Why I Am Celebrating My 50th Birthday BIG!

• RevolutionPlus GMD, Dr. BAMIDELE ONALAJA

Guess who is celebrating his 50th birthday in a few weeks, precisely 21st of May, 2024? It’s no other person than Dr. Bamidele Onalaja, Group Managing Director, RevolutionPlus Property Development Company.

All is set for the big man at 50! Preparation is at top gear in making sure that the set aside-date will be fun-filled. The event will take place at the magnificent event centre in Ikate, Lekki, called The Monarch.

For those who don’t know much about this enigma who through him and a few others, the real estate industry in Nigeria has been revolutionised, let’s tell you a bit about him.

Dr Bamidele O. is a serial entrepreneur and philanthropist. He is Group Managing Director /Chief Executive Officer of RevolutionPlus Property Group, a company with 7 subsidiaries; RevolutionPlus Property Development Company Limited, RevolutionPlus Constructions and Infrastructure Limited, Remarkable Hotels and Apartments Limited, Remarkable Impact Investment Limited, Remarkable Foods Limited, Chris Bamidele Onalaja Foundation (CBOF) and Angelic Lingerie. He is also the former Chairman of the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), Lagos Chapter.

He is a major donor to the Rotary Foundation, having donated over $10,000 to the foundation.

Dr Onalaja revealed in his interview he granted a few months back how his dad had always wanted him to become a medical doctor when he was young.

He said “I remember my dad, who has always wanted me to become a medical doctor. My elder brother and I. His dream was for us to become medical doctors. At that point, he mandated us to go for science while in secondary school but there was something inside of me that says this science is not for me. I failed Physics twice and that was when I told my old man that there’s no hope again for medicine, I told him to let me cross over to commercial and I studied Economics.

Growing up, I have always liked to live a life of impact. I grew up in a humble background but God lifted me up and I am now a star. I’m sure my father in heaven would be so happy to see what I have become today. He died over 10 years ago”.

He also said further.. “My childhood dream was to be a successful man. But I still remember when they asked us what I would like to do, I always said I wanted to be a doctor, and lawyer but we didn’t know what it takes to become all of those. As time went on, when we got to secondary school, it now became clearer. I just wanted to make an impact and I also realised that being a lawyer or doctor doesn’t define success. We have seen people that didn’t attend any school and they are successful. They lived an impactful life”.

The real estate guru revealed how the love for real estate started a few years ago.

“When I finished from Lagos State University where I studied Economics. I worked with Chief Adeyemi Lawson and that was my first job. It’s the first private real estate company in Nigeria, Agbara Estate. I was the Marketing Manager for 2 years. And that’s where I developed a love for real estate. While growing up, some of my father/mother’s friends, who worked in the ministry then left the ministry broke and poor.

They left there without any house. Many of them live in government houses for up to 60 years and above. These were some of the things that touched my heart and I said I want to help this kind of people. And I started gathering experience about 20 years ago at Agbara Estate. And I said I was going to make the difference.

I also had the opportunity of working with Refuge Mortgage Bank. That was my first mortgage experience. At Refuge, I was able to create mortgage products through real estate for clients. I was the head of the project there. From there, I started to develop more passion for affordable housing.

And I have told God during that time that at a particular age I want to stop working for anyone. Thank God, He answered my prayer. I said at the age of 40, I want to stop working for anyone because I have seen what people go through working for someone throughout their lives”.

Dr Bamidele revealed how he struggled a few years ago before he hit in real estate. According to him, “Yes, I have. What I have been able to achieve in life is beyond my expectation. I know where some of my friends are. Some of those whom we attended University and secondary school together. Many people may not understand this. I came from a humble background. There was no money to even feed while growing up and that is why I have been doing what we are doing. Free school, free meals, empowerment, because I know what poverty is. I have tasted it. I thank God, He brought me out from the shackles of poverty and that’s why I will always be grateful to God and give to the less privileged, especially because I was there at a time. I have told you time and time again that I worked as a Coca-Cola truck boy. I have a mark on my leg as a result of a bottle that broke and injured my leg. I can never forget it. As a truck boy, you live from hand to mouth. But I am grateful to God for where I am today.”