PMParrot/Parrot Xtra’s OLUDOTUN AJIBOLA and DARE RAJI, recently had an encounter with Ibitoye Olamide Victor, the CEO of Vicolas Group, a conglomeration of businesses located in Ekiti state and other parts of South Western part of Nigeria. The young entrepreneur took us through his humble beginning and how he was able to build his brand among many salient issues… Excerpts:
Can our readers meet you?
My name is Ibitoye Victor Olamide, the CEO of Vicolas group of company.
What is Vicolas Group all about?
We are into sales of land and properties, household goods and services, car wash and laundry services among many others.
We have about eight fingers of businesses and the success of one business leads to the establishment of another. The success of our business is all about the grace of God and the influence of our environment.
What is your business aspiration within the next five years?
We are aiming to let many people become landowners within now and the next five years. Hopefully, by then, I should be close to retirement.
Looking at the wave of land business advertisement in the South west, are you not intimidated by the big names in the industry?
I am not intimidated at all; I do not see them as competitors but as partners. We ensure we do our best to serve our clients and remain in business and this has been our form of encouragement.
Presently, we have our real estate at Olodo and Celica area of Ibadan, Iya Ibeji area of Oyo town, the new airport area in Ekiti state among other places. We are really making waves and our aim is to penetrate the market soonest.
What motivated you to become an entrepreneur?
At some point in my life, I got tired of depending on people; I was willing to make a change for my generation and this prompted me to take decisive actions. I decided to follow the steps of likeminded people who have the aim of making impact for their generation, and this has led me to also tutor young and enthusiastic business owners who desire to succeed in business.
I am also happy that whenever I am privileged to travel around the world, there are people who always reckon with the best of services that we have provided for them.
Who is your role model?
My role model in the business world is Otunba Muyiwa Aigberu, the immediate past indigenous contractor of Nigeria, while my elder brother Mr. Ibitoye Ifeoluwa cannot be left out, he has mentored me on character building, integrity, morals. He has covered the space of a father, friend and colleague for me.
What other word of encouragement do you have for aspiring youths?
I will urge people to start with whatever they have now and never to procrastinate. The longer they wait, the more money they might likely lose. Nothing is too small to start with, and before long people will appreciate their potential and the services they are rendering.
What message of assurance do you have for your subscribers?
For our subscribers, we sell out rightly and in installments. Our services and products are affordable and convenient for our subscribers, and the roads are accessible to the expressway.
Our company stands out and it is different from others as we have been in business for decades. We have our name and integrity to protect, and our achievements, collaterals speak to the fact and many of our clients in Europe, America and Nigeria can attest to it.
Some of our clients even buy lands and later sell it off to secure their funds and make more money.
