How business failure became the foundation of my success — RealtyPros CEO

For many entrepreneurs, failure marks the end of a dream. But for Obinna Azonobi, it became the cornerstone of a remarkable comeback. From losing millions in a failed haulage venture to rising as the founder and Chief Executive Officer of RealtyPros Investment Global Limited, one of Nigeria’s fastest-growing real estate brands, Azonobi’s journey is a testament to resilience, reinvention, and faith in process.

In this interview with IFEOMA OKEKE-KORIEOCHA, the soft-spoken but driven entrepreneur shares how adversity shaped his outlook, why he believes in ‘working to learn, not just to earn,’ and how he’s using real estate to empower a new generation of wealth creators across Nigeria.

Tell us a little about your background.

My name is Obinna Azonobi, and I’m the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of RealtyPros Investment Global Limited. We are a real estate development company that combines property investment with a unique network marketing model to empower people as we grow.

RealtyPros has been in operation for about eight years, with active presence in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Owerri, Akwa, and Abuja. Our mission is clear: to make property ownership affordable and accessible in every fast-growing city across Nigeria and beyond. It’s an ambitious goal, but one we’re steadily achieving as we continue to expand and evolve.

Before founding RealtyPros, I gained extensive experience working with several notable real estate firms, including Pazzino Engineering and Construction Company, Property Mart, and Realty Point Limited. These roles gave me a solid grounding in both the construction and property development sides of the industry, preparing me for the journey I lead today.

As an entrepreneur, why do you address yourself as ‘Doctor’?

I hold a Doctorate in Business Administration from the University of Lagos, in affiliation with Delwell University in the United States.

You’ve built a reputation as a successful real estate entrepreneur. But before RealtyPros, what was your career path like?

I’ve always been entrepreneurial. After graduating from the university, I teamed up with a friend to start an ICT firm called iMatrix Technology. We were into software development, and my partner was the brain behind most of the programming work. Sadly, I lost him to death two years later, and because he was the technical backbone of the company, it became difficult to continue. That marked the end of that chapter.

I moved into manufacturing for a while, then later into logistics. That was where I made a real mark, because I became the Nigerian representative for COS Courier Limited, a logistics company with headquarters in South Africa. The experience gave me valuable insight into supply chains and business operations across borders.

Eventually, I wanted to expand into haulage, which unfortunately became a major turning point in my life. I lost everything I had saved trying to start that business, and I had to rebuild my life from scratch.

That must have been a tough experience. What exactly happened with the haulage business?

I ventured into haulage around 2011 or 2012 after partnering with a young man based in the United States. He brought in some truck heads, and we agreed that I would handle the logistics of lifting containers from the Tin Can Port. I invested heavily, over ₦20 million, acquiring flatbeds, low beds, and more than 30 truck tires. Anyone in logistics knows how expensive those components can be.

Things started well until we got a contract to move a heavy consignment. The load took longer than expected to deliver, and that delay became the beginning of my problems. My partner, who owned the truck heads, insisted I pay four months’ advance lease fees despite the unforeseen delay. I tried to explain the situation, but he wouldn’t listen. Instead, he seized the trucks and grounded the entire operation.

It was devastating. I had poured everything I had into that business – my savings, my energy, my confidence. When threats started coming from my partner, I even went into hiding. It was one of the darkest periods of my life.

But one day, I asked myself: “Why are you afraid when you’ve done nothing wrong?” That moment changed everything. I decided to confront the situation head-on. The matter eventually went to the police, who investigated and discovered that my partner was being dishonest. The trucks were seized by the authorities, and to my surprise, he later filed a ₦250 million lawsuit against me, the police, and the client whose goods we were transporting.

When I saw the lawsuit and the ridiculous amount he was demanding, I laughed. But I was impressed that he thought I was worth up to ₦250 million. That was the moment I knew I would rise again. The experience broke me, but it also built me. It made me more courageous, and became the foundation of the success I enjoy today.

What lessons did you take away from that ordeal?

That experience changed my life. I learned that fear simply means False Evidence Appearing Real (F.E.A.R.). Because the moment I decided to confront the issue, my fear disappeared, and Interestingly, the man who threatened me became the one running away. It taught me that challenges don’t kill; they strengthen you.

I also learned that you must be very careful in choosing business partners. It’s not every “big man” you should do business with, because some will cripple you if you’re not discerning.

The experience also changed my perception of the Nigerian police. They handled the case professionally and discovered the truth despite several false petitions written against me.

Lastly, I realized that logistics is capital-intensive. You must be well-grounded financially and have trusted, competent drivers. And before going into any business, it’s wise to understudy those already doing it, even as an apprentice. Money alone isn’t enough; relationships, experience, and mentorship matter just as much.

So how did you now delve into real estate?

When I lost everything in haulage, I asked myself a simple question: “What business can I do now to make money and still add value?” That was when I remembered my long-time dream of building homes and developing estates.

I started by partnering with developers to sell their properties between 2012 and 2015. Later, I joined Pazzino Engineering and Construction Company, where I worked until mid-2018. After that, I founded RealtyPros Investment Global Limited.

When you left university, did you ever try to get a white collar job?

Yes, I did. But even while in school, I already knew I was an entrepreneur at heart. I studied Mechanical Engineering, yet most of my free time was spent reading about business development, marketing, leadership, negotiation, and emotional intelligence — everything that builds an entrepreneur.

So, after graduation, I tried applying for a job in industrial production. When I heard the salary was ₦30,000 a month, I did a quick calculation: even after 20 years on that salary, I still wouldn’t be able to afford a house. That was when it became clear that working for someone else wasn’t going to give me the life I envisioned.

I decided to adopt a different mindset — to work to learn, not just to earn. So when my ICT company, folded up, I joined my uncle’s water packaging company. He paid me just ₦12,500 per month, which was a big drop from the ₦120,000 earned from iMatix. But I took the job because it was close to my home, and most importantly, I wanted to learn how to manage people and operations.

That experience taught me that success starts with diligence, not money. I always tell young people: Wherever you find yourself, give your best. Many graduates look down on small jobs, waiting for “big opportunities,” but every experience counts. While managing my uncle’s factory, I learned enough to set up water factories for others, and one of my first contracts earned me about ₦2 million.

From the water packaging job l went into logistics through a family friend based in South Africa. He was looking for a Nigerian representative for his logistics company, COS Courier Limited, and I accepted the offer. I told him not to pay me a salary because I preferred a commission or profit-sharing arrangement.

That mindset gave me an edge. I wasn’t salary-driven; I was results-driven. From earning ₦12,500, I started making an average of ₦500,000 monthly. It was in that role that I saved about ₦20 million, which I later invested in haulage. Unfortunately, I lost everything, but real estate helped me to bounce back to reckoning.

There’s been growing concern about fraud and quackery in Nigeria’s real estate industry. Many are beginning to feel it’s not longer a viable investment. How do you see this accessment?

Real estate remains the best investment on earth. From the beginning of civilization to the end of time, every enterprise — hospitals, factories, airports, or recreation centers — stands on land. Every business is built on real estate.

The real challenge in Nigeria is regulation. As an emerging economy, our real estate policies are still evolving and often inconsistent. Only Lagos has made significant progress in policy development and urban planning. However, many lands across the country were purchased decades ago, long before new master plans were introduced.

So, when government redesigns an area or constructs new roads, owners of those old properties often lose their land under the Land Use Act. That’s why many investors get caught up in disputes or lose their properties — not because they did anything wrong, but because the system keeps changing.

We also have too many unregulated players. Anyone who makes money jumps into real estate, without due diligence or professional guidance. Some even sell problematic lands to unsuspecting buyers just to recover their own losses.

That’s why legitimate real estate companies play a critical role — we bridge the gap between landowners (omo onile) and buyers, reducing the risk of fraud.

What should the government do to address these challenges?

Despite the hurdles, real estate remains solid. Housing is a basic human need — people will always strive to own or build homes. So government must create clearer policies and simplify the process of obtaining land titles and building approvals. The bottlenecks encourage corruption, and discourage investors.

They should also set fair tax rates, because when taxes or import duties increases, building costs skyrocket, and developers have no choice but to raise rent. For instance, the cost of building materials has risen by 300–400% in the past three years. Projects that were budgeted at ₦300 million now cost over ₦1.2 billion.

You’ve said that real estate is a viable business that anyone can succeed in. How can young people or new entrants start and thrive in the industry?

My advice to young people is simple: follow the process before chasing profit. The biggest mistake most youths make is wanting to become entrepreneurs overnight without first learning the business.

Before you start your own real estate company, go and work for one. Serve as an apprentice or trainee. Learn the basics — front-desk operations, logistics, marketing, accounting, sales, and even construction. Real estate is broad, and understanding how each unit functions gives you a strong foundation.

It’s sad that many young people today don’t want to learn; they just want to jump in and start making money. But you can’t skip the learning stage. I always say: go and serve, even if you already have the money. Attach yourself to someone who has been there, learn from them, and you’ll save yourself years of stress and costly mistakes.

Collaboration is another smart way to grow in real estate. You can’t own property everywhere, but you can sell property everywhere through partnership. Look for reputable companies with solid track records, and collaborate with them to market and sell their projects.

Through collaboration, you’ll learn how successful developers operate — their sales strategies, their delivery systems, their challenges, and their solutions. That’s how I built my foundation. My success today is a result of the work experience, mentorship, and studies I accumulated over time.

I also encourage young people to study and get certified. Take professional courses. For example, I attended the School of Estate to deepen my knowledge. Real estate is a technical business — you must understand the art, the legal processes, and the technical standards that prevent building collapse and structural failure.

Recently, there’s been public outcry over building demolitions across Nigeria. What’s your take on that?

The truth is, most demolitions happen because of lack of information, poor verification, and government negligence. Many people build on canals or restricted zones simply because no one stopped them when they started.

Our government needs to be proactive, not reactive. Instead of waiting for people to finish building before bringing bulldozers, agencies should monitor developments from the foundation stage.

It’s painful to see government officials ignore illegal construction for months, only to wake up later and demolish entire buildings. What happened to the regulatory officers who were supposed to enforce compliance early on? If the government starts holding its officials accountable for negligence, we will drastically reduce the number of illegal structures.

Do you think this affects investor confidence?

Very much. I know many investors who have vowed never to return to Nigeria after their properties were demolished. They’re frustrated because no one warned them during construction, yet the government later destroyed their buildings.

Demolition without accountability damages trust and scares away investors. If we want more people to invest in real estate, the government must strengthen regulation, ensure transparency, and act in good faith.