John Ehinome is the CEO of Shelter Professional Investments, a real estate company, that has executed many luxury projects in Lagos and beyond.
Shelter Pro has delivered quality and affordable housing units to Nigerians within a short space of its existence. In its continued efforts to always deliver quality and affordable projects, Shelter Pro is making arrangements to build houses with containers, a process known as cargotecture. In this interview with FEMI FABUNMI, the amiable gentleman bares it all on his life as the Shelter Pro CEO and other matters bordering on building and real estate.
Please introduce yourself sir?
I am John Ehinome. I have been in real estate business for 11 years now, I worked with Global City Investment Limited in Benin City where I served as a head of operations and project head. I served in same capacity at Lashone Property Limited, Lagos. Right now, I am the CEO of Shelter Pro Limited based in Lagos. We have branches in Germany and America. Our key areas are building quality houses at affordable rate. We also build according to patrons’ specifications and dreams. We are always eager to bring people’s dreams to reality.
What distinguishes Shelter Pro from other brands?
Shelter Pro is more into housing. Many companies are just into it majorly for profits, but here we give people the opportunity to work with a budget and work with existing needs.We don’t just build, we also educate. We bring one’s knowledge and dream together.
At What point did you pick up interest in real estate?
That was in 2007, I was in Benin and the interest grew.I always went out to see how buildings were being constructed, I went out to see how those in real estate were doing their things. Moreso, I came from a background of real estate. My dad was involved in it and I remember he always told me that it was very important to invest in property.
How affordable is Shelter Pro’s property?
Shelter Pro investment is very affordable. Go to the website and you will see testimonies of people we have worked for. There was one particular guy, who came to us and said he wanted to build a house, but he was a salary earner and we tried to work within his budget. Today, he is a very happy man. Our company is all about minimising cost and still delivering quality projects.
We want to have a major scheme from next year at Abijo GRA and it is going to be affordable.We will be selling a unit for as low as N8 million. We are trying to make housing available and affordable to everyone. Today, everybody uses mobile phones that is how we want to make housing to become.
Please shed more light on minimizing cost and delivering the best?
It is very simple, it is a process of doing the needful, by the time we introduce cargotecture all this will be very achievable.
What is Cargotecture?
It is the process of building houses with shipping containers. The foundation is still the same as that of conventional buildings, also the roofing and finishing is the same. In fact, cargotecture buildings are like normal buildings but cheaper and less stressful to erect. Some people complain of heat, but that can be taken care of with all kinds of padding that we do. If you go to Alausa, you will see container offices there, although the Lagos State Government is yet to accept it fully, but I can assure you that it would soon be accepted by everybody because it is good. All ATMs stand were made of cargotecture.
Which is cheaper between Cargotecture and conventional houses?
Cargotecture used to be cheaper but it is getting more expensive because of its increasing popularity and it is imported from abroad. I think it is cheaper than conventional building. Right now, to make it acceptable, there has to be a showpiece to make people come and get a feel of it.
How old is Shelter Pro?
We are barely one year old and we hope to continue to deliver quality housing to the people. We like to make a statement even to Nigerians abroad, who are losing their grip over low quality housing. What we do now is to bridge the gap between Nigerians abroad and building of houses in the country. Now, they can even order their buildings on the internet and it would be delivered to them here in Nigeria.
Tell us the inspiration behind Shelter Pro?
It simply means Shelter professionals, we want to use our platform not only to market our products, but to educate our customers and even prospective ones on how they can maintain their houses. We teach many things that are involved in housing. Our inspiration is called leadership.
Share with us some of the projects you have executed?
We just deliverd a project at Ogudu GRA. we have a project at Abijo road in Ajah, we have units at Charlyboy Bus Stop area, Gbagada and in many other areas in Lagos.
Fill us in into your family and educational background?
I studied English at Ambrose Ali University Ekpoma. I did professional courses in real estate and building. I am still single and I still have a lot of work to do.
Do you sell houses to low-income earners and what about their Cof O?
Our projects have the consent and backing of governments . We are embarking on buying of lands and building at the same time for our customers to pay by instalment.
This is the yuletide period, do you have promo for your prospective customers?
All our projects this end of the year come with very good promo. We have houses for sale on the Island and they come with freebies , we also have on the mainland too. Our customers will be treated to a wide range of varieties this yuletide season and beyond.
