Adebayo Olakunle: Offering Blueprint For Ethical Real Estate

In a sector often plagued by sharp practices, disputed titles and investor distrust, Adebayo Olakunle is quietly rewriting the rulebook of Nigerian real estate with one transparent transaction at a time.

A public relations strategist, certified property auctioneer and author of several business development toolkits, Olakunle holds a Higher National Diploma in Mass Communication from Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, a Postgraduate Diploma in Property Auctioneering from the University of Ibadan, and an MBA in Media Leadership from Robert Kennedy College, Switzerland.

He is the founder and chief executive officer of Gy-Cruze Homes & Properties, a Lagos-based real estate firm that operates at the intersection of property development, auctioneering and management.

“I am not just in real estate to sell land, my mission is to build trust, transparency and sustainable value within the property ecosystem,” Olakunle said while speaking to LEADERSHIP Weekend.

It was gathered that Gy-Cruze Homes & Properties runs on a three-pillar model—property auctioneering, real estate development and property management. Hence, Olakunle insists that the company’s most important product is not land, but education.

“Beyond transactions, we see ourselves as a knowledge and training hub, we educate the public on safe and ethical property practices, empower startups in the ecosystem and build communities that include investors, regulators, developers and host communities,” he said.

This service-first approach was born out of hard lessons from the industry’s troubled history.

While speaking on how he got interested in the real estate sector, the entrepreneur expressed that his passion for property is deeply personal. His father was a structural engineer who worked on several projects across Lagos Island, Victoria Island and the Lekki axis when they were still largely bushlands.

He recalled, “As a child, I followed him to construction sites around Victoria Island and Lekki when those areas were nothing like what they are today.”

He added, “I once saw my father’s 1986 receipt for a plot of land he bought for just N1. Today that same land is worth over N800 million. That moment shaped my mindset as real estate is not just business, it is a powerful tool for wealth creation and national development.”

Since launching Gy-Cruze in 2014, the real estate firm has delivered projects across Epe, Ibeju-Lekki, Okota-Isolo, Sotubo, Siun-Kobape, Iperu-Ogere along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, and Omi-Adio in Ibadan.

He attributes the company’s growth to ethical practice, persistence and strategic alliances.

“We are proud members of REDAN, CIAN and other professional bodies. These were not handed to us as we earned them through consistency and integrity,” he said.

Speaking on the challenges of the real estate sector, he stressed, “The journey has not been smooth. Early on, limited capital, investor scepticism, illegal land sales by community actors and the menace of land grabbers nearly crippled the business.”

He explained, “In Nigeria, the mortgage system is weak, and housing finance is still a major challenge, but instead of giving up, I focused on accountability and education.”

Olakunle asserted that his firm shifted from aggressive selling to structured public enlightenment, seminars, town-hall meetings, outdoor PR campaigns and conferences.

“We served first before selling. Brand credibility, customer education and accountability are not expenses; they are strategic assets,” he said.

On the profitability of the sector, Olakunle emphatically said, “Real estate remains one of the most resilient sectors when handled professionally. The returns may not be instant, but appreciation, asset security and scalability make it one of the strongest wealth-building tools in Nigeria.”

According to him, success lies in understanding location dynamics, legal frameworks, community relations and market timing.

For young entrepreneurs, he advised, “No serious business grows in isolation. Build networks, focus on resilience, and don’t let a lack of capital silence your vision. Use digital platforms, educate the market and be consistent; visibility plus value will always attract opportunity.”

While stressing that the real estate sector is shaped by trust, he said, “With over 15 years’ experience spanning sales, marketing, business development, stakeholder engagement and digital transformation, my PR background continues to define my leadership style.

“I have worked with corporate brands, NGOs, influencers and faith-based organisations. That exposure taught me how to build trust-driven narratives and align business goals with social impact,” he added.

“Today, that philosophy remains the bedrock of Gy-Cruze Homes. In real estate, your name is your currency; once you lose trust, you lose everything.”