The Group Managing Director of Sujimoto Holdings, Dr. Sijibomi Ogundele, has called on Nigerian business owners to prioritise the well-being of their employees.

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Ogundele stressed that genuine investment in people, not just capital, is the foundation of a truly successful enterprise.

In a message shared this week, Ogundele described employees as the “most valuable asset any business can build,” urging employers to go beyond salaries and cultivate loyalty through compassion, equity, and long-term support.

Recounting a recent Zoom meeting with his executive team, he recalled a moment when he requested a list—not of job roles—but of every staff member who had remained with the company for over three years.

“The mood changed as the team feared layoffs. But this was never about downsizing. It was about honour,” he told them.

Dr. Ogundele noted that Sujimoto Holdings currently pays rent and school fees for over 20 employee families and is considering expanding this support to address deeper, often unseen personal struggles.

He further urged entrepreneurs to stretch their support.

“While the economy may be harsh, our compassion must be stronger. Past the payslip into the silent battles our people fight when no one’s looking,” he stated.

The Group Managing Director challenged the narrative that staff loyalty is rare, sharing personal stories of junior employees who once used their own money to keep operations running during difficult times.

“That’s not just loyalty. That’s legacy,” he said.

Ogundele disclosed that over 100 Sujimoto employees have remained with the firm for more than three years, some for nearly a decade despite economic downturns and reduced staffing from a high of 900.

He added: “It’s not because the dream died but because the economy stopped breathing.”

Despite these challenges, he expressed confidence in the company’s growth trajectory, highlighting key projects like the soon-to-be-launched Lucrezia, Banana Island’s tallest residential tower, as well as upcoming ventures such as the Sujimoto Twin Towers and Queen Amina by Sujimoto, poised to become Northern Nigeria’s tallest building. Each, he noted, would create over 2,000 jobs.

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In addition, the company is diversifying into fintech with Motopay, a scan-to-pay solution, as well as infrastructure, cement, and smart city development—initiatives Ogundele described as “platforms of possibility” that will drive job creation and national economic transformation.

Urging a mindset shift among business leaders, Ogundele said the conversation should move from compensation to succession planning, and from rent support to helping staff own homes and secure their children’s futures.

“Salary will feed you, but it won’t free you. True wealth isn’t found in a monthly paycheck. It’s found in ownership,” Ogundele charged.

He concluded with a message for fellow entrepreneurs: “What are you doing for the people who are building your dream? Until you invest in your people, you haven’t truly started building wealth.”

Dr. Ogundele is the visionary behind projects like Giuliano, Leonardo, and the integrated Sujimoto Farm—a unique blend of agriculture, healthcare, housing, and markets—cementing his legacy as one of Nigeria’s most influential real estate innovators (The Guardian)