Olawale Fatunwase is a Legal practitioner and an entrepreneur. He recently had an encounter with PMParrot/Parrot Xtra’s reporter, OLUDOTUN AJIBOLA. He revealed how his legal firm is planning to bring sanity into the real estate business in Nigeria among many salient issues… Excerpts:
Can our readers meet you?
My name is Olawale Fatunwase, I am a legal practitioner and a principal consultant at Luxe Corporate Solicitors, a law firm that renders court room services such as legal consultancy in the areas of labour and employment. We also engage in commercial laws practices, sale, marketing and development of real estates.
Can you enlighten our readers about the recently advertised Brighton Estate?
Our firm decided to go into estate management due to various experiences of our people and some unprofessional practices in the real estate. There are lots of people that have fallen victim by losing their hard-earned capital during the process of acquiring a land and estate; we are into this business with the aims of restoring professionalism into the business and to make our clients enjoy maximum satisfaction for their cash being invested.
There are many people involved in real estate business and we have heard how some investors are complaining of not getting what was advertised by the various companies.
I have heard many people asking me this kind of question and that is one of the major reasons we are involved in the real estate business. We are a law firm and we have our names and license to protect. We cannot afford to mess up.
Secondly, we want to bring sanity into the sector and are determined not to offer any of our client chicken and rice just like some people who do not have the titles of the land they are selling. Our focus is to make many people genuine house owners here in the city of Ibadan.
Where are your estates located within the city of Ibadan?
Brighton estate is an upland estate located at Olonde Ige Oniganbari off Ibadan-Ijebu Ode Express Way, Idi-Ayunre, Ibadan. Our estate is just 10 minutes’ drive from the popular Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) and a 15-minute drive to the popular Lagos-Ibadan tollgate.
Brighton Estate shares the same environment with the Chi farms staff quarters. In addition, the Kunnu quarry is currently serving as the main entrance to our estate and that shows that the place is fully developing.
What are the procedures to follow to subscribe to your product, Brighton Estate?
The subscription into the estate is through registration or you can also call it reservation fees, which is #5000. We have 450 square meter plot sizes at the rate of #350,000 while 600 square meter plot goes for #570,000. Our mode of payment is flexible as you can pay at once or spread the payment within the period of one year without any increments.
Another interesting part of our services is that you can also cancel your subscription in case of financial constraints or when you feel you cannot continue with the payment. As an organization, we are going to refund your money.
Furthermore, we also have some associated charges such as the survey and development fee, and it is payable immediately after finishing paying for your land cost. It can be payable in another seven month after the completion of the land cost.
What are the facilities expected to be put in place at the Estate?
The facilities include perimeter fencing, CCTV network, recreation facility, standby security guards, road network and light that will be provided by the company.
As a young entrepreneur what do you think is the major problem affecting youths in the area of entrepreneurship development?
The problem facing Nigeria’s young entrepreneurs includes lower level of acceptance, adoption of their products among others. The first thing people do is suspecting and doubting your ability to deliver but with persistence over time, people will be forced to be patronizing you.
What such people need to do is just keep to their promises and ensure that their products or services are delivered on time. Your first customer will surely recommend you to another set of people, so, to me persistence is the key to succeed in any business.
With my little experience as a young entrepreneur, I realize that money is not a problem and it is very advisable not to be ‘money-driven’. Just keep working towards your goal and money will surely come.
I am not going to be canvassing for the government to be rolling out some start-ups money or fund to young entrepreneurs. I will rather ask governments at all leves to create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive. I believe that Nigerian youths have a lot to offer the nation and the global community if we have an enabling environment to operate.
What other pieces of advice do you have for the Nigerian Government?
Nigerian governments at all levels should rise to their responsibilities; they should work to improve the security situation in the country. They should provide good road network and uninterrupted power supply and energy for our people to continue growing their businesses as it is done in other countries. If this is done, it will reduce the level of high unemployment, insecurity and other various security issues we have in the country.
