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Hakeem Ogunniran is a leading thought leader on African real estate structuring, funding and delivery and has been described as having a ‘unique understanding of the connection between financial models, capital markets and brick and mortar all within the context of Africa’s complex and challenging operating environment’.
He possesses extensive experience in capital raising, having led five major capital raises including the floatation of a Real Estate Investment Trust over an eight-year period.
A frequent speaker at international conferences, seminars and retreats, he was the Lead Speaker for Africa at the 1st International Conference on Corporate Governance at Shanghai, China, in May 2010.
Ogunniran is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Eximia Realty Co Ltd, Home for Me Nigeria Ltd, Mercury Nominees Investments Ltd and Maestro Property Solutions Ltd. He is also the Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of Lagos Building Investment Co. Plc and a Non-Executive Director of a few other companies.
He retired from UAC of Nigeria Plc in 2018 having served as the Managing Director of UACN Property Development Co. Plc (UPDC) from 2010–2018 and Managing Director of MDS Logistics (a Division of UAC of Nigeria PLC) between 2000–2010. Prior to his illustrious stint with UACN, he was at various times a Law Lecturer, Company Secretary/Legal Adviser, Sales/Marketing Manager and Corporate Planning Manager. He was named one of the top 20 CEOs of the Listed Companies on the Nigerian Stock Exchange for 2013.
He is a member of the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (NAREIT), the worldwide representative voice for REITs and listed real estate companies; a former President and Chairman of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN), a Council Member of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry; and an Executive Committee Member of the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
During his brief stint in the academia, he published over 20 learned articles in reputable local and international journals including the Anglo–American Law Review, (University of Bristol), African Journal of International and Comparative Law, and the Journal of African Law (SOAS, University of London).
Ogunniran graduated from the University of Lagos (1984) and passed the Bar Examinations of the Nigerian Law School (1985) both with Second-Class Honours (Upper Division). He later obtained LL.M and MBA degrees from the University of Lagos.
A former Fulbright Visiting Scholar at the Yale Law School, USA, he has attended several high-level management training programmes including the Unilever International Management Seminar (IMS), U.K, General Management Programme (GMP) of Ashridge Management College, U.K., Strategic Leadership Programme of Cranfield University, U.K., Real Estate Management Program of Harvard Business School, USA, and Senior Financial Management program of the London Business School.
He is a recipient of many awards including the Federal Government’s Scholarship for High Academic Standing (1981 – 1984), Fulbright Scholarship to Yale School, USA (1991/1992), Joint Best Individual Performance in Management Accounting in ICSA Final Examinations; Osun State Government of Nigeria’s Merit Award (2007), ICSAN’s Special Award for Exemplary Service (2009); Kwame Nkrumah Award For Corporate Governance Excellence (2009), Distinguished Chartered Secretary of the Year 2010; Association of Professional Bodies in Nigeria’s Award for Professional Excellence (2011) and Global Home Nigeria Property Award’s Property CEO of the Year 2011, Real Estate Unite Person of the Year 2013, Award for REIT Innovation, UK. (2014), the Odua Business Ambassador Awards 2018, etc.
