Sijibomi Ogundele, founder, Sujimoto Group of Companies and Chief Executive Officer of Sujimoto Construction, is one of those who have kept the Nigerian economic and social landscape ablaze, thanks to the exceptional practice of their art and profession together with their many years of dedicated service. These are the shakers and movers on the economic scene who have become, eventually, icons of the Nigerian business landscape.
Ogundele is one of the shakers of the real estate industry in Nigeria today. He is one of the business men people have the joy of watching as a role model to young people and entrepreneurs. His illustrious career is blessed with integrity and acclaim. For about decade now, he has been true to dignity and character with elegant truth and amazing emotional range.
His company handles the construction of Povidus Bank Abeokuta Branch Project, which is elegance on display. Hear Mr Ogundele’s comment on this: “The project, a 21st century banking hall that will change the skyline of Abeokuta and influence the narrative for Architectural design in the banking industry forever. Thanks to Providus Bank for believing in Sujimoto and giving us an opportunity to do what we love to do best.”
Regarded as a visionary like no other, Sujimoto created experimental, brave, insightful business paths which young people need to emulate today. His personality gems helped spur the development of his business lines.
Ogundele started his career in risk assessment in 2004, where he moved up to lending in SMEs and set up Moto Finance in Paris, which later branched out in Accra, Dubai, Madrid and New York City; achieving significant industry milestones, later moving into the Nigerian Real Estate industry; additionally into Risk Assessment and Project Management.
He describes his vision as ‘simple’, which is to revolutionise the African luxury Real Estate industry with Nigeria as a starting point. With the success of his company’s pioneer project in Nigeria called Medici, high demand for Sujimoto’s project in Ikoyi “LorenzoBySujimoto” is highly welcomed by investors and high net-worth individuals.
Inspired by the Ritz Styled Hotel & Apartment, LorenzoBySujimoto is an unveiling of world-class hospitality bringing a redefinition in high-value residential structures, comprising of 2, 3 & 4 bedrooms, a fascinating addition of penthouses with private swimming pools.
Sijibomi is very unapologetic about his opinions that the Nigerian Luxury Real Estate industry has not achieved five percent of its true potential. This inspired his vision to set up his company called Sujimoto Construction Ltd, which has achieved impressive strides within a few years of operations and gained recognition for being one of the most dynamic luxury real estates and construction companies in Nigeria.
We rarely come across a Nigerian business man who masterfully portrays a wide range of roles in different walks of life , and is an accomplished real estate business leader at that. With a stellar career that spanned some years in Finance, siji, popularly known as Sujimoto, is quite amazing.
He is hailed as among Nigeria’s best for being a man of dignity, a business leader whose business success and life are simply exemplary.
Sijibomi has touched our hearts and changed lives with his performances in business as well as with the messages ingrained in their personal conduct. He believes in the principle of giving back to society and empowering the people as exhibited in various social responsibility efforts setting him apart from his peers. The undisputed integrity champion, who brought countless laughter to numerous people and is held in awe by different generations of Nigerians.
Youth as Icons
Apart from being empowering to many, Ogundele believes that one of the greatest assets of Nigeria,as a nation, is in its young people. Having been to different universities, to different schools and spoken with these young people, he knows them much. According to him, there’s a hunger for innovation in them.
“What we lack as a nation is not in creativity. What we lack as a nation is more in leadership, not only political, but community and family based leadership, or someone to push the youths and provide opportunities in different sectors.
“Nations like America, China, and other places have identified that their true asset is in their young people. They have created systems that will support people in education, health care, entrepreneurship, and infrastructure.”
To make young people realize their potential, he charges them to have as their driving force, the knowledge that there is no nobility in poverty. According to him, some critical and internal decisions must be taken to achieve success in Nigeria and not to live with a sense of entitlement but to go all out to grab the ever available opportunities.
“I want our young people to know that ‘Success is not served a la carte. It’s a buffet! You have to go for it!’ Youths should bury any sense of entitlement. The likes of Linda Ikeji, Davido have worked hard and are ripping the reward for their dedication.
“Our youths must know that there is no nobility in poverty; to achieve success today in Nigeria, you must be ready to lose friends, be misunderstood, and be unreasonable in your visions. Nigerians have stopped following leaders who are ‘complaining and murmuring’ leaders.
“Young people must learn to reject the ordinary and risk the unusual. We need to know that Nigeria is a land of opportunities; find these opportunities. The likes of MKO, Ojukwu, Mai Deribe, and others started from their youth days. So, as young people, we have to prepare a ‘don’t do list,’ as much as you prepare a to-do list.”
With these lessons from the Sujimoto boss and his story, Mr Ogundele has shown us wondrous world of possibilities through personal conduct, industry and discipline, and we are fortunate to have been witnesses to his illustrious careers.
Youth will need to reflect on people like Sijibomi Ogundele and the eventful paths that brought him to this state, how he has blazed the trail that many are gainfully treading on. Today, he has shown us that industry has strength, dignity, and promise because of people who have risen above and beyond their artistry to make success from it.
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