•Reveals Why He Went Into Real Estate Business
Popular Celestial Church Pastor, Isreal Oladele, who is also the founder of Genesis Global Church in Alakuko, Lagos, has decided to go into the real estate sector. He will be launching his real estate firm in a few weeks’ time. He’s fully ready to start and he’s been seriously working underground to ensure he succeeds in the sector.
A few weeks back, the news got to City People about his dream to go into real estate but we weren’t sure until he spoke about it last week that he’s ready to storm the sector with two estates, one in Arepo, Ogun State and another in Lekki, Lagos. He also told us why he’s moving into the sector. City People ISAAC ABIMBADE (08155107955) spoke with him and he reveals a lot. Read below!
Can you tell us more about your new journey into real estate?
Yes, I have been teaching my members and I have been telling them. There was a time I did a video where I said, instead of you putting all your money in the church, donating in the church, and bragging in the church, I asked them how have they been able to plan for their lives. When you hold other people’s hands, you are growing up, as well. We have seen many people who just preach about the church. They give their tithes. They contribute their offering. Fine. But individually, how have you planned for your life? So, I’m only trying to push them into what I have taught them. Some of them would have been with some pastors 20 years ago, and some would have been with other churches 20 years ago, but we want people to build their future now. Anyone that doesn’t save for his future isn’t safe. They now have the chance to buy and keep the property. They can go into property banking. Buy and keep the property.
Our church is big; we have chapters all over the world. It’s not going to be hard for us to have Genesis Global real estate. We have Havilah homes and gardens. We have Genesis estate, so if you want to buy within the Lekki or Redeemed Church area, in Ogun State, it’s available. It’s not for profit making, it’s for building destiny and empowering people. The problems we are dealing with today, if we had dealt with them years back, we wouldn’t have faced them now. Some of us just waste money on big parties. There was a day I asked people how many people, would like to buy me a car. And some people came and I asked them, have you bought one for your father or mother? They said no! Have you bought for your self and some of them said no! And I asked, why would you buy a car for me without buying for your father and this gave me the opportunity to know the level of their mindset.
Is it true that you were working on the document and titles before these estates launched?
Yes, that’s true. Because everything we want to do as a leader, must be transparent and there must be authenticity in what we do because a name is involved. If you aren’t greedy in the business of real estate you won’t run into trouble. I don’t want to do what I can’t handle. There should be proper documentation, there should be a board of trustees, and lawyers that will investigate, approve and handle Cof O, so that in the future, the landowners and investors won’t have problems. When we are done with all that, we can now push it out. I want to do things that will make me sleep and I don’t want anyone to come and harass me because it’s not about profit-making but impacting lives. Let me give you an example. When we bought a plot of land here many years ago, it was 400 thousand naira but it’s now 15 million naira per plot. If someone had bought about 10 plots here then, it would be 150 million naira by now.
The main reason why people don’t invest in real estate is procrastination, fear of the unknown, and spending money on things they don’t need. You cant give me a Rolls Royce now and I appreciate it the same way I will appreciate the land. But if you give me more money to empower people to go into real estate, I will appreciate it. I wish to empower people that can be paying little by little and some through, this initiative can build bungalows, and any other thing they want to do.
Can you share with us again the name of the estate?
The problem is that some people love to steal your idea but if they steal it we are going to bring another one. Currently, we have Havilah Homes and Gardens and we have Genesis Global City Estate. We have for the low-income people, middle-income earners. Inside this estate, we would have a mall, police station, etc. I don’t want to reveal everything to you now! But it’s going to be massive.
We would have estate around the Arepo axis in Ogun state. We would also have around Lekki axis, Lagos. We would also have in Abeokuta, Ogun state.
What would you say if someone asks you why is Genesis Pastor going into the real estate business?
Only the people who aren’t sensible would not encourage I’m empowering people. What if I have been asking them to sell their cars, and houses and bring the money, that we want to build 50 thousand capacity church? If they leave the church or die, would they inherit the church? Or they grow old and they have their own houses, their children will inherit it. It’s not just about profit making, it’s about empowering people.
The mode of payment will be transparent and some people will buy it through cooperative banks. Those who are doing well in the sector today started from somewhere.
What are you going to be doing differently from other real estate firms?
Those are my secrets. Other real estate firms will read this and they will make use of it but trust me, I’m not in competition with anybody. I’m just concerned about anybody that’s connected to Genesis Global.
What have you been doing in the last year?
It’s been good: I have been writing more books. I have written some books that will be coming out soon. I’m working on my movie, though it’s going to be expensive. We have also started our Ikeja Church. It’s expensive to start the church because it’s a rented place. But we have finally taken Genesis church to Ikeja for those who can’t come to Alakuko. So for those who want to come to the Ikeja Church for fellowship, can come there. But fellowship is different from worship. So, for those who want to come there to fellowship and they don’t want to pull off their shoes, can come there. It’s a place where a woman will be able to preach. But I can’t do all those here.
Ikeja is where we have both Pentecostal and other white garment churches. The weekly programme we normally have there is called Restore. If God says we should move to Lekki we will do that.
Ikeja Church is a rented hall. If you want to wear your garment there for fellowship, you can. And if you are coming with a normal dress, it is also allowed. All we want to do is to preach the word of God. There are some people who don’t like to pull off their shoes, Ikeja church is a perfect place for them to come. I don’t want doctrine to prevent some people from getting my messages.
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