Female Real Estate Player, NONSO ONNY-EZEH
Chukwunonso Onny-Ezeh is one of the biggest women in real estate in Nigeria. She is the founder of a popular real estate firm based in Lagos, Assist-2-Sell. She is Nonso to many, while some people refer to her as Queen of Real Estate.
She is one of the pioneers of real estate marketing in Lagos. Her real estate firm, was established in 2005. She is also a lawyer and serial entrepreneur. Her real estate firm mainly dealt with selling multi-unit properties for estate developers within and outside the country. Assist-2-Sell achieved annual revenue growth of 12% in its early years due to Nonso’s unique marketing strategies. Capitalising on previous successes and the trust developers had in the firm’s operations.
But for over 3 to 4 years, Nonso has not been really active as a real estate broker. A few weeks back, City People ISAAC ABIMBADE, had a chat with her during the WIMBIZ event held in Eko Hotels & Suites.
“Since Covid-19, I haven’t been active if I must be sincere Isaac. I had to withdraw for one or two reasons.
Secondly, you know I had my twin babies around that period. So, I need to take good care of them. They need my attention. I had to make a sacrifice for them. It’s very important. But they are grown now. They are in school so I have no worry over them anymore.” She explained.
Do you even know that Nonso, is a WIMBIZ mentee turned mentor? She attributes her continued self-development to her great belief in mentorship and continuing education. She has the distinction of being not just a Cherie Blair Foundation for Women Mentee, but was also a Fortune 500 U.S. State Department Global mentee for 2014 and was mentored by Karen Peetz, President of the Bank of New York Mellon and Joanna Shapiro also of BNY Mellon. Nonso is also a Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria (YouWiN) mentor.
She is a member of the Ikoyi Club 1938 and VGC Club, Nonso is also an alumnus of the prestigious Lagos Business School. She is currently enrolled in the Chief Executive Program of Lagos Business School where she serves as the class President for Chief Executive Program, Class 24. She has also attended several executive programmes from leading business schools world over, including IESE Business School, Barcelona, Spain and Nanyang Business School, Singapore.
She has over 11 years of active practice in real estate and presently, she is the most sought-after Consultant/ Speaker on real estate issues. She is also called The Lady Realtor.
She is certified by the VV (Vital Voices) Lead Fellowship program.
Nonso loves to read and travel and she is fascinated by books and stationeries. Her favourite authors remain John Grisham, Sophia Kinsella, and Chimamanda Adichie.
She is happily married to Arch (Sir) Clement Ezeh.
During the conversation, she told us that, a new office is now opened at Victoria Garden City. The office was commissioned a few weeks back. “I really chose that location because I want to be close to my family and also because of security. VGC is a secured environment and I won’t have to drive far to get to work. The office is open for business but will be fully open by January 2023.”she told City People.
We hope it won’t be difficult getting fully back, We asked her? She smiles…”You very funny. Even when I was not active, I was still closing deals. My contacts is my strength. I won’t have any issue”.
This beautiful real estate player celebrated her 50th birthday a few months back at The Monarch event centre, in Lekki, Lagos. A lot of high profile personalities from political, real estate, Oil & Gas the society sectors etc garsced the venue to celebrate her.
Nonso, as she is often called, is a graduate of Faculty of Law, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1999 after graduating with a Second Class Upper from the Nigerian Law School.
Nonso’s career path spans Law, Banking and Finance, Non-Profit, and Real Estate.
Under her watch, Assist-2-Sell Properties Limited, with core expertise in property sales, property leases, property management, and real estate advisory services has emerged to become one of the best real estate broker firms winning several awards, including the British Airways on Business Opportunity Grant Award in 2011. Assist-2-Sell Properties Limited is also a WEConnect certified women owned business.
Nonso is the founder and convener of the ‘Lady Realtors’ Borne out of her desire to give back to society and change lives, the forum has trained over 1,500 women in the real estate business. These women, with Nonso’s continuous mentorship, are currently charting their courses and building their businesses in the real estate.
