Rullion's Blog

‘We want to be a continental brand and we are aggressively investing in many African countries; to date we have a presence in 14. In some, we are building cement manufacturing plants, while in many other countries we are building import terminals and cement grinding plants’, Aliko Dangote

International construction companies may be suffering from the economic downturn in Europe and North America but investment has never been greater in Africa. In common with any time over the past three years, the port sector continues to attract massive investment. Rising trade volumes and growing economic confidence are driving growth, while also underpinning a renaissance in road and rail construction. 

The management of Wemabod Estate Limited has said the construction industry is plagued by the absence of long-term funds, which is hindering its growth and the ability of the country to bridge the housing deficit. According to the company, funding remains a critical challenge as real estate development is not merchandising but long-term investment. The Chairman, Wemabod Estate, Dr. Bayo Adewusi, stated this in Lagos when the new Group Managing Director of its holding firm, Odu’a Investment Company Limited, Mr. Adewale Raji, paid a maiden visit to Wemabod.

R eal estate developers have said that the success of the newly-established Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC) depends largely on sustainable capital flow and strict regulation, describing these as veritable tools for meeting the company’s target of increasing homeownership level through an effective mortgage system. NMRC, a secondary mortgage institution, was set up with the primary aim of increasing liquidity in the mortgage system, leading to affordable housing finance. It is expected to be a focal point for creating an enabling environment for housing finance by providing long-term funds to be given at low interest rate. Since its registration by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), with the expected disbursement of the $300 million interest-free loan from the World Bank yet to commence, industry players are of the opinion that a sustainable capital flow and strict regulation of primary mortgage institutions are key to the company’s sustenance. “

FRESH building blocks were again laid unto the housing sector last week, when the Pan African Housing Finance Institution, Shelter Afrique made a pledge and commitment to the Federal Government to support 10,000 unit housing programme under the Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC). In the sideline of the 33rd Annual General Meeting of Shelter Afrique in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs. Akon Eyakenyi, accompanied by the President, the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), Chief Emmanuel Olabode held discussion with senior officials of the bank, where the outgoing Managing Director of Shelter Afrique, Mr. Alassane Ba confirmed the institution’s commitment to the programme.

AS controversy rages on over the cement standard, especially grade of cement to be used in the country, manufacturers of UNICEM brands cement have raised fears that consumers may pay more, if 52.5 grades is adopted by producers. The Managing Director of Unicem, Mr. Olivier Lenoir disclosed that producing at that quality would be expensive and would be waste of resources when construction companies could use 42.5 percent for their mix.

In the words of Napoleon Hill,  it is not what you are going to do but what you are doing today that counts. You can learn everything you need to learn in order to achieve anything, but you can never change your leadership until you change your rituals. Rituals can strengthen and spotlight the values, intentions, and experiences you have chosen to live by; they and can be useful when we are trying to figure out what is important. Here are some things that great leaders are doing wholeheartedly to make each day count.

Experts in facility management have said the maintenance of infrastructure in the country should not be left in the hands of the government alone. Indeed, they posited that the private sector should be involved, as it would be futile to leave the provision as well as the maintenance of certain critical infrastructure to government’s management. According to them, a mutually beneficial collaboration between the government and the private sector is important to achieving the desired momentum in economic growth occasioned by adequate and functional infrastructure and housing. This was the conclusion of experts at the 2014 facility management roundtable organised recently in commemoration of the World Facility Day by Alpha Mead Facilities and Management Services Limited, with the theme, ‘Towards optimal performance of critical infrastructure and real estate sets in Nigeria.’ They urged the government not to relent in engaging the private sector. The Secreta

An investment of at least N48.8tn ($300bn) is required over the next 30 years for housing construction costs alone in the country, the Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs. Akon Eyakenyi, has said. Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs. Akon Eyakenyi Eyakenyi stated this in a presentation on ‘Affordable housing finance: The role of government’, at the World Bank and International Finance Corporation’s Sixth Global Housing Finance Conference held in United States between May 28 and 29. The presentation was made available to our correspondent on Sunday. She said with a population of 167 million people, Nigeria remained one of the most rapidly urbanising countries in Africa, with rising housing needs.

Marketing Executive  A real estate Solutions and Development company situated in Victoria Island, Lagos has a vacancy for marketing executives (3 positions). As a company, we create real solutions to solve real estate needs in the housing industry. We require individuals that are go-getters, smart and business minded to join our expanding team. Key Role The primary responsibility of the ME is to attract prospective buyers, create new business avenues and execute sales transactions of our various real estate developments. S/he will also develop and implement marketing strategies that meet the organization’s real estate business targets. Proven skills in customer relationship management will be added advantage. Responsibilities Participating in marketing planning and strategy formulation; Liaising and networking with a range of stakeholders including clients, agents and partner organizations; Communicating with target audiences and managing custome

We used to think that it took seven seconds to make a first impression. According to new research out of Princeton, it's about 100 milliseconds  — the same amount of time it takes for a giant hummingbird to flap its wings.  We're all constantly practicing what psychologists call physiognomy, or reading a person's personality traits from their appearance.  "Appearance is our first filter," says Sylvia Ann Hewlett, author of new book "Executive Presence," "and it's happening all the time." Job interviews, speaking gigs, client meetings, first dates — the list goes on. "The really good news here is that it's about polish, grooming, and being put together," Hewlett says. "It's not about the precise shape of your body, texture of your hair, or the designer you wear." As part of researching her book, Hewlett and her team at the Center for Talent Innovation did a survey of 4,000 professional

Efforts by the Lagos State government to boost housing stock with an output of 15,000 units through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) with private estate developers initiated in 2009 has achieved only 10 percent of the projected units. The partnership, which involved the developers providing the needed capital while the state government provided land at different parts of the state, was expected to act as an intervention in affordable housing provision for medium- and low-income earners in the state. Disturbed by the slow progress of the partnership and minimal result achieved, the state government says it is set to review the scheme by softening the process for developers who, the government understands, are facing tough times meeting their part of the bargain. “Evidently, our PPP scheme has not met the target we set in 2009 for some reasons, which include lack of funds for developers to deliver the housing units as our model has always been to provide the