How Kevin Olu rode into fortune on back of European sojourn

There are many Nigerian citizens who had the opportunity of going abroad, only to end up doing tasking jobs that they could have been doing back home. But for Hon. Kevin Olu, when the golden chance of sojourning overseas came his way, he grabbed it and made good use of it to bring back to Nigeria some kinds of direct foreign monies which he used to create wealth and empowerment, not only for himself but for Nigerians.

The story of Olu, the Senior Special Assistant to the Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, cannot be completed without mentioning him as one of the rare-bred Nigerians who can be described as the nation’s ambassadors who brought honour and fame to the country due to their exploits in faraway foreign lands.

Olu had worked assiduously hard to make a name for himself as a reputable entrepreneur and a grassroots politician. It is not a surprise, however, that the CEO of Orit-winors Nig Ltd and First Triple Billionaire has gradually grown his business to become an empire in their areas of specialisation.

Orit-winors Nig Ltd and First Triple Billionaire deal in equipment, vessels and marine equipment. These are business lines that he was exposed to while in Europe. Only recently, Olu ventured into the real estate sector.

Olu, a business administration diploma holder and B.sc degree holder in public administration from the Edo State University, has new business plans in the works.

“I discussed with some people in China and I am bringing my own brand, which is K. Shirley Nigeria Limited, and my wife is doing her own, which is Mrs Shirley Nigeria Limited,” he said.

“My wife is the one running my business for me and the company is worth ₦2.5 billion, and we are doing very well. By the special grace of God, before the year runs out, we will surely get to a point where the country will know us very well.

“One of my companies was started when I was in secondary school. I dedicated the company to myself, and the business is growing very well. Today, the net worth of that business is close to ₦6 billion.”

Due to his exposure to the business environment in Europe, Olu has developed the habit of risk-taking in business and this has been a magic wand for him to succeed where others failed. Today, he can raise his head up to counsel Nigerian entrepreneurs on how best to imbibe the spirit of risk-taking as part of the strategy to sustain and get optimum yields from their businesses.

“The advice I want to give people is you have to be faithful and be ready to take risks. Sometimes, I bought cars and fixed them and made them my own till someone comes to buy them. So, don’t be pessimistic, always think positively. This is how a businessman can survive this period,” he added.