Chemists as a manager.
He was board director of Oke-Afa Farms, Oyo Feeds Corporation and the Nigerian Explosives and Plastic Company, all of which he had majority shareholding.
The then Governor of Oyo State, Chief Bola Ige, commissioned the site where a reported over 2000 people were employed by Ashamu.
[4] However, by the late 1970s, agro-business ventures in Nigeria were hampered by import restrictions that curtailed the availability of feed ingredients.
It is reported that the prosperous businessman (Ashamu), once said a priest had told him not to allow the young Lamidi to carry his purse again because he was going to be a king.
The priest reportedly told Chief Ashamu that he must deploy his resources to help the young Lamidi against other contenders whenever it was time.