MEET BRIGHT SEKONI : Shoemaker transforming Africa Real Estate

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bright Sekoni.

It’s an honor to speak with you today. Why don’t you give us some details about you and your story. How did you get to where you are today?

My name is Bright Sekoni, fondly known as a real estate mogul. I received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English language and literature from Lagos State University. However, for as long as I can recall, I have always been good at sales and relationship building. I also enjoy talking to people and making genuine connections. This inspired me to start the production and sales of shoes while still in school, and my skill set helped me build a name for myself. After university, I indulged in various jobs before being introduced to real estate by a mentor. I decided to give it a shot because it seemed a good fit for my personality and goals. My career in real estate began as a sales executive at a well-known real estate development firm. In 2021, I was named among the 2021 Most Influential Youths in Lagos state. Today, I am a ECOWAS ambassador, and the recipient of several awards, including 2022 40 under 40 CEO Recognition Award and a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), Youth Advocacy for Good Governance (NYAGGI), which is a sister organization of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN).

I’m sure your success has not come easily. What challenges have you had to overcome along the way?

The first set of difficulties I encountered were financial. It was a drastic one because my father lost his job, and everything began to fall apart from there. We resorted to selling our properties, but this did not last long. I soon had to learn to fend for myself. I progressed from buying used shoes and selling them to designing and selling my shoes. I became an uber driver at some point, and there were times when I had to sleep in my car; I always had an emergency kit, which included toothpaste, a toothbrush, and underwear. Things were gradually falling into place, and I decided to invest in the Forex market. However, the instability of the forex market made me run into millions of dollars in debt. It felt like I was starting from scratch all over again. In order to pay off my debts, I put in a lot of effort and sold some properties I owned at the time.

In all of these, I can confidently say that I remained strong because, along the way, I had twelve failed businesses, but that didn’t stop me from progressing. My resilience pushed me through it all.

Let’s talk about the work you do. What do you specialize in and why should someone work with you over the competition?

I am the founder and Chief Executive officer of Audacia Prime Realty Limited. I’m passionate about creating wealth for Millenials, and Gen-Zers through real estate. I accomplish this by assisting individuals in determining the best real estate investment for them based on their budget. One key thing that stands out for me is value. In my business, I have realized that in order for me to thrive, I need amazing clients, and in order for them to stay or attract new clients, they must be provided with value for every dime spent. I work to ensure that they are heard, seen, and understood. This is my competitive advantage.

What’s your best piece of advice for readers who desire to find success in their life?

Resilience, Dedication and Commitment. These are the key attributes with which I believe anyone can find success. Keep going no matter the number of times you fail because failure in itself is not denial. It serves as a way in which you know not to walk. Be dedicated to whatever you are doing. Ensure every detail is perfect and limit the number of details to perfect. Furthermore, the importance of having a mentor cannot be overstated – my mentor introduced me to the world of real estate. Have someone you respect who can hold you accountable. Above all, stay committed to your growth.

Speaking of success, what does the word mean to you?

Success to me is having a dream and bringing it to life. Keep working to make all your dreams a reality.

What’s next for you?

There is a massive rare opportunity present at this time, and the sooner people realize this, especially young people, the better our ability to build a better future. This is why I’m devoting more time to influencing real estate knowledge through Auda – the academy and app. The Auda Academy is a sales academy dedicated to teaching and developing young people to sell real estate on a local and global scale. It focuses on teaching practical steps to success for people who want to work in real estate. Now, we know our world is a digital world, and this is where the app comes into play. The Auda app is a real estate-related technology platform. I love to refer to it as the future Airbnb for Africans. It will offer services to anyone who wants to learn how to sell real estate, make money from real estate, buy real estate, or invest in diaspora real estate.

Finally, how can people connect with you if they want to learn more?

I am active on Instagram as Brightsekoni, on Twitter as Brightsekoni_ and LinkedIn as Bright Sekoni. Also, you can contact me on my business pages @audaciaprimerealty and @auda.ng.