Schedule Appointment
Schedule Appointment
Schedule Appointment
From humble beginnings to challenging the boundaries of luxury real estate, Sujimoto’s founder joins a distinguished league of Nigerian trailblazers recognised by a century-old institution that has witnessed the making of a nation.
Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa; Dr. Biodun Shobanjo; Mr. Jim Ovia and Prince Nduka Obaigbena were among the giants on whose shoulders I stood,” Ogundele reflected, describing his recognition among Nigeria’s Top 100 Trailblazers on Daily Times’ centenary roll of honour.
For over 12 years, Dr. Sijibomi Ogundele, Founder and Group Managing Director of Sujimoto Group, has been an entrepreneur whose audacity, unconventional thinking, and relentless pursuit of excellence have challenged perceptions of what Nigerian luxury real estate can become. Despite repeated setbacks, economic uncertainty and formidable challenges, his tenacity has kept that vision alive and his determination to build unwavering.
On 3 November 2026, that entrepreneurial journey received historic recognition when Daily Times Nigeria, one of the nation’s most enduring media institutions, honoured Dr. Ogundele with the prestigious DTN@100 Trailblazer Award at its centenary celebration held at Harbour Point, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Long before the luxury developments, architectural ambitions and commanding presence of the Sujimoto brand, there was a young Sijibomi Ogundele growing up in Agege, Lagos, discovering the realities of commerce, enterprise and the extraordinary value of determination.
His journey took him beyond Nigeria, where exposure to international business, innovation and luxury inspired the conviction that would become the foundation of Sujimoto.
Why must Nigerians travel to Dubai, London or New York to experience the extraordinary? Why should architectural excellence, exceptional craftsmanship and world-class luxury always carry a foreign address?
In 2014, he established Sujimoto with an ambition that went far beyond developing expensive properties. His vision was to challenge the standards of luxury living in Nigeria, introduce a different level of architectural sophistication and demonstrate that indigenous enterprise could aspire to compete with the finest developers in the world.
From Medici in Ikoyi to Giuliano and Lucrezia by Sujimoto in Banana Island, his entrepreneurial journey has been defined by the pursuit of distinctive architecture, uncompromising design ambitions and a determination to elevate expectations within Nigeria’s premium real estate market.
The limitations of an environment should never determine the magnitude of a man’s vision.
The past 12 months have been particularly demanding for Sujimoto, with significant financial pressures, rising construction costs and the complexities of executing ambitious projects in Nigeria. Across the broader journey, foreign-exchange instability has seen the naira move from around ₦300 to as much as ₦1,900 to the US dollar at points in the parallel market, while shifting government policies and economic uncertainty have compounded the pressures of building. Yet, Ogundele’s determination remains unwavering, strengthened by his responsibility to clients, investors and partners.
“Never in my life did I imagine that a young boy from Agege could, through Diligence, Integrity and a profound commitment to Excellence, build his way into such a distinguished company.” As he reflected, “Grit has proven that even on the most unforgiving road, hard work, dedication and unwavering focus can carry a man beyond his circumstances.”
Founded in 1926, Daily Times has spent a century documenting Nigeria’s evolution and the individuals who have shaped its destiny. Its centenary celebration, themed “Honouring the Past, Shaping the Future,” recognised outstanding contributions to enterprise, innovation, leadership and national development.
For Ogundele, this historic recognition represents both profound gratitude and a greater responsibility. He expressed his appreciation to Mr. Fidelis Anosike, Chairman of Folio Media Group and Publisher of Daily Times Nigeria, for preserving the institution’s legacy, and to Mr. Bolaji Okusaga, Chairman of the Times Heroes Awards Council, alongside the board, management and organising committee.
“You have not merely placed an award in my hands; you have put extra tyres beneath my feet. You have given me every reason to quadruple my efforts, build with greater discipline and devote even more of my life to inspiring a generation that must dare to accomplish what ours once thought impossible.”
Ogundele’s vision continues beyond Lucrezia in Banana Island, towards Isabella de’ Medici by Sujimoto, a proposed 49-storey luxury hotel residence in Victoria Island, Lagos.
For what greater reward could there be than for another boy from Zungeru, Zuru or Orlu to look upon this journey and discover that the circumstances of his birth need not become the boundaries of his destiny?
This award is an evidence of what a man has dared to achieve. His legacy will ultimately be determined by what he continues to build, the promises he fulfils and the value that endures long after the applause has faded.
From the streets of Agege to the distinguished addresses of Banana Island, his story has always been about one thing: the courage to see possibilities where others see limitations.
DAILY TIMES HAS SPENT 100 YEARS DOCUMENTING THE MEN WHO SHAPED NIGERIA’S HISTORY.
TODAY, IT HONOURS A MAN DETERMINED TO BUILD SOMETHING WORTHY OF ITS NEXT CENTURY.
And in the enduring words of the Sujimoto founder: “1+1 is still 11. It is already too late to fail.”
Dr. Sijibomi Ogundele is the Group Managing Director of Sujimoto Holdings, the Czar of Luxury Real Estate Development, and the mastermind developer behind the renowned Giuliano. Our other audacious projects, such as the most sophisticated building in Banana Island, LucreziaBySujimoto; the grandiose Sujimoto Twin Tower, the tallest twin towers in Africa; the regal Queen Amina by Sujimoto, a monument to royal affluence; the magnificent high-rise LeonardoBySujimoto; and the breathtaking Isabella de’ Medici by Sujimoto, a proposed 49-storey architectural masterpiece in Victoria Island, Lagos, conceived to redefine luxury hospitality in Africa, with a suspended Olympic-size swimming pool on the 35th floor, a spectacular aquarium, world-class spa, fine-dining restaurants and over 26 luxury retail boutiques, among other projects that have etched an indelible imprint on Nigeria’s skylines, a testament to Sujimoto’s unrivalled mastery of modern-day engineering.
