Sujimoto Group Chief Executive Officer Sijibomi Ogundele has detailed how he would restart his life from nothing if he ever lost all his wealth, beginning with a humble car-washing operation in Nigeria. In a viral interview, the real estate mogul emphasized the importance of starting small while remaining disciplined and hardworking.
Starting from Zero: The Car Wash Strategy
Ogundele stated that his first priority would be generating enough income to survive. "If I had to start from zero, no matter where I am, but if I'm starting in Nigeria without anything, without connections, the first thing I'll do is raise money because you have to eat before you survive," he said. He stressed that there is dignity in beginning with modest ventures, provided one delivers quality service.
He disclosed that he would invest in high-quality cleaning materials and begin offering car-washing services for a fee, focusing on exceptional work to retain customers. "I'll start washing people's cars. I'll buy good, powerful washing materials. I won't wash for free because I have to earn money, but I'll be diligent. I'll wash the car clean, clean the inside and make everything spotless. Maybe I'll wash 30 to 40 cars a day," he explained.
Scaling Up by Hiring Workers
According to Ogundele, washing between 30 and 40 cars daily could generate approximately ₦40,000 in revenue, equating to roughly ₦1.2 million per month. He added that reinvesting the proceeds to hire workers could significantly expand the business. "If I earn ₦40,000 a day, that's about ₦1.2 million a month. Then if I have five boys, that's about ₦6 million a month. Those boys, I'll be giving them half the money while I do the coordinating, and I'll have them in different locations," he said.
This model would allow him to oversee multiple car-wash points while paying his employees a fair share, creating a sustainable income stream from coordination rather than manual labor alone.
Expanding into Food Distribution
Once sufficient capital is accumulated, Ogundele revealed he would establish a standard car-wash facility and later venture into food distribution. His plan involves transporting agricultural produce such as tomatoes and onions from northern Nigeria to major markets like Mile 12 in Lagos. This step would leverage his reinvested earnings to enter the agricultural value chain, providing a higher-margin business.
Lagos State to Enforce Real Estate Agent Fees
In a related development, the Lagos State government announced it would enforce compliance with laws regulating real estate agents, including a 10% fee cap. The move aims to address frequent complaints about unfair practices, such as excessive agent fees, demands for more than one year's rent, and arbitrary rent increases. While Ogundele's business plan is separate, his background in real estate highlights the sector's ongoing regulatory challenges.
Ogundele's step-by-step roadmap underscores a mindset of resilience and reinvestment, demonstrating that even multimillion-dollar entrepreneurs believe in the power of starting small and scaling methodically.
