Boss Of The Week
Oyindamola Lami Adeyemi: The Formidable Woman with a Penchant For Success
By Michael Effiong and Eric Elezuo
When the French call someone formidable, they mean tremendous, terrific, awesome and capable. These are words that came to mind when you meet Oyindamola Lami Adeyemi, the Group Managing Director of Still Earth Holdings.
Just a few days after the world celebrated the International Women’s Day and Mothers’ Day, Oyinda, one of the few women who has dared to thread where even some men dread, is a year older – and it is worth celebrating.
She deserves all the encomiums because she is a business amazon who works hard, very hard. Indeed, those who work with her marvel at her strength of character, her stamina and amazing spirit, which they believe comes from her faith in the Almighty.
We gathered that she has reached these great heights due to her penchant for personal and professional excellence. Her uncompromising management style, never taking no for an answer and settling for nothing but the very best has led to the steady growth of her enterprise.
In her lifestyle and the structure of her business, you see fierce competitiveness, strong work ethic and there is no doubt that she is a leader that her staff and team members trust and respect.
She is unashamed of her convictions and faith, and lives a life that consistently reflects her values, day in and day out. She is very respectful, fair but firm and never cuts corners in order to make profit. She does business with an ethical mindset, and this has stood her out from the Pack.
A reserved technocrat blessed with both beauty and brains, Adeyemi was born and raised in Gombe State, North Eastern Nigeria to a Yoruba father from Ondo State and Hausa/Fulani Mother.
Her multilingual and multi-ethnic upbringing have made her a bridge builder which enables her to feel free at home, not only in the Northern or South Western parts, but every part of the country.
Fluent in both Hausa and Yoruba languages, Ms. Adeyemi has built a solid reputation as one of the few entrepreneurs without an ethnic bias, which makes her such a distinctive and appealing business leader. And of course, an epitome of togetherness. It is a unifier like her that Nigeria needs at this time that tribalism and ethnicity has taken over every national conversation.
Though classy and fashionable, she is not the kind of executive you meet at every occasion. She is the cerebral type who prefers negotiating complex deals and explaining the intricate genius of construction to spending time at social events.
The media-shy Ms. Adeyemi, who guards her privacy jealously, has with a combination of tenacity, integrity and ability overcome fierce opposition in entrepreneurship and carved a niche for herself as major player in the fields of construction, real estate and financial services. In fact, since she broke the proverbial glass ceiling, there has been no stopping this Woman of Steel.
Her trajectory is indeed worthy of emulation. It is a testament to her determination and vision.
Over a decade ago, she founded Still Earth Limited which has metamorphosed into Still Earth Holdings, which she presently oversees as the Group Managing Director, with a vision to deliver maximum performance in line with international best practices.
As the years have rolled by, Adeyemi has proved her mettle, developing desired concepts and delivering mega projects across Nigeria.
Highly educated and equipped for whatever tasks ahead, Adeyemi earned her B.Sc. Degree in Political Science from the University of Abuja, and an M.Sc. Degree in Political Economy and Development from the same University. She is also an alumnus of the prestigious Harvard Business School, Massachusetts, Boston, having attended the Owner/President Management Program.
From the earliest days when she desperately sought startup capital to set up her business, even asking from an unknown person at Julius Berger, who turned her down, Adeyemi has come of age.
She said this of her dexterity in one of the few interviews she granted; “I have a determined attitude to life. I am very detailed and I never take anything for granted.”
This ‘determined attitude to life’ shot her up to the highest echelon of human development within a very short time, prompting so many influential personalities she worked with in the early days to assume that she was only a daughter of the owner of her company.
She continued: “But the perception is becoming better these days. All I need to get them to key into the reality of my life is to spend 30 minutes with them. Anyone I engage for 30 minutes leaves with the impression that I know what I am doing.”
It is worthy of note that Adeyemi did not just become the Group Managing Director of Still Earth, she went through the ropes, gathering veritable and verifiable experiences as she climbed the corporate ladder.
Adeyemi kick-started her professional career as a Banker when she joined First City Monument Bank Plc, Abeokuta branch as Banking Operations Officer. Her functions included undertaking general banking operation activities as assigned by the Head of the Head of Operations including cash management.
She left to join defunct Equatorial Trust Bank Limited as the Relationship Manager, Public Sector Group. There, she was saddled with the responsibility of managing all public sector group account and relationships in the bank’s portfolio. Her competence elevated her to the rank of Head, Public Sector Group, (Ogun Region) of the bank, with added responsibilities of coordinating and managing all Public Sector Group activities in the region.
Having garnered loads of experience on the field, she then established Still Earth Limited in Ikoyi, and has remained its Group Managing Director till date, expanding the conglomerate with core principles hinged on service delivery, client satisfaction and staff motivation. She has over the years led in driving direction and leadership in project and construction management and general contracting for the multi-billion naira company.
Her journey to the top has been far from easy. According to her, it was more of perspiration and perseverance “I have years of experience that spans the Banking Sector, Retail Marketing, Public Sector, Oil & Gas and Construction. My story is one of grit, resilience and persistence, which over the years has built a solid foundation to pursue excellence end-to-end and achieve higher goals.”
But how has she been able to navigate the muddy waters of business in Nigeria and has come out clean and unscathed, a reference can quickly be made to a response she gave many years ago during an interview with The Nation newspaper thus: “Our success is hinged on our passion to achieve our company’s goals and objectives. It boils down to our team and the corporate values and culture we uphold at Still Earth. We have in place a Board of Directors comprising veterans who are passionate about Still Earth. They always bring their experience and expertise to bear.
From the outset, Still Earth has had to leap over impossibly high hurdles to reach goals that had boggled the minds of contemporaries and competitors, all thanks to the able and charismatic leadership, coupled with her characteristic style of being decisive, bold and imaginative.
With an undeniably unmatchable can-do spirit, Adeyemi, who believes that the infrastructural deficit in Nigeria needs urgent attention and with a track record as a woman of steel, has proven that chal indigenous companies can achieve amazing results, and she doesn’t compromise good management and leadership.
“Our management is peopled by technocrats whose professionalism can compete with global standard. I have been lucky with having the right people all the way. Our clients have also been a part of our huge success.”
Adeyemi has marshaled her team and workforce well by activating and directing the positive energy of her people to achieve excellent results.
She has continually invested in qualified talents and thus lead a workforce of trained individuals towards becoming a major player in line with the company’s ambitious aspirations.
According to the company “Our objective is to work together as a team to achieve success on every project for our clients, through the professionalism, diligence and hard work that we profess and promote”
Not done with just making a mark in the construction industry, like a typical knowledgeable serial entrepreneur, she has formed other companies and invested in other sectors. One of those new adventures is in the finance sector with the establishment of Still Earth Capital Finance.
That is the reason Adeyemi’s Still Earth pride’s itself as having the ability to deliver projects on budget, on time and with the best quality too!
Still Earth wears the garb of a premier general contractor and is highly regarded as one of the leading engineering & construction companies in Nigeria. The songs of satisfied customers across the country and beyond have remained the testimony behind the greatness Adeyemi and her Still Earth Group team enjoy.
The company assiduously works on major projects, and has successfully completed several in the bargain, both as direct contractors and sub-contractors. With diversified, yet distinguished construction capabilities in the Nigerian market, Still Earth has successfully completed several prestigious projects and continue to participate in large scale projects both independently or in joint venture with international companies
Some of its reputable clients include Julius Berger Nigeria, Dangote Refinery, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd, Oyo State Government, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Lagos State Government, Ekiti State Government, Akwa Ibom State Government, Delta State Government, Federal Ministry of Transport, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited, many High Networth Individuals amongst others. Certainly, these first-rate organisations cannot be wrong!
The company’s aim is to develop the country’s infrastructural base by responsibly executing every project it is entrusted with, while creating real benefit for communities it serves by adopting principled and uncompromising approach to its professional and value standards. And of course, it takes Corporate Social Responsibility seriously.
Still Earth aims to be a market leader, preferred general construction contractor that is globally recognized. Its focus is to achieve consistency and proficiency in the delivery of outstanding service, while adding value for clients through professionalism, pro-activity, creativity, transparency, timeliness and qualitative performance.
The company’s future challenge in the dynamic market is to take full advantage of its competitiveness and available opportunities. From this perspective, Still Earth has been restructured to become recognized with high competence in the market.
There is no doubt that Still Earth is driven by ingenuity and innovation; it has a human face because the Group Managing Director draws her deep understanding from both human and business dynamics to run an efficient organization. She always ensures to make it about the client and her company and nothing more.
Little wonder the company’s core mission is “To add exceptional, lasting value through our technical expertise, corporate culture and corporate social responsibility to our staff, clients, country and humanity”.
Adeyemi’s personality is not just all business and boardroom, she is also serious about political affairs though not an active participant, and that was why she studied Political Science for her first degree.
“I have always been interested in Nigerian politics, that is why my first degree was in Political Science,” she said.
It is this nationalistic passion that led her to set up The Green Renaissance, a Leadership Advancement Initiative saddled with the responsibility of championing institutional independence and competence in Nigeria.
As a result of her sterling achievements, she has received numerous recognitions and honour such as the African Leader of Integrity Merit Award – Excellence in Corporate Governance and Service Delivery from Accra, Ghana.
As she marks her birthday today, here is wishing Oyindamola Lami Adeyemi many more years of business accomplishments.
By Eric Elezuo
Here’s the story of a man, who read his way out of poverty. A man, who is known by a dictum not common to ordinary mortals; the dictum of perfection. It is nobwonder that he is credited with the say, “I am a perfectionist, and I take nothing short of excellence”.
His name is Adetola Nola. He is athe Chief Executive Officer at Veritasi Homes and Properties, A.R.N Farms and Commodities Limited, which he founded and signed off to build one of the largest rice milling plants in West Africa; Asteric Asset Management, and Baraka Energy Lithium Processing Limited. Nola’s image looms large, and he is just 34.
Nola is a typical example of the ‘real’ Nigerian youths, who are steadily proving that the not too young to run mantra is not just about politics, but spreads across every facet of human endeavour, chiefly among which is entrepreneurship.
It is therefore, not a surprise that before the age of 30, the star brained thinker, determined achiever and never-say-never entrepreneur, who has conquered the world of real estate, agriculture, mining and asset management giant, is already ruling their worlds, giving back to humanity and creating leverages that are already making the world a much more better place as well as pave the way for upcoming youths to bring their dreams to reality.
Nola is a standard measure for administrative competence, and the fact anyone can achieve greatness if they set their minds to it.
Born 1990, Adetola Nola, is unarguably an excellence-driven and innovative real estate entrepreneur with positive energy and experience instrumental in redefining success in the Nigerian real estate industry. He does not only boast of these energies, but steadfastly put them to work and has reinvented a whole new strata of home management, estate development and all round provision of affordable housing for every class of humanity, Nigerians more especially.
A well-read intellectual, Nola is a Bachelor of Engineering degree holder in Chemical Engineering from the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. He has not left anything to chance as regards improvement educationally as he has just concluded an MBA (Masters in Business Administration) degree at the Metropolitan School of Business & Management, London.
His strong leaning on education and in continuous learning have created in him a need not to rest on his oars, prompting him to attend many capacity development courses, including Strategic Management & Leadership courses at the London Metropolitan University, Finance and Management Courses at the London School of Business & Finance; and numerous seminars locally and internationally. Little wonder he tells anyone he cares to listen that “I read my way out of poverty”.
Ever since he ventured into entrepreneurship, Adetola Nola has not looked back; he has not allowed himself to be weighed down by the vicissitudes surrounding business establishment and grooming, and has consequently, raked in extraordinary achievements under the age of 30, prompting the magnanimous Forbes to recognise him among the Forbes Africa Under 30 Class of 2019, when he was 29.
Reacting to his selection, Nola noted that “It is an honour to be part of this list that features so many great people. Forbes has done a great job compiling and ensuring the credibility of this list since inception, and it is a leading resource for entrepreneurs, like myself.”
The CEO is an epitome of impressive leadership, corporate management skills, and rich top management experience. His expertise, knowledge and experience span sales, marketing, real estate investment, property finance, real estate advisory, management, leadership development among a long list of business and entrepreneur oriented endeavours.
From a mere start up, Nola kick-started his real estate career. He began as a real estate sales consultant with Grenadine Homes, where he recorded a plethora of successes in closing property deals. Every pie he puts his hands is on becomes a done deal. His ingenuity won him a trip to Dubai while at Grenadine. He reported that once he sold shoes so well to a client that the client felt he could sell real estate, and there arose his interest in real estate.
In 2017, after facilitating projects for other real estate companies, he founded his own company, Veritasi with just one staff – his secretary. But his style of leadership, rooted in eye for details and profits, the company recorded over N2 billion in revenue in less than two years of operation. In his modesty, he attributed the feat to the company’s vision of solving the housing problems of middle-income earners in Nigeria.
From the proverbial mustard seed, the company has grown to boast of over 12,000 real estate consultants, 1300 Veritasi Realtors and 18 full-time staff, today. This is a magnificent leap by all standard.
Nola has remained undaunted in his pursuit of the golden fleece or the green pastures even as he encountered untold entrepreneurial hassles. It has been reported that the man, who today has a Midas touch, has failed severally in business, but his sight on the ultimate goal, kept him going. And today he is a success story. A point of reference, and a veritable instrument with a passion to see and help other businesses grow.
“All the other businesses were learning grounds for us. They failed, but they taught me a lot of things. Because when I started Veritasi, I understood business dynamics and a lot of other things. I am trying to resurrect one or two,” he said.
The entrepreneur’s experience in growing businesses from the scratch to fruition is predicated upon his ability to have either founded or co-founded five other companies, including Noah and Nola Incorporated, Pineapples Luxury Retail Store and Couture 89 amongst others. He is also the current Founder/Chief Strategist Officer of Nola Travels. It is worthy of note that Nola founded this particular business with the sole aim of helping unemployed graduates. That explains how kindhearted he is, and can always be!
Walking in the footsteps of great African entrepreneurs like Tony Elumelu, Nola has a wholesome ambition of raising at least 200 successful African entrepreneurs who will, in turn, create employment and the circle continues. He has, as a matter of fact, been training batches of at least forty realtors and entrepreneurs on business and financial intelligence in his office every Thursday since November 2018. He also helps friends and family members to analyse their businesses, just as he assists the same friends and family members to see to the fruition of their businesses.
In all, Nola has analysed over 40 businesses, and still counting, for close friends and family members in the same way he has helped in restructuring about 20 of these businesses free of charge.
His corporate social responsibility has grown in leaps and bounds, affecting lives and giving hope to as many that he has come in contact with. He is presently championing the emergence of smarter communities with green energy in Nigeria while developing and providing properties that are timely in delivery, cost-effective, energy efficient, and durable. He is also a strategic investor with investments in the automobile industry, fashion and agriculture. His catalogue of palliatives for the good of his people has remained green even as he is still a very young man.
Nola is a thoroughbred inspirational speaker as well as a resource person in many affairs of life. While impacting his community, he has acted as a resource person at many learning and discourse sessions. He has also spoken in many local and international conferences including University of Mazda, Abu Dhabi and Property Investment & Homebuyers Show, London and others.
In his quest to further affect humanity, he has partnered with a number of NGOs with the aim of eradicating poverty and establishing a positive legacy. His belief in entrepreneurship has given him leverage to solve the challenge of unemployment and poverty in Africa. He has therefore, created platforms where people can work and learn to build companies of their own.
AWARDS AND ACCOLADES
Nola is not new to awards considering his humongous achievements. He has to his credit multiple local and international awards among which are Most Enterprising Student from Obafemi Awolowo University; Most Innovative Staff from Grenadine Homes; Best Intern in Operations from NNPC; Young Real Estate CEO Speaker from Property Investment Show, London and Fastest Growing Entreprenuer from Grapevine Real Estate.
Nola is a force to reckon with, and had started from the earliest of stages to create the accolades that follows him today, even at his youthful age.
THE PRESTIGIOUS CAMBERWALL ESTATE, LEKKI
Recently, Nola’s company unveiled an ambitious site and services scheme in Lekki, called Camberwall Estate. This magnanimous project is coming just after the Star City Garden in Ibeju-Lekki was first released. The estate consists of service plots.
A must buy and home to every lover of affordable luxury, Camberwall, a homely estate, which is located along Eleko Beach and opposite Amen Estate in Ibeju-Lekki Council, is a few minutes drive to Lagos Business School, and proposed airport. There is no doubt that it is an investor’s delight.
Speaking about the estate, Nola said it is a residential haven designed to provide affordable experience in a conducive and serene environment. He added that the estate is designed to accommodate modern state of the art facilities like interlocked road, clinic and security beautiful landscape, drainages, street lights, and estate club houses.
That is not all, it comprises a central designed architectural piece of accommodation, which provides residents with an ideal believe of tranquility and modern convenience. As part of his innovations, he is replicating noiseless and smart homes in Nigeria.
Nola does not only have a Midas touch in business, he is a stickler to excellence, decorum and the best of services. Little wonder he rolled out the drums to celebrate staff and clients as the year 2021 wound down in a most elaborate end of year party. He is by all means the class of technocrats capable of turning the economic fortunes of the nation, Nigeria around, and needs to be giving a chance.
A typical Epicurus son, Nola is a lover of good things including splendid food, neatly and smartly tailored apparels and worthy vacations to ease the stress and rejuvenate the mind.
Welcome to the impressive world of the indefatigable investor, Adetola Nola!
I Stand by PDP Constitution, Resolution of Party’s Governors’ Forum – Gov Adeleke
NECO Releases 2024 SSCE Results
Yahaya Bello Not in Our Custody, Still a Wanted Man, Says EFCC
Hezebollah Pagers Explode, Kill Many, Injure Thousands As Militant Group Blames Israel
Finally, Yahaya Bello Gives Self Up to EFCC
Abure Not Chairman of Labour Party, Tenure Expired in June, Says INEC
Health Challenge: King Charles May Relinquish Throne to Prince William
Nigerian Engineer Wins $500m Contract to Build Monorail Network in Iraq
WORLD EXCLUSIVE: Will Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Join Presidential Race?
World Exclusive: How Cabal, Corruption Stalled Mambilla Hydropower Project …The Abba Kyari, Fashola and Malami Connection Plus FG May Lose $2bn
Rehabilitation Comment: Sanwo-Olu’s Support Group Replies Ambode (Video)
Fashanu, Dolapo Awosika and Prophet Controversy: The Complete Story
Pendulum: Can Atiku Abubakar Defeat Muhammadu Buhari in 2019?
Pendulum: An Evening with Two Presidential Aspirants in Abuja
Who are the early favorites to win the NFL rushing title?
Boxing continues to knock itself out with bewildering, incorrect decisions
Steph Curry finally got the contract he deserves from the Warriors
Phillies’ Aaron Altherr makes mind-boggling barehanded play
The tremendous importance of owning a perfect piece of clothing
-
News6 years agoNigerian Engineer Wins $500m Contract to Build Monorail Network in Iraq
-
Featured6 years agoWORLD EXCLUSIVE: Will Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Join Presidential Race?
-
Boss Picks6 years agoWorld Exclusive: How Cabal, Corruption Stalled Mambilla Hydropower Project …The Abba Kyari, Fashola and Malami Connection Plus FG May Lose $2bn
-
Headline6 years agoRehabilitation Comment: Sanwo-Olu’s Support Group Replies Ambode (Video)
-
Headline6 years agoFashanu, Dolapo Awosika and Prophet Controversy: The Complete Story
-
Headline6 years agoPendulum: Can Atiku Abubakar Defeat Muhammadu Buhari in 2019?
-
Headline6 years ago
Pendulum: An Evening with Two Presidential Aspirants in Abuja
-
Headline6 years ago2019: Parties’ Presidential Candidates Emerge (View Full List)