Sujimoto boss advises entrepreneurs to follow their passion

Real Estate expert and Managing Director of Sujimoto Group, Sijibomi Ogundele, has challenged the youth and entrepreneurs not to lose hope in the face of challenges but follow their passion.

He recalled how the 2016 to 2017 economic recession almost drove him out of his business, describing the cash crunch as the most difficult period of his life. He said it was so because he had invested $90 million to build the tallest residential building in SubSaharan Africa, invested all his money, time and passion into what he believed in.

Sujimoto told newsmen that the project was stalled due to the bad economy. “Things became very rough. So I had to let go of the best people around me,” he recalled.

But he believed in his passion which he pursued relentlessly, he said and advised those in his shoes, especially the youth, not to be discouraged by temporary setbacks.

“Some people told me that real estate is a difficult sector so it would be best for me to leave my passion and do something else. I visited my old-time friend’s water factory in Abeokuta and thought about venturing into the ‘pure-water’ business,” he noted.

Sujimoto said he thought of farming but held firm to his real estate passion. “Though I am still not where I want to be, I am thankful to the Almighty that I am not where I used to be. But now, I am thankful I didn’t give up, run off or lose hope,” he said inspiringly.