Gasvine Properties held a staff conference in the first week of February to prepare them for the workplace challenges and get them equipped as rare real estate professionals. It was interesting to meet the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of this fast rising Real Estate Corporation, Oziele Godwin, who spoke in an interview. Excerpts:
Please tell us about yourself
My name is ESV Dr. Oziele Godwin. I am an Estate Surveyor and Valuer by profession. I have been elected in the profession and licensed to practice by ESVARBON. I have over 10 years of experience in the industry. My passion in providing solution to housing challenges in Nigeria has been my driving force. I am the GMD/CEO Gasvine Properties Limited, a real estate development company in Nigeria and the principal partner of Godwin Oziele & Co with head offices in Lagos. Our innovation and quality housing delivery has gained us a name in the sector.
Why did you decide to start Gasvine?
Gasvine properties Limited is actually borne out of a burning desire to bring lasting solution to housing challenges in Nigeria. Overtime, all government efforts to address the housing needs of the medium and low income earners have yielded little result. It is a known fact that housing is not cheap despite the fact that it is a basic need of life. As professionals, we have to task our mind, that though housing is expensive, it can be affordable. This is the reason why Gasvine was born. We want to enforce a paradigm shift that the middle and low income earners can become house owners. In our four years of operation, we have shown that this is practicable and possible. We have achieved this through our flexible mode of property acquisition. When our Dreamland Ofada started, many bought a plot for N400,000, which they paid over 24 months. Today, that same land is worth over N3 million.
What was your startup stage like? What were the challenges and how did you overcome them?
Starting Gasvine to me was a great joy. We were very optimistic, ready to run with the vision. We met the first obstacle, which was people’s perception of housing. It was quite difficult to make the public believe our vision that housing can be acquired in piece meal. It took us a long time of hard work to change this mindset. Our strongest advantage was our professionalism and integrity. Many got involved because of name. Those that know me did not find it difficult to believe and we enjoyed referral from them. We also ensure that every staff we employed is not just a marketer. We groomed them into amazing professionals. We groom them to become world class realtors and they execute their jobs professionally, which made their job easy, enjoyable and acceptable. We made training a priority and this has made it easy for them to overcome what would have been challenges on the field.
When did the yearly staff conference start? Is it worth what goes into it?
Like I said earlier, we understand that a well-trained staff will always be a plus factor. So from the word go, training was incorporated into our operations. To answer your question directly, we started in the very first year of our operation. We started operation by May 2018 and by January 2019, we had the first edition. It is our believe that the staff that is well prepared will perform maximally. We set three days aside to train and for team bonding. We don’t want to have staff who are not good at what they do. We believe that the 21st century is for those that are very good at what they do. When we train our staff, they become better version of themselves. They produce better and even when they leave, they leave better than when they came. I get excited when people talk about the quality of staff we have produced over the years. We have seen the impact of the past conferences and that is why we keep improving on it every year.
You must be spending a lot on this? Why spend so much on training?
We really spent a lot of money to organise this year’s conference, which was also held at the prestigious Ibis International Hotel. I don’t regret the money we spent. I am even excited. I could see the response from the staff. I have no doubt that it is value for money. We believe that if you train the staff, they become better and command better results. The only way to have top notch performers is to invest in their development. I know that real estate market is dynamic and it will require that staff be well prepared to thrive. Gasvine stands for quality and best practices. We want to build entrepreneurs, we want to build people that can start their own ventures anytime they leave Gasvine and run it perfectly. We have in our mission: “To engage the best hands with continuous improvement and development….” To us, staff training is key.
What is the theme for this year’s conference and why?
Our theme for the year is: “Total Takeover.” Our vision is to be the leading brand in real estate in Nigeria. Gasvine will be four this year. We believe that it is time to assume that position. We want to launch out massively this year, exploring new sphere, reaching out to new locations, undertaking new projects, turning Gasvine into a house hold name in Lagos and Nigeria at large. We want to prepare the minds of our staff for the task of takeover. We want to create high expectations in the minds of our ever growing clients. We want to remind ourselves that take over is a reality and not a slogan. In our previous themes, we have always worked towards them and for sure, total takeover will be a reality this year.
How many estates do you have now?
We currently have four developing estates. We have Dreamland Gardens, Mowe, Ofada; Onyx Gardens, Isele Azagba, Asaba; Sun City Gardens, Owerri; and Royal Court, Ibeju Lekki. Constructions have commenced at Dreamland and Sun City. As I earlier said, Gasvine is a real estate development company. We develop our estates, we provide the necessary infrastructure and we build some houses to resell. All our estates are quite unique, located in good locations on plain topography. Our estates enjoy unique features, which have made them desirable to our clients and prospects alike. We are city builders and we are committed to turn our estates to masterpieces. We will not rest till our estates have become reference points in Nigeria.
What is the attitude of Nigerians towards real estate investment?
Many Nigerians see housing as just a dwelling unit and that is all they know. This is why many will quickly tell us when we meet them that the one I have, I have not developed it. Some say where I am staying is my house, I don’t need anything again. But with our persistence, we are gradually changing the narrative. Many are now beginning to see real estate as an investment and a business. To our credit and many other estate companies, an average Nigerian will easily tell you that land appreciates. Even though they may not understand the subject of appreciation. I believe it is a good progress. Nigerian real estate market has a lot of untapped potentials. The more many people understand real estate investment, the better for the market to blossom.
What is your advice to those who do not have big income but desire to buy into such estates?
I really believe that with what we are doing, one doesn’t need to break the bank before he/she ventures into real estate. One doesn’t need to earn millions now before he/she buys real estate. With as low as N20,000 monthly, anybody can become a landlord in our estates. The time to wait to get money before acquiring real estate is over. The daily income earners with as low as N1,000 daily, they can buy. We have this popular quote: “Don’t wait to buy land, buy land and wait.” No excuses now. Any person, despite class or income group, can buy land now. The joy with what Gasvine stands for is that the medium and low income earners can also enjoy quality infrastructure with the super rich in any of our estates.
But a lot of people are defrauded by real estate promises and projects. What can be done to avoid falling into the wrong hands?
Real estate industry is one industry where many non-professional venture into. Due to the huge capital involved, many who have the financial muscle are most times not professionals. Most times they don’t have the patience to learn. They jump into it. When they can’t cope, they start defrauding people. Many know that real estate is rewarding, so they do everything possible to get in and start malpractices. We have a lot of fraudulent people in the industry and many have fallen victim. My advice to Nigerians is that they have to really investigate any real estate company they want to do business with before getting involved. People should stop patronising quacks and doing business on sentiments for those outside the country. Buy through a reputable company anytime you want to buy.
What is more crucial to you in business?
We are passionate about our business, but we don’t compromise our integrity. In a society and industry where integrity is a costly commodity, we are determined to do our business with high level integrity.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
In five years, Gasvine would have reached almost all the major cities in Nigeria. Gasvine is going to be the leading brand in real estate in Nigeria. We have in our vision to be in almost all the major cities in Nigeria. We are vigorously pursuing that.
What advice do you have for the employed?
Any employed person today should know that after working for years, there should be a property out there to call your own after your years of service. Out of your big or mean salary, put something aside every month and own a property. Remember, if you don’t own a property, the bitter truth is that at death, they will give you a portion. Don’t wait till you start earning much to buy land. Start now!!!
You mentioned Godwin Oziele and Co in your introduction. Does Gasoline Properties have subsidiaries?
Yes, Gasvine Properties has the following as subsidiaries: Godwin Oziele & Co and Gasvine Construction. Godwin Oziele & Co is the real estate subsidiary that undertakes all kinds of real estate services ranging from property management to facility management, letting/leasing, purchase, valuation of all kinds, mortgage advisory services, business appraisal, etc. We render our services with high sense of professionalism. No wonder our bank of properties for management is growing on daily basis. Those that have engaged us in their services have attested to the quality of our delivery. Gasvine Construction undertakes all Gasvine construction works in all our estates. All the mind blowing construction in all our site were all undertaken by Gasvine construction. Our team of professionals are all seasoned professionals in all their fields. We have Architects, our Engineers, our Quantity Surveyors, Town Planners, etc. We also undertake projects construction for our clients in a bid to extend our professional services to the general public. We undertake constructions of all kinds for clients outside our estates in any location. As part of our vision, Gasvine construction has flagged off our diaspora housing scheme, where those Nigerians in diaspora can have a mini estate in our estate of their choice fully undertaken by Gasvine Construction. In all our business endeavours, quality delivery and integrity remain our watchword.
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