By Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo
Eighty-nine days after the transition of Oba Okunade Sijuwade, the Olubuse II, Osun State Government announced the appointment of Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi as the new Ooni of Ife last Monday.
The 40-year-old prince and real estate magnate from the Giesi Ruling House in the ancient town of Ile-Ife, emerged out of 22 candidates from the ruling house.
Prince Ogunwusi, who becomes the 51st Ooni of Ife, is the fourth direct descendant of the Giesi family.
In announcing his appointment, the Secretary to Osun State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, said his selection was sequel to the due process by the kingmakers and subsequent communication of their decision to the government.
Prince Ogunwusi, a self-made businessman holds a Higher National Diploma in
Accountancy from The Polytechnic, Ibadan, where he started cutting his teeth in outstanding entrepreneurship, even as a student. He is a certified member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), and a certified member of the Institute of Directors (IoD) Nigeria. He is also an active member of Global Real Estate Institute (GRI), having participated at various levels.
He has been involved in Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) locally and abroad for over 12 years and he is also actively involved in the development of over 2,500 housing units with various consortia of developers/promoters over the last 8 years in Nigeria. He facilitated strong trade relationship through Association for International Business (AIB) with presence in over 200 member countries across the globe which he set up in Nigeria.
One of the key achievements of this body is the trade facilitation between the United Arab Emirates (Jebel Ali free Trade Zone development) and Federal Government of Nigeria through Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC).
He was a co-organiser for Ondo State Economic Planning and Implementation Committee. He led the government delegation team to Canada in 2002 for strategic alliance and partnership with Ondo State government on solid mineral potential of the state (Bitumen, Dimension Stones, Granite, etc.) which led to the formation of Amalgamated Mining and Exploration Company Limited – wholly-owned by Ondo State Government. He was involved in the facilitation and development of Sparkwest Steel Galvanizing Plant (the only Steel Galvanizing Plant in Nigeria), National Iron Ore Mining Company Limited and Jakura Mines resuscitation projects that have eventually become the major limestone feed stock to Obajana Cement Plant in Kogi State, Nigeria.
Prince Ogunwusi was involved with trading and marketing of commodities, the main facilitator for Dangote Group’s break into the ‘up-country supply chain consortium’ between 1996 and 1999. He also traded for Dohagro Allied, Global Apex, Olam, Clemco, Stallion Group, Milan Group etc, at about the same period. This is where he gained expertise in marketing , which up till date is one of his major strengths. He also facilitated the biggest Lead and Aluminum recycling plant set up in Nigeria by National Steel Company of India in Ota, Ogun State.
He began his strides in the real estate sector with various dredging and land reclamation projects in Lagos State. Adeyeye is the initiator of EssentialHomes, a real estate product launched in January 2014 formed to deliver affordable upscale homes to the middle and low income earners. The first phase of the product (The Southpointe Estate, Lafiaji Road, Lekki, Lagos State) started in February 2014, and has been successfully delivered within one year with about 60 per cent occupancy recorded. This attests to the huge market demand and acceptability of the EssentialHomes product. He also led the team that developed the beautiful Northpointe Estate Phase I,II,III and Midland Court on Chevron Drive Lekki Lagos.
In addition, Prince Ogunwusi has successfully undertaken more multi-billion naira projects across Lagos and environs; Jacob Mews Estate Yaba, Lakeview Park I and II Estates Lekki, the ongoing Golden Leaf Estate, Lafiaji, Lekki and Grand Lake Estate Ajah, Lagos.
Adeyeye is presently an employer of over 300 indigenous youth at the Inagbe Cocowood Factory – EssentialHomes Furniture brand, first of its kind in Nigeria using 100 per cent indigenous raw materials for production. He has over 450 direct employees across his various companies, and over 3,000 indirect employees.
Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi is a director on the Board of Directors of Imperial Homes Mortgage Bank Limited, (formerly GTHomes), a leading National Mortgage Bank and former subsidiary of one of the biggest banks in Africa, GTBank Plc. He is also a Director, FinaTrust Microfinance Bank Limited, one of Nigeria’s foremost Microfinance Banks focusing on SMEs and micro credit facilities. He is the Founder and Managing Director of Gran Imperio Group, the holding company of real estate and construction, manufacturing, facilities management, leisure and tourism companies in Nigeria.
Prince Ogunwusi has been involved in remarkable partnerships with royal fathers in some of his real estate developments; Oba Saheed Elegushi, Kusenla III, Elegushi of Ikate Land; Lagos (Development of LakeView Park 2, Lafiaji, off Orchid Hotel Road, Lekki– Epe Expressway); The late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade,(development of Northpointe Estate, Chevron Drive, Lekki, Lagos); Oba Oyekan, Onilado, of Ilado Inagbe Island, Lagos, (Development of Inagbe Grand Resorts and Leisure, Lagos); Oba Adedapo Tejuoso; The Oranmiyan Osile Oke Ona of Egba Land, Abeokuta (development of The Lord’s Estate, Buckswood College, Abeokuta); Oba Oloruntoyin Saliu, the Oloworo of Oworonsoki, Lagos (partners in the proposed Oworonsoki Redevelopment Scheme, Lagos); Oba Akinloye, Ojomu of Ajiran Land, Lekki (a host to several developments which Adeyeye has embarked on); The Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Muhammed Gbadamosi (partnership during the rice and sugar merchandising for Dangote Group and others).
He is said to be loved and highly respected by the people of Ile-Ife. As a Prince, he has stayed and is very much in touch with his roots and tradition. He has close alliances with some of the most esteemed royal fathers, leaders and king’s men
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