In the highly competitive real estate business in Nigeria, it is difficult to stand out from the crowd. But this is certainly not the case for Atinuke Peace Olugbenro, group managing director, Oxford Pax Group a subsidiary of Oxford International Group.
With the right information, association, and hard work, Tinu is succeeding in an industry mainly dominated by men.
She is currently a mentor and an inspiration to many young realtors in the industry.
Explaining how her entrepreneurship journey started, she notes that passion and love for what she studied were her inspiration.
“My background in estate management, as a first and second degree inspired me to venture into the business,” she says. “The real estate business is something I was made and prepared for. Also, my work experiences have been around the same industry.”
As an employee in a top real estate firm, Tinu was sure she was on the right path of her chosen profession when she closed her first deal within few weeks of joining the establishment.
Within few weeks of joining the company, Atinuke closed a N2.3 million deal, which gave the needed confidence to succeed in the real estate space.
“Hard work, commitment and drive to succeed paid off when I first earned a promotion to be group public relations officer, in less than a year, as head of operations and in no time became managing director of Oxford City Housing,” she explains.
With over four years of experience in the industry, she has broadened her sales skills and gained deeper understanding of Nigeria’s real estate industry.
Today, Tinu who is popularly called Tinu Pax has built a personal brand as a real estate consultant and currently managing over 18 infant subsidiary companies and counting.
Speaking on investment opportunities in the industry, she says real estate provides an opportunity to individuals willing and ready to acquire an asset that has the potential of risk but with increasing value in the future.
She says such opportunities are usually not always available and individuals with adequate financial capacity can leverage such opportunities.
Shedding light on the benefit of an investment opportunity in the sector, Tinu notes that as long as the investment is genuine and guaranteed, it becomes a gateway to building wealth over time.
“A good investment opportunity also serves as a hedge against inflation,” she says.
“The wealthy people we know today can testify to this fact that with a good investment opportunity, you can multiply your income which can be used for future projects. It could be a housing project, education project for your kids, a relocation project, and many more,” she explains.
She warns individuals against vulnerability and falling victims of Ponzi schemes which today is rampant.
She further admonishes those seeking to invest to seek accurate financial and investment knowledge in other to make good decisions in this regard. In evaluating the country’s real estate industry, the young entrepreneur, says the industry is fast-growing and that there are still numerous opportunities to be harnessed.
On her advice to other entrepreneurs, she says “strategy and patience are key. With a good strategy and patience, you will always be winning.”
“You must always be on top of your game. Follow the trend and use it to your advantage. Be willing to adapt to changes to survive the current pressure,” she advises.
