From zoology, chemistry to real estate: Meet the young Nigerians building RepAfrica

In Nigeria’s tough economy, where inflation and unstable currency weigh on businesses, young people are still finding ways to create opportunities. In the heart of Abuja, two friends, Abdulwasiu Adeyemo and Jubril Omotara, have stepped into the real estate sector, building RepAfrica as a platform not just for property ownership but for community and wealth creation.

Adeyemo studied zoology; Omotara studied chemistry. Neither background pointed to real estate, but both said their journeys were defined by curiosity, necessity, and eventually, conviction. Today, they are co-founders navigating an industry dominated by older, wealthier players, with hopes of transforming how young people access real estate.

A ZOOLOGIST’S TURN TO REAL ESTATE

Adeyemo recalled that his first push was money. “One of the primary reasons that made me go into real estate was financial gains,” he said, reflecting on his transition from a science student to a sales representative in a small firm in Kwara state.

“But I also found out that certain attributes that make you thrive in the industry, especially as a salesperson — communication skills, interpersonal skills, all of those — come to me naturally. I just felt I would thrive if I really went into this industry.”

After graduation, he didn’t want to end up in academia, which seemed the only option open to zoology graduates in Nigeria. He tried publishing, affiliate marketing, and web design, but none stuck. The turning point came when he saw that real estate was not just lucrative but a space where he could grow.

From being a sales executive in Abuja to joining the administrative board of a growing firm, he steadily climbed, learning how to pitch to investors and negotiate deals.

“Alhamdulillah, now I have a company of my own as co-founder,” he said.

INSPIRED BY RICH DAD, POOR DAD

Omotara’s journey began differently.

“My first time stumbling on real estate was after secondary school,” he recalled. “I was reading this book my dad used to read at home — Rich Dad, Poor Dad. In the book, I learned about how they leveraged real estate, had thousands of units, and generated passive income. To be honest, I’ve naturally been a lazy person. So, I thought, “This is it — something that makes money while you sleep.”

But real estate felt far away until his university years. While studying chemistry, he was introduced to the industry by a mentor who had started a firm. That meeting, he said, “was the beginning, about four or five years ago.” From there, he worked his way into sales, gaining experience before launching out on his own.

“Now, I have just founded my own company. And I see a vision of where I own cash-producing assets, which is also what we are trying to help our clients to do,” he said.

WHY REPAFRICA?

RepAfrica was officially launched in July 2025, though the dream started the year before. Adeyemo explained that the first name of the company was Regal Emblem Properties. “The ‘rep’ came from Regal Emblem Properties, not representation,” he said.

Omotara added that “Africa” was chosen deliberately. “We thought about the cross-border thing. Our ambition is to have properties that pay people in foreign currencies. We said this is continental. We can tap into other African markets. So, we just said, “Let’s use Africa,” and here we are.

Their decision to partner was seamless, born out of trust and a track record of collaboration. “Partnership is the new oil,” Adeyemo said. “Why not have 10 percent of N500 million rather than 100 percent of N10 million to yourself? You can do more together.”

CHALLENGES OF YOUNG FOUNDERS

Starting a real estate company is not cheap, especially under the tighter regulations introduced by the federal capital territory administration. Adeyemo pointed to policies requiring more costly documentation before building plans can be approved.

“It is more capital-intensive to run operations now than it used to be,” he said.

Omotara added that beyond regulation, human management has been one of their biggest challenges. “It takes a lot of mental resilience to get people to do what you want them to do at the right time, the right way,” he said.

Still, they believe creativity and partnership give them an edge. “We might not have all the liquidity it takes to run the business like the so-called big boys, but we are very creative,” Adeyemo said.

LOOKING AHEAD

Both founders believe the next five years will take RepAfrica across borders. “I see RepAfrica as an intercontinental real estate company that has commercial properties across the continent and beyond,” Adeyemo said.

Omotara echoed the same vision but emphasised people: “We see ourselves building a community of people that are fulfilled through what we do. For newbies entering the industry, my advice is to look before you leap.”

For both men, their unusual paths, from zoology and chemistry to real estate, highlight how young Nigerians are carving spaces in industries once thought reserved for the wealthy. And for RepAfrica, their story is still being written.