Wole Arisekola: How I built 50 bungalows in Abuja using my Ibadan identity and Omoluabi values
Wole Arisekola, publisher of the Dublin-based Streetjournal magazine, has shared how support from his kinsmen in Ibadan—the largest city in West Africa—helped him build over 50 units of bungalows for sale in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
In a post on his Facebook page, Arisekola, a traditional titleholder in Ibadan, mentioned several prominent sons of the Oyo state capital— including Niyi Akintola, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), the late Yekini Adeojo, and Rafiu Atanda—who rallied around him to make the project a reality.
“In 2013, I built over 50 units of bungalows in Abuja for sale. Many Ibadan indigenes patronised me,” he wrote.
“They gave me huge sums of money without asking for collateral. The only collateral I have in my entire life is my Ibadan identity and omoluabi values.
“Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN), Alhaji Oyesola, the late Chief Yekini Adeojo—who gave me a cheque of ₦1 million as a gift—Architect Oyekunle Omiyale in Atlanta, and Dr. Rafiu Atanda all made significant investments to support me.
“I hired a realtor and launched massive advertising, but the breakthrough came when I asked people to deposit 10 percent of the cost of the property they chose and pay the balance within a stipulated number of years.
Credit alerts started coming in—and that was the beginning of my success. Ibadan wisdom no go kill me.
“Ibadan people have a remarkable sense of business. A Harvard certificate combined with Ibadan Street intelligence will surely add value to your life. Just go to Oje Market and learn the secrets of street wisdom in trading.
“Chief Mufutau Olanhun Oriolowo started the Tokunbo parts business before the Igbos joined in. Chief Bode Akindele was among the pioneers of fish trawling in West Africa, just to mention a few.
“I am surprised that our youths in Ibadan have abandoned this noble path and are now engaging in ungodly acts.
“Those in power must reintroduce free education and ban underage children from working as bus conductors.
Western education is both compulsory and inevitable.
“We must not follow in the footsteps of those who claim education is a scam. Although we may belong to the same political party, our region has a rich history of valuing Western education.”
