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Creating opportunities for proper retirement plan Is the interview with Ayobami Alo, Founder of ElanOrris real estate firm. In this interview with the sun, he speaks about how the company can help individuals to have a great retirement plan and the need for government to make mortgage opportunities available to citizens.
*Tell us about your career*
This journey started about fourteen years back in Kaduna as a fresh graduate of geophysics, I worked in a water engineering company before heading to Lagos – “the world of selling”. I have done “sales” all along but in several industries; insurance, information technology, engineering, real estate etc. I discovered the flare to sell products & services as I grew.
*What inspired you to focus on Real Estate?*
Real Estate falls amongst the three most important things to human beings; food, shelter and clothing. In all the industries I worked as an employee, I found that real estate was one sector that gave my customers real satisfaction. It has numerous advantages which everyone can relate with; capital appreciation, returns on investment, rental value etc.
*How would you ensure your company is sdg compliant?*
Basically through learning and development. This goes two-ways. Internally at ElanOrris, we take L&D very seriously, we are big on training our staff and sales partners and this has been consistent. Externally, through promotions, awareness, campaigns [both online and offline], we educate our audience.
*What was your set back or challenges before becoming the CEO?*
Being a CEO is a total big job on its own. A few challenges were; start-up capital, fear of the unknown etc.
*What gives your firm the edge over other real estate firms in Nigeria?*
Ours thoughts are unique at ElanOrris. We believe nothing is impossible. We started with very little [almost nothing] but believed we would scale up fast and this mindset still works for us. ElanOrris is a real estate firm that will go into a location nobody dares and bring beauty out of it.
*How can ElanOrris contribute to change in Nigeria?*
First is through recruitment of young people which will reduce the percentage of unemployment in Nigeria. Second, through campaign of good investment opportunities to working class sectors and thirdly, through providing avenues for older people to retire well via real estate ownership.
*Any plan to partner with the government to achieve a workable economic system for the country?*
Yes, we are working on a few considered options.
*What does a layman look out for before acquiring a property?*
Location. Anywhere there is growing traffic and steady development.
*What’s your take on the issue of over valuation in real estate sector?*
Real Estate is not cheap anywhere in the world. However, overvaluation is mostly due to housing deficit. The Federal Government should do more in terms of NHF Accessibility to as many citizens as possible, overvaluation will reduce to a good extent.
*How can the FG make housing finance within reach of Nigerians?*
By making mortgage facilities more accessible to the people, for example NHF and by partnering with private players in the industry.
