A real estate mogul in Ibadan has described Ibadan as a place full of potentials. John Olaore, the Managing Partner of Head-Stone Realty, believes that there are a lot of opportunities, especially for the real estate business, in Ibadan. The realtor stated that investors are not seeing the potentials in Ibadan; he claims the best place to invest in after Lagos is Ibadan. He explains that the current Oyo state governor has paved way for commerce to grow through his different strategies and plans to create an investment hub and to invite different investors into the state, and especially Ibadan. He said that one of the things that will drive and improve commerce in the state is the ‘Ibadan Inland Dry Port’ at Alabata in Ibadan, the other is the Lagos-Ibadan train terminal located in the same area.
John Olaore and the Head-Stone Realty are involved in real estate development, brokerage and advisory. The company has capitalized on the current plan of commerce and business growth in the state. They currently have a project called ‘Mince Town’ where they sell lands and apartments at Alabata, Ibadan; the same place where the Ibadan Inland Dry Port as well as the Lagos-Ibadan train terminal is located. At Mince Town investors can start building their factories; the guarantee of ease of transportation of their products to other places such as Lagos, Ogun and more to the Northern parts of the nation is a benefit. Also the realty is involved in building and construction; investors can own their warehouses in Mince Town and would not have to worry about transportation of their goods to a distant warehouse outside town when their products arrive at the Ibadan Inland Dry Port. The realtor also gives basic advises on real estate investments, construction and other real estate services.
In the same vein, the realtor believes that real estate space in Nigeria is a wide space for entrepreneurship. It is a space where anybody with passion and basic skills can thrive, build their fortune and change their story. Head-Stone Real Estate Institute in partnership with the University of Ibadan consultancy trains prospective realtors (and entrepreneurs) to achieve the ‘Sustainable Development Goal 8’: which is decent work and economic growth.
The realtor has advised the youth and everyone planning on going into the real estate business to “never give up on the dream.” He noted that this period is quite shaky because of the pandemic but it is also the time to project for the future. He believes that with the plan of the current state government, there is so much to be achieved in the real estate business. He stated that there are the real estate cabals who practices the old or orthodox way of the real estate business; he claims they will try to advice prospective realtors against bringing innovations into the real estate business. He advised that they should stay away from them. However, he advised that the prospective realtors should be patient in learning the things about the business; they should not be hasty for wealth. They should hold on to their passion with diligence, grit, courage, fortitude and belief in God.
