Basking in its success story of the past 25 years, Global Properties and Facilities International (Global PFI) says the next 25 years present a new chapter of greater impact on its clients and the facilities management industry.
The company hopes to remain a leader, a trusted partner, and a force for progress in the industry, continuing to invest in its people, embracing technology and innovation, and strengthening partnerships.
Ibikunle Ogunbayo, the company’s board chairman, who made these observations, also sees the next 25 years bringing new challenges and opportunities as the industry wades through advancements in smart building technology, growing demands for sustainable operations, and evolving client expectations.
Ogunbayo spoke at the company’s 25th anniversary, which, according to him, was a celebration of excellence, innovation, and service.
He recalled that “when our company started 25 years ago as FMC Nigeria Limited, the ambition of the founding fathers was simple yet bold: To deliver world-class property management and facility solutions that make a real difference in the lives of our clients and the communities we serve.”
“We have seen the company over the years transform from FMC Nigeria Limited to WSP-FMC Nigeria Limited. Then the strategic merger with DOMME Facilities Management Company, leading to a name change to what is now known as GPFI,” he added.
Ogunbayo noted that, over the past years, Global PFI has transformed from a Nigerian local company to a truly Pan African company with presence and operations in 19 African countries, with the Holding Company Structure
“We have managed and maintained some of the most iconic properties in our region; expanded our portfolio to include residential, commercial, and industrial facilities.
We have also embraced technology and sustainability, pioneering solutions that improve efficiency while protecting the environment, and developed a culture where integrity, service excellence, and innovation are not just words, but also our way of doing business,” he stated.
Earlier in his remarks, MKO Balogun, the Group CEO, had hinged the company’s success story on its great vision, which, according to him, only becomes powerful when it is lived, shared, and sustained.
“Tonight, we celebrate not just 25 years of a company, but 25 years of a vision that dared to live. What began as the bold dream of our founding leaders— Ibikunle Ogunbayo, Dipo Adebo, Tunde Disu, Segun Ajanlekoko, and Inam Udoma, of blessed memory— has blossomed into a formidable force, driven by pioneering spirit and dedication to excellence, “the Group CEO stated.
Continuing, Balogun noted with glee, “And for a company that has restructured four times, faced major challenges that threatened its very foundation, to not only survive, but also thrive, is quite encouraging, just as Okey Enelamah, in his congratulatory message, said, ‘this is a testament of tenacity, staying power, and professionalism.”
He described GPFI as a work of art, explaining that, “like a sculptor, we design, mould, remould, and refine. We are a work in progress—constantly improving, recreating, not just ourselves, but also reshaping how the entire industry is seen and valued.”
He added that the company is not only long-term focused but also deliberate in choosing its partners. “We are not just an FM company providing services, but also a strategic partner to our clients. This is why our relationships endure. Our DNA is rooted in sustainability, innovation, and technology.”
Balogun recalled that GPFI was one of just six companies worldwide to sign a World Economic Forum declaration on carbon emissions in 2024, adding that the company was also the first in Nigeria to commit to sustainable water in real estate, through the UN Global Compact Water Mandate in 2023.
