The Chairman/ CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa and realtor (Amb) Babatunde Adeyemo have urged Nigerians living in diaspora to work together with their fellow citizens to advance their motherland.
Delivering separate speeches to Nigerians in the UK on Sunday at the Avenue Impact Business Networking and Winter Ball at the Crown Plaza Hotel in London, Hon. Abike Dabiri and Ambassador Adeyemo offered the counsel.
The former federal lawmaker and seasoned broadcast journalist encouraged them to maintain believing in themselves and supporting one another in order to keep Nigeria high for accolades, Adeyemo also advised them not to wait until they’ve attained the retirement age before making plans to relocate back home or establish investment ties with their fatherland.
According to the CEO of NIDCOM, the Commission’s primary functions include acting as a conduit and ambassador between the Nigerian diaspora and the country of origin, conserving knowledge, and bringing resources to bear for Nigeria’s socio-economic, cultural, and political advancement by enticing foreigners to make domestic investments.
She added that the Federal Government offers a mortgage programme to assist the diaspora with mortgage-related concerns.
In his address, Adeyemo told the diasporas that since many of them are still working or a few years away from retirement age, now is the ideal time to create investment ties with home and make strategic exit plans so that the relocation process will be smooth, complete, and feasible when the time comes.
The CEO of Pelican Valley Nigeria Limited, a foremost Nigerian real estate firm spoke on the Investment opportunities in the real estate business back home at the well attended event by Nigerian professionals, and government officials, including the Chairperson of the Diaspora Commission, Hon. Abike Dabiri – Erewa, the Mayor of Southwark London, Michael Shitu and Mr Smart Kemiki, the Director of Dominion Forever Limited.
Adeyemo, a multiple award-winning real estate professional, advised the diaspora to seize the day while it was still bright and mentioned that those with little to no money could enter the real estate market by becoming realtors, earning commissions, and, in ten years, becoming as prosperous as the Pelican Valley.
However, he outlined four fundamental requirements that must be met in order for any endeavour to flourish or excel, particularly in the real estate industry: cash, due diligence, development and value addition, and goodwill.
The ECOWAS Youth Ambassador and the Anti-Corruption Ambassador clarified that while goodwill is necessary for a successful marketing of real estate products, doing due diligence is crucial when purchasing any land to avoid falling victim to scammers and having one’s fingers burned.
“As we have, japa so we have japada syndrome…infact, to japada syndrome is even more complex than to japa…if you don’t want to eventually become a mama londona or baba londona in future…they say, Ile ni abo sinmi oko …the time to start having an investment ties with your homeland is now…don’t ever procrastinate…the ovation will soon be loud and it will be in your best interest to take a bow when the ovation is loud,” he advised.
He said, “If you Google “the only estate with full government approval in.Ogun state now, you will definitely see what the Ogun State government said about our Estates…not only the Ogun State government but also private individuals and investors.
“Pelican Valley Estate has 100 percent positive reviews on Google….The values we add to our projects made our client’s ROI to move up by almost 300 percent in just one year.
“We launched Pelican Brief with a paltry sum of 685 just 3 years ago, today, Pelican-Brief is #5m per plot and it will be N7.5m per plot starting from next tomorrow which is the 5th of December.
“In that Estate, we have a 500 kva electric transformer, fully energized, 5 armed security guards, Camels and peacocks for tourist attractions…..less than 50 mins drive to.the.Lagos State governors office and 15 mins from the Ogun State governors office.
“We also have Pelican Valley estate, Laderin…we introduced that estate for just 800K per plot 9 years ago but today, the plot is N 25Million and it will be N30m next tomorrow…I live in that Estate with my family presently. These are lands we bought as low as 300K per plot about ten years ago.”
Earlier in his welcome address, the CEO of Avenue Impact Limited and Convener of the event, Mr. Funso Akinwunmi appreciated Honourable Abike Dabiri-Erewa for her presence, and lauded her for the dedication to fostering stronger ties between Nigerians in the diaspora and their homeland, adding that the establishment of the NIDCOM is a testament to the Nigerian government’s dedication to leveraging the diaspora’s vast human capital and material resources.
