In today’s fast-paced world of real estate, leaders with passion, innovation, and a deep understanding of the market are rare. We are privileged to sit down with one of those exceptional leaders, Solomon Ezekiel Diri, CEO of SED Properties Limited, one of the most successful real estate companies in Lagos, Nigeria. Get ready as we delve into the world of real estate with Mr. Solomon and discover the insights and experiences that have shaped his career.
Mr. Solomon Diri is an exceptional CEO. Born and raised on Bonny Island in Rivers State in a family of five, including his parents, his entrepreneurial spirit revealed itself at the age of 13. Since then, he hasn’t looked back, and now Mr. Solomon boasts of SED Properties Limited, a thriving real estate company that has acquired and sold numerous properties.
Q1: Sir, you’ve achieved remarkable success in this highly competitive industry. What inspired you to start your own real estate company?
Answer: It all began with a deep love for property, and I have been in love with real estate without knowing what it’s called. I enjoy watching things grow from scratch under my watch. Growing up, I observed my uncle do something similar to shifting cultivation, but with properties, where he built a house, lived in it for a year or two while building another house. When the house was completed, he moved in and sold the previous one, making a significant profit, then starting a new project. I saw him do this several times and aspired to do something similar. At that time, I never knew that what my uncle was doing was real estate. But as I got older, I understood what it was and desired to enter the real estate industry. Now, here we are.
Q2: As with every industry, real estate has its ups and downs. Can you share a challenging moment and how it helped shape your career?
Answer: We’ve faced multiple challenges. One of the remarkable ones was when we were starting out in the business. We fell prey and purchased a property under dispute. We didn’t know the property belonged to multiple families, and the people who sold it to us acted as if the property belonged to their family alone. We lost a significant amount of money (millions of naira) in that deal, and the family never repaid us to this day. This taught me always to conduct my own research on any property I want to purchase and take whatever the sellers say with a grain of salt until I make my own findings.
Q3: What would you say is the driving force behind your company’s growth and success?
Answer: Perseverance is undoubtedly the driving force. We’ve faced numerous challenges that could have led one to quit, but we persevered. We did so because we constantly reminded ourselves of why we are in business, which is to solve problems and provide people with prompt service delivery. We observed that people often buy properties from real estate companies and never get allocated to their properties on time. In most cases, it takes about a year or more before the allocation is completed, even with full payment and documentation. However, we wanted to be different by delivering prompt allocation once full property payment and documentation are completed.
Sitting down with Mr. Solomon, it’s clear that he’s more than just a CEO; he’s a visionary leader who has redefined real estate through his company. His journey from humble beginnings to becoming a successful entrepreneur is inspiring. Mr. Solomon’s passion for his work and his ability to navigate challenges with grace and determination are qualities that have undoubtedly played a role in his company’s growth and success.