Mr. Kelly Izuwa Nwogu has a grass to grace story typical of many successful Nigerian businessmen. However, his own is somewhat different. Growing up from a humble background in the Olodi Apapa area of Lagos, he was born to Mr. Godwin and Victoria Nwogu. His foundation years was so difficult despite the fact that he is an only child. This is because he had to do the hustling to feed his father and a crippled mother. Life, to Nwogu was not just unfavourable but Nwogu swore to make it despite the hardship. If anything, his growing up years toughened him for the task ahead. Nwogu sits atop a multibillion naira property business Livelihood Homes Ltd, owners of Blue Sea Estate Property with presence in Lagos, Ogun, Cross River, Port Harcourt, Benin, Oyo and Benue states. The big story is that he started the business with only about N30,000 six years ago. Aside his property business, the 39 year old also has interest in big time project financing. Nwogu, who is presently in South Africa on behalf of the Benue State government is set to bring in about 250 foreign investors to the state, including the power sector. A few days ago, Nwogu told City People that the major task of his company is solving the housing of about 17 million Nigerians who are homeless.
When did you start operations?
Bluesea Estate Properties started operations in 2010 with only N30,000. We started out as Livelihood Homes Ltd and a few years later, we started investing heavily in Real Estate.
What will be your greatest achievement in Real Estate this year?
The achievement would be the reduction of about 17 million housing deficit. Let’s look at housing provision in terms of reducing the deficit because if you take all the statistics, the number of Nigerians without a roof over their head is enormous . There are the statistical indexes that we need as a country to work with.
How do you see the Real Estate sector in Nigeria in terms of government policies and intervention in 2016?
Since inception, we’ve never had any problem with government, although the government is yet to have its direction. I don’t think I have had issues I could call a challenging one. If we have a problem, we quickly sort it out with the government.
What is the aims and objectives of Bluesea Estate Property?
We are basically into land sale, construction and Property development. Our focus is to develop quality and standard structures to the admiration of our clients, at very considerable cost. We are highly competitive as well.
With your experience, how do you define affordable housing?
Affordable housing is the minimum cost of building you can provide in Nigeria but we are still a long way from achieving it.
Who are the beneficiaries of Blue Sea Estate Properties?
We don’t have a particular class we target, it depends on the location we have the land. We target from the middle class to the rich.
How do you overcome the challenges in the Real Estate sector?
The challenges are enormous but the greatest is funding, you know we sell mainly land and even when you do, getting people to invest is a major task but we thank God.
Who is Kelly Nwogu, how did you find yourself in a multibillion business such as Real Estate?
Kelly is a gentleman who grew up in Lagos to Mr. Godwin Nwogu and Victoria Nwogu, who is a cripple and on wheelchair. We could barely feed ourselves but I promised God and my Parents that I was going to make it. Thank God, here we are.
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