At a time in my life, I almost gave up – Sijibomi

For Sijibomi Ogundele, managing director/chief executive officer of Sujimoto Group, there is a way that life tries to snatch your dream away from you and suddenly everything you are doing looks incompetent.

The year 2016 and 2017 were probably the most difficult time of his life. He had a dreamt, to develop the biggest project in his life — to build the tallest residential building in Sub-Saharan Africa, $90million project.

Having invested all his money, time and passion into something he believed in; unfortunately, the economy went from bad to worse and things became very rough. He had to let go the best people around him to stay afloat.

“Some people told me that real estate is a difficult sector, so it would be best for me to leave my passion and do something else.

I visited my old-time friend’s water factory in Abeokuta and thought about venturing into the pure-water business. I even went back to Ijebu Igbo and visited some farms because it seemed agriculture and farming had become the new ‘oil,” he said.

According to him, some people went as far as convincing him to leave everything and deviate into something he knew nothing about, agriculture (farming).

“Even my supposed best friend whom I borrowed almost two million USD was always coming up with stories. I was even trying to sell everything I owned to move to New York City.

I had spoken to a successful Nigerian actor, who had moved to Atlanta because of the steep recession, and he said life was easier there, adding that things were stable and I could access credit through a flexible banking system,” he added.

Confused and devastated, he kept the words of Napoléon Hills book on replay in his head. But he remembered that the present situation should not determine his destination. Hence, he knew in his heart that running away wasn’t the definition of the ‘motomatics philosophy’ he had created.

“The Sujimoto I know and advocated wasn’t a runaway loser, neither was it lack of focus kind of personality or company. I developed courage and refocused my life.

I revisited my options and created Guilliano, the son of Lorenzo, the Grandson of Cosimo the Medici.

“I conceptualised, planned and executed the project, even though I didn’t have all the money. In less than six months, though I am still not where I want to be, but I am thankful to the Almighty that I am not where I used to be.

It’s been the most inspiring, most difficult and most challenging time for me. But now, I am thankful I didn’t give up, run off or lose hope,” Siji stated.