Article written by Sujimoto...
I braced myself for the worst owing to the unpleasant flight experience courtesy of a humid flight induced by the worn out aircraft to Kenya. I have never been in an aeroplane where I feel like I'm in a bakery in Badagry! For a second I thought I was in a flying “danfo” (commercial bus in Lagos), but arriving at the Kenyatta international airport blew my mind. Things started looking up. The efficiency of their immigration officials is truly commendable and I caught myself subconsciously comparing the airport and its services with some other international airports in Africa.
Asa criticofarchitectural mediocrityanda dividend of architectural slavery;believe me when I saythatthe structural designs of the hotelsthere will astonish you. The Nigerian real estate industry has a lot to learn whencompared to its Kenyan counterparts. Notably present isthelarge Indiancommunity as a result of an en-masse migrationthatcan be best explained by the fact that Kenya particularly Nairobi attracts top investors. The local Indianstherewould make you think you are inMumbai!
My stay at theDusitD2Hotel was a fabulous experience.I was ready to brag about it latertomy colleagues but kept my cool when I paid a visittothe SankaraHotel.Permit me to say-“Itis a sanctuary in the jungle”.Theservice and meticulous decoration would give you the sensation that you are in the Dorchester in London.
Words cannot justify the level of luxury that can be used to describetheTRIBE hotel owned by the iconic architect,Mehraz Ehsani.Itis a haven that iscleverly themed with the richandbeautiful heritage of African art positioned within a range of 6sqm.Iwas able to count more than 920 art pieces.My tour guide;a close ally of the TRIBE is Mr Aram Laloui of ZANA;a company that would become our 'apple' in the nearest future.The leader ofthiscompany would tell you where the company is going. The zeal,diligence and passionate quality of this man will never let him down.
My reason for being inNairobi was for theForbes AfricaPersonOfTheYearaward, which was remarkably put together.The event was attended byover100 captains of the industry from all overAfrica. In attendance wasthe Managing Editor Forbes Africa; Chris Bishop, former Governor of Ekiti State; Otunba Niyi Adebayo, Chairman of CMA Investment Holding; Rakesh Wahi,Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development; Dr Akinwunmi Adesinanot forgetting this year’s recipient;the magnate himselfAlhaji Aliko Dangote,looking distinguished in his bespoke outfit.I consider him to be thepersonification of humility accentuated by a very tranquil disposition but not underestimating the commanding aura his presence registers. The room knew that alionhad arrived . Dr. Niyi Adebayo;his best friend,conversed intermittently as I observed showing admirable camaraderie between them. Dangote's speech was designed into one thing and one-thing only;thefreedom of Africanbusinesses and the need for Africans to rise up to their own potential.Heemphasized on today'syouthsas the leaders tomorrow, but only if we stop the 'feeding-bottle' system of total dependence and start realizing that our futureis in our own hands.
The event was amazing and extremely vibrant.I felt exhilarated and overwhelmed not from stress butfromthe joy of beingin the same room and interacting with the biggest names in the African economy. Imadea rather bold move to ask Africa’s god of business; Dangote,"How didyou turnN500k to$22billion?"He said,"Hard work is the biggest enemy offailure.Success can never ignore you if you are hardworking." My mind would never stop laughingwhenI remember the quote by Dr Adesina (Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development) about the sustainability of oil and the need to start tapping into the most important part of African growth which is agriculture. He said,"...by the time we realize that we can’t drink petrol and we can’t smoke gas, we would wake up and tap the dividends of agriculture."
After hotel shopping and the Forbes event, I’d by no means allow myself go back to Lagos without gettingmy view of the local developers. The wereyoungandvibrant buta littlelaid back.I realized that most of the magnificent buildings were done by International citizens (Indians and South Africans), not local Kenyan workers. Thisupset me because itgives a negative buzz that Africans are not competent (which is a lie).From prehistoric times,Africans have made their mark when it comes to real estate.If you look at it from the time of Solomon (the first magnum realestate developer), you would appreciate the hard work and creativity of our African brothers. I cannot write this article without mentioning the good property along the Limuru road, whichis amixedmaterial building, with a bridge,aswimming pool andagym on the 7th floor.Iwas very impressed by the exterior.
I visited the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trusts' Orphans' Project. It is a small ranch where orphaned animals are kept and taken care of. The experience was great as I got to see the true nature and beauty of these animals. I even adopted an elephant whilst I was there. They gave me the certification of adoption...guess what I called it..."Motophant".
The night life in Kenya is one of the most attractive in Africafilled withvibrant young people who haveobviously taken charge of their destiny. Theathletic looking men andof course the'coca-cola bottle' shaped ladies. IfIwasn't married to SUJIMOTO CONSTRUCTION,Nairobi might be my next hunt destination. Ah! the taste of the local beer TUSKER reminds me of what Gulder tasted like in the 90s.
Nairobiisa boisterous city with its great offers in hospitality and as the Kenyanssayin their Kiswahili dialect”Kaka sawa sawa” (brother all is well).I dare say I fell in love with the country on this initial visit and will never stop promoting and believing in them.This wouldn’t be complete withouta shout out and best wishes to my driver Mr.Nelson who’s wife coincidentally gave birth the same day I left Nairobi. They decided to call their baby boy Suji.I asked him why?? He replied, "because astranger gave me hope"
My stay at theDusitD2Hotel was a fabulous experience.I was ready to brag about it latertomy colleagues but kept my cool when I paid a visittothe SankaraHotel.Permit me to say-“Itis a sanctuary in the jungle”.Theservice and meticulous decoration would give you the sensation that you are in the Dorchester in London.
Words cannot justify the level of luxury that can be used to describetheTRIBE hotel owned by the iconic architect,Mehraz Ehsani.Itis a haven that iscleverly themed with the richandbeautiful heritage of African art positioned within a range of 6sqm.Iwas able to count more than 920 art pieces.My tour guide;a close ally of the TRIBE is Mr Aram Laloui of ZANA;a company that would become our 'apple' in the nearest future.The leader ofthiscompany would tell you where the company is going. The zeal,diligence and passionate quality of this man will never let him down.
My reason for being inNairobi was for theForbes AfricaPersonOfTheYearaward, which was remarkably put together.The event was attended byover100 captains of the industry from all overAfrica. In attendance wasthe Managing Editor Forbes Africa; Chris Bishop, former Governor of Ekiti State; Otunba Niyi Adebayo, Chairman of CMA Investment Holding; Rakesh Wahi,Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development; Dr Akinwunmi Adesinanot forgetting this year’s recipient;the magnate himselfAlhaji Aliko Dangote,looking distinguished in his bespoke outfit.I consider him to be thepersonification of humility accentuated by a very tranquil disposition but not underestimating the commanding aura his presence registers. The room knew that alionhad arrived . Dr. Niyi Adebayo;his best friend,conversed intermittently as I observed showing admirable camaraderie between them. Dangote's speech was designed into one thing and one-thing only;thefreedom of Africanbusinesses and the need for Africans to rise up to their own potential.Heemphasized on today'syouthsas the leaders tomorrow, but only if we stop the 'feeding-bottle' system of total dependence and start realizing that our futureis in our own hands.
The event was amazing and extremely vibrant.I felt exhilarated and overwhelmed not from stress butfromthe joy of beingin the same room and interacting with the biggest names in the African economy. Imadea rather bold move to ask Africa’s god of business; Dangote,"How didyou turnN500k to$22billion?"He said,"Hard work is the biggest enemy offailure.Success can never ignore you if you are hardworking." My mind would never stop laughingwhenI remember the quote by Dr Adesina (Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development) about the sustainability of oil and the need to start tapping into the most important part of African growth which is agriculture. He said,"...by the time we realize that we can’t drink petrol and we can’t smoke gas, we would wake up and tap the dividends of agriculture."
After hotel shopping and the Forbes event, I’d by no means allow myself go back to Lagos without gettingmy view of the local developers. The wereyoungandvibrant buta littlelaid back.I realized that most of the magnificent buildings were done by International citizens (Indians and South Africans), not local Kenyan workers. Thisupset me because itgives a negative buzz that Africans are not competent (which is a lie).From prehistoric times,Africans have made their mark when it comes to real estate.If you look at it from the time of Solomon (the first magnum realestate developer), you would appreciate the hard work and creativity of our African brothers. I cannot write this article without mentioning the good property along the Limuru road, whichis amixedmaterial building, with a bridge,aswimming pool andagym on the 7th floor.Iwas very impressed by the exterior.
I visited the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trusts' Orphans' Project. It is a small ranch where orphaned animals are kept and taken care of. The experience was great as I got to see the true nature and beauty of these animals. I even adopted an elephant whilst I was there. They gave me the certification of adoption...guess what I called it..."Motophant".
The night life in Kenya is one of the most attractive in Africafilled withvibrant young people who haveobviously taken charge of their destiny. Theathletic looking men andof course the'coca-cola bottle' shaped ladies. IfIwasn't married to SUJIMOTO CONSTRUCTION,Nairobi might be my next hunt destination. Ah! the taste of the local beer TUSKER reminds me of what Gulder tasted like in the 90s.
Nairobiisa boisterous city with its great offers in hospitality and as the Kenyanssayin their Kiswahili dialect”Kaka sawa sawa” (brother all is well).I dare say I fell in love with the country on this initial visit and will never stop promoting and believing in them.This wouldn’t be complete withouta shout out and best wishes to my driver Mr.Nelson who’s wife coincidentally gave birth the same day I left Nairobi. They decided to call their baby boy Suji.I asked him why?? He replied, "because astranger gave me hope"
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