Habeeb Okunola Builder of A Sustainable Future

Habeeb Okunola, a man of infectious optimism, is the brains behind TILT Group, one of the leading construction companies in the country. His rollercoaster journey to success bears testimony to triumph over adversity. In a chat with Bayo Adeoye, he shares insights into what drives him in the real estate and construction sectors.

People often assume that Habeeb Okunola, the Chairman of TILT Group, was born with a silver spoon, an impression reinforced by his polished appearance and privileged social standing. However, in reality, Okunola has experienced his own share of grass-to-grace moments.

Okunola grew up in Surulere where he lacked most of the comforts of life. To be sure, he is never shy to disclose those humbling experiences that fired him up to aim higher and refused to be defined by his environment. To achieve this required him to be strategic about the kind of people he associated himself with. Rather than engage in palmwine bar conversations that would derail him from his future plans, he spent most of his days in libraries in his neighbourhood, where he pored over books that offered nuggets of information on how to be a successful entrepreneur as well as autobiographies or biographies of globally acclaimed personalities.

For a man who displayed entrepreneurial qualities early in life, many were surprised when he chose to study Philosophy at the University of Lagos, Akoka. For a while, he faced criticism from those who believed his choice might hinder his entrepreneurial ambitions. However, unbeknownst to his critics, studying Philosophy provided him with a strong foundation, shaping him into a critical thinker and strategic planner.

When asked if he had any regrets studying Philosophy, he quickly quipped: “Philosophy is the foundation of life. You apply philosophy to everything you do in life. There is the philosophy of life and there is the philosophy of work and business. Everybody has a potential that he or she is born with and it will continue to hunt you until you do the right thing.”

There couldn’t be any greater evidence that Okunola was totally immersed in his area of study as an undergraduate, having been convinced about its potential benefits. No wonder, he graduated with good grades, a feat that would later propel him to further his studies at a University in London, United Kingdom.

Buoyed by a clear vision, he returned to Nigeria, and aggressively pursued his business plans.  Interestingly, of all the thriving businesses he was introduced to, only the real estate business caught his fancy.

Before entering the sector, he conducted feasibility studies and was convinced it had great potential. Confident in his findings, he acquired large plots of land near educational institutions in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State. Many who knew of his plans gave him their approval. Unfortunately, things took a wrong turn when he later discovered that the land was classified for agricultural use by the state government, thwarting his business intentions.

Reflecting on the situation, Okunola described it as “a big setback,” as it left him burdened with significant debt.

Despite the doleful experience, he expressed an infectious stoicism, saying: “I have the belief that every setback is an opportunity to learn a lesson and garner experience. My philosophy has been that failure can often lead to valuable insights and future success. Despite the financial losses incurred from this experience, I did not allow it to deter me. Instead, I shifted my focus to new developments and opportunities. You don’t see every failure as failure; rather, you see every failure as a stepping stone to success.”

Not one to give up easily on his cherished dream, Okunola subsequently made a strategic investment with the purchase of about 200 plots of land in Mopo Onibenju located in the Ogombo axis of Ajah, Lagos. After negotiating a manageable down payment, he cleverly employed aggressive marketing strategies to sell the land. The trick worked wonders, as he paid up his debts to the community and made huge profits.

Flashing a winsome smile, Okunola, the Aare Tayese of Iseyinland, stated unequivocally that the project was like the launch pad to greatness for him. At that point, he didn’t need any soothsayer to tell him that he was already on the right path.

“The journey to big businesses started from there,” he said. “Thereafter, we moved to Epe; we moved outside of Lagos and then to Akwa-Ibom. We bought large expanses of land and resold them to real estate companies, cooperative societies and unions.”

It was a defining moment for him, as he was able to join the fold of the big players in the real estate business in the country.

Okunola, who described himself as the greater risk taker, emphasised that “I am not afraid of risks. My appetite for risks is extremely high. I love risk, but it has to be calculated. I am the greatest risk-taker around. Risk is part of our life. If you don’t take the risk, you will never achieve your purpose on earth.”

At some point, Okunola felt he had conquered the world of real estate business and began to tinker with the idea of going into the construction business. Anyone around him saw that he meant business. So, when he eventually came on the scene, the world couldn’t help but notice his existence. He branded the company in a way that set tongues wagging about it. He named the new construction outfit TILT, an acronym for Trust, Integrity, Loyalty and Transparency.

But beyond this, the company’s competitive advantage lies in its famed value creation and procurement, among others.

In the little time that he ventured into the construction business, he grew his clientele. It is on record that he built, constructed and reconstructed many government roads across Lagos State. He also left his imprint on several projects dotting the length and breadth of the country.

In 2015, TILT Construction recorded a landmark achievement when the Federal Government beat a path to its door. It was a fruitful partnership, as the company was contracted to build housing estates for the Nigeria Air Force in Benin, Akure, Ibadan, Osun and Gombe states, among others. This was in addition to building housing estates for the Nigerian Navy.

His winning streak, in the testimonies of those who have been following his rising profile in the industry, revolves around his ability to think out of the box, while also employing the virtues of patience and trust in his dealings.

TILT Construction has metamorphosed into the TILT Group,  which has now expanded beyond the shores of Nigeria.

Speaking on the phenomenal growth of the company, he said: “One thing we have over our competitors is our honesty, integrity and transparency. This has stood us out. Whatever dealings you are involved in, you must have integrity and be honest, no matter the situation.

“It’s about adding value and ensuring a win-win scenario for both the government and myself.

“We are among the biggest construction companies in Nigeria today. But we didn’t achieve this in one day. It was due to our integrity and, of course, the grace of God.”

With this singular act, he wormed himself into the hearts of those in government as he was honoured with two national awards in quick succession: Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) and Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) by former President Muhammadu Buhari.

TILT Group is not totally insulated against the inclement business environment in the country. But rather than lamenting the perceived harsh policies of the government, Okunola sees it as a necessary sacrifice to birth a better Nigeria. He sees light at the end of the tunnel. His conviction, he said, is based on the fact that “Nothing good comes easy. The government policies affect everyone. But are they good policies that will benefit everyone in the long run? Yes, I believe so. Is it something that will make us happy at the end of the day? Yes, it is. Anyone who complains now without looking at the future is not being realistic. We will all benefit from these economic policies in the future. This, I believe absolutely. The economy is driving towards the right direction.”

For Okunola, the  Akosin of Yorubaland, life is not all about making money, even legitimately. A meaningful life, he believes, impacts the lives of others around. So, he always tries as much as possible to inspire the people around him through his deeds and utterances.

Though he doesn’t claim to be a motivational speaker, he leaves you with a lasting impression whenever he offers his candid advice on how to live a meaningful life. He said: “If you want anything good in life,  you must work for it and have it at the back of your mind that Rome was not built in a day. You don’t achieve your heart’s desires in a day; rather, you can achieve them with hard work and more work. You must be a critical thinker; don’t be mentally lazy. The problem with many people is that we don’t prepare for what we pray for. I also tell the youths to take advantage of time and chance. I mean 24 hours is a long time for you not to achieve anything.

“For me every minute counts. I hate procrastination; it’s dangerous and it kills.   Also, I keep emphasizing to the youth about collaborations.”

In a concrete demonstration of his abiding service to humanity, Okunolah also launched the Habeeb Okunola Foundation (HOF) which caters to the downtrodden and provides financial support to indigent students across various tertiary institutions, among others.

Last December, Okunola distributed assorted items to over 1,000 indigent people. His rationale behind his philanthropic gestures is that “one can’t claim to be wealthy until one is able to make positive impacts in people’s lives.”

As he continues to dazzle under the klieg lights of both the local and international media for his feats in the construction business, with projects spreading as far as Dubai, the United Kingdom, Benin Republic, and Singapore, among others, Okunola never fails to appreciate his wife—whom he met while an undergraduate at the University of Lagos for her unconditional love and ceaseless prayers over him and their lovely children.