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Mrs. TOLU ONALAJA, REVOLUTIONPLUS Grp. Exe. Director
A few days back, City People Publisher, SEYE KEHINDE and ISAAC ABIMBADE, visited Revolutionplus Property Company head office in Ikeja, to pay them a courtesy visit where we met with the Group Executive Director, Mrs Tolu Onalaja. She was happy to receive us into her office. During the conversation, she told us the story behind the 19th years anniversary of her wedding. She spoke about the challenges she and husband have faced in the real estate sector. She reveals the many things that have helped them in the difficult period. Below are excerpts of the story.
In the last few months, how has it been in the real estate business?
I think generally, real estate is affected with the current state of the economy. I think it’s one of the most hit sectors. The truth of the matter is that, people will eat first before they can think of buying a house or land. So it has now become too much of a luxury to buy property.
Thank God for the innovation of our land banking and I have discovered that a lot of real estate companies are going into it. With the advent of land banking, we were able to make some money. We were able to help a whole lot of people. They know they are not tying down their money into a land. This innovation is different. People who partner with us on this can get their money back within a year. And that is what most real estate companies are using as “shock absorber”.
About the role of politics, and elections, how did it affect real estate business?
That’s why I said this whole year. During the election, people weren’t buying; they were waiting for the winner of the election. Even the investors were not investing because they were saying we don’t know what the outcome of the election would be. And when the election was over, people were not sure if Tinubu would be installed. I know a lot of real estate companies who have downsized because it’s when you sell you can be able to pay your bills and the rest. This year has been very challenging. And even if you are doing development who is buying and who will buy them?
And for some of us who did off-plan projects, it has led us to so many losses because the naira to dollar exchange rate has gone up. Take a look at our Lekki project on Orchid Road. We have been appealing to our customers to balance up because we want to finish the project as quickly as we can.
You also spoke about putting faces into a brand, how does that help the RevolutionPlus brand?
For everything that has an advantage has a disadvantage too. But I think people buy from us because they know us. It gives people more confidence if they know who they are relating to. Some school of thought would say, it’s not a good strategy but I think it worked a great deal for us at Revolutionplus. Most of the customers who buy from us buy because they know the owners. Some people will say they buy because of the synergy between you and your husband.
In fact, I met a very prominent person, the first question the person asked is I love the way you and your husband work together, but how do you do it? For me, it has worked a lot for us. I have no regret over that. And if you ask me, I will do other businesses and I will still put my face. If I don’t have anything to hide, why hide my face? For the Nigeria of today, it’s better to put your face on your brand. But if it’s outside of the country nobody cares to know.
You also marked the 19th anniversary of your wedding a few weeks back. How was it and what is the story behind the 19th anniversary?
It’s been 19 years. You know my husband wrote on his social media that it is 19 year bliss, 19-year anniversary with this woman. It’s been beautiful really. There was something that was circulating yesterday round social media that talked about “God helps you, you have a husband, he’s a celebrity, he has money, he’s caring and you don’t give him peace of mind. I have all these qualities but my wife makes my happy and gives me peace of mind.
Abinitio, it’s been wonderful getting married to the right person because I have been myself. I like to experiment and I can come up with all sorts of ideas like letting go to the moon. And he will not decline it with all his busy schedules. I thank him for letting me to experience this. Its been wonderful so far. But there is no perfect marriage, you have to work it and it has to be a deliberate effort. It can be boring but you can make it beautiful. And love is not enough. You need to gist with your partner and if I come to another world, I will marry my husband again.
