Personality in Focus
GText @16: We’ve Equipped Aspiring Entrepreneurs, Raised 60,000 Millionaires, Developed 25 Luxury Estates – Dr. Akintayo
By Eric Elezuo
From the humblest of beginnings in 2008, GText Holdings Limited has grown in leaps and bounds, gathering accolades, encomiums, and growth and development as 16 years roll by.
This was the submission of the Group Chairman, Dr. Stephen Akintayo, while addressing the media, as he reeled out the text of success stories that trailed the organisation in 16 years since 2008, expanding to accommodate GText and Associates, GText Land, GText Homes, GText Suites, Gvest and Stephen Akintayo Foundation. All these subsidiaries have since grown independently, carving a niche for themselves in global competition, and maintaining a market lead in their various areas of endeavours.
“It’s humbling however, to note that I started my business with one thousand naira, and for us to be in the four continents of the world, I had to keep proving myself,” he said.
Established on May 21, 2008, in a hostel room of about 12 by 15 feet, the Gtext brands have over the years seen the good, the bad and the ugly, but has stayed focused to the dream, and today, is a force to reckon with in the global business world.
A soft spoken go-getter, the story of Stephen Akintayo and to a large extent, Gtext, is a practically example of the proverbial leap from grass to grace, and tells a narrative filled with determination, resilience and focus. His life trajectory culminates in why everyone is a candidate of success, irrespective of the background.
He told journalists in his Ikoyi office, and via his social media handles, how he doggedly built his empire via strategic marketing advantages, and rising to the status of king of real estate, as well as how a team of hardnut-to-crack management team, has sustained the growth to its present magnanimous level.
“Exactly 16 years ago, we registered Gtext and Stephen Akintayo Foundation, the name then was Gileadbalm.
“This company started in my Campus 12by 15feet hostel room turn office and accomodation. My first Full time Employee is a guy name Busayo who had 3month compulsory internship and didn’t want to leave Ago-Iwoye and ask to work for Me. He will resume in that 12 by 15 feet room office and run errands. The scripture that says; “Though thy beginning was small, Yet thy latter end should greatly increase.” Job 8:7 KJV
“We started very small with many businesses that failed even before I registered the company but one business became our identity, Bulk SMS. Started this with 1000 naira (10USD that’s time estate rate) our projection will see us control real estate asset worth over 2billion dollars in the next 5years, particularly our international operations. Only God could have gotten us this far in life and business.
“Many don’t know that our foundation was bigger in name and brand than the for-profit business. Infinity Foundation which later change to Stephen Akintayo Foundation started with Campus students wanted to help the poor particularly orphans and widows. I was poor myself, yet wanting to make others rich.
“As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” 2 Corinthians 6:10 KJV. I was a student for Christ sake yet we will raise Millions of Naira to do project with orphanages . Will use my school fees and accomodation rent money just because I wanted to see changes. After I got tired and frustrated by people who pledge towards our project and disappoint , I decided to make the business arm more central and what I make from my business, I can then put into charity which is what we now do today.
“In All! God has been good to us as a company! We have moved from one estate to over 30 cut across 7 states in Nigeria and also in USA. We have moved from one employee to over 300 in 4 continents namely Africa, UK, Dubai for Middle East, USA for The Americas. Thank you to all who keep faith with us. We are grateful,” the seasoned entrepreneur said.
Acknowledging that he was pushed to work hardest because of the need to be financially free, he noted that he embraced entrepreneurship very eary in life.
“At the age of 17/18, I read the books that changed my life. I read Rich Dad, Poor Dad, Think and Grow Rich and others. The books woke me up to know that it is not degrees that is going to make me rich. It made me know that degree is just about going to school and being enlightened. If I want to be rich, I needed to do a trade. Having gone through that book at the age of 18, I started my first business as a very shy person, and my first business was multilevel marketing of food supplement by GNLD. It was difficult to market a drug, as I couldn’t look a potential customer in the face, but the book I read said if I could do this, I would become rich. So I had to.
“I started business by selling e-books from day one in the university. I was just sold to doing business; hawked electronics and all stuffs. I failed many times doing business but I kept at it because I had no choice, and because we were not rich and money was always an issue, so I just had to keep at it and that was it for me,” he informed.
Over the years, Akintayo and Gtext has providing affordable accommodations to all strata of clients ranging from the low to the upper class.
Today, Gtext land boasts of 25 luxury estates with 16 already launched and five fully developed just as nine estates are in pre-launch stages. Also, Gtext Suites have offered ownership of smart homes in prestigious areas like Sangotedo and Banana Island. The magnanimity of this project allows anyone who sells up to three property, an opportunity of an all expense trip to Jordan.
In the same vein, GText and Associates, alongside Stephen Akintayo Foundation has organised over 100 Certified Real Estate Masterclasses and enhanced realtors’ global real estate expertise. They have also initiated and executed over 50 all expense paid trips, which created opportunities for business growth as well as raising over 60,000 persons to the millionaire cadre.
Gvest, the investment of the Holdings, has succeeded in paying Return on Investment (ROI) to investors. The company has seamlessly perfected its operational base, laying a foundation that affords clients effortless utilization of the GSAVE app.
The Stephen Akintayo Foundation arm of the Holdings has been in the forefront of equipping aspiring entrepreneurs through real estate investment masterclasses as well as promoting global finance literacy via a successful family finance conference.
The company plans a gala nite for management, staff and the general public on June 1, 2024, to celebrate the landmark achievements of the past 16 years.
This is wishing Dr. Stephen Akintayo and the entire Gtext family a wonderful 16th Anniversary celebration, and many more years of market leadership.
Former Presidential Spokesperson, Doyin Okupe has reportedly passed away.
TheNewsGuru reports that the senior adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan and, recently, the Director-General of Peter Obi’s 2023 Presidential Campaign died at 71, after a long struggle with cancer.
In October 2023, Okupe was hospitalized with prostate cancer and was flown to Israel for treatment.
However, it was learnt that his condition did not improve as expected.
Okupe had a history of prostate cancer, first diagnosed 16 years ago, and a later bout with sarcoma in his right shoulder.
Following his milestone achievements as Chairman of the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV), the Chairman/CEO of Executive Group, Dr. Ayo Ogunsan has been officially announced as the Patron of the Police advocacy initiative in Lagos State, National Association of Online Security News Publishers, NAOSNP can report.
The POCACOV is the Nigeria Police Force advocacy initiative to help young people avoid cultism and other vices. It uses advocacy, awareness, and sensitization to help young people avoid vices by conducting community outreaches to schools, inner cities, rural areas, and urban centres. It also helps to rehabilitate and reintegrate those who have been cut in the web of cultism, crimes, and social vices.
It would be recalled that Dr. Ayo Ogunsan took up the Chairmanship job about a year ago and was able to use his grand standing as the Board Member of Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), prime supporter of security news beat association National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), and leadership of non-profit initiative, AKEM Foundation to champion his work and various impacting activities in the past one year. This is why POCACOV through its National Coordinator, ACP Olabisi Oluseyi Okuwobi on behalf of the Inspector General of Police announced his official elevation into the role of Patron of POCACOV in Lagos State.
The United Nations POLAC International Peace Advocate, Dr. Ayo Ogunsan expressed his gratitude to the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun and the National Coordinator, ACP Okuwobi for the new role and promised to give direction to the new Chairman, Mr. Moses Oladimeji which will lead to improved performance of POCACOV in Lagos.
‘I will keep raiding our communities with love. We will give them food, shelter, etc. Police will do the Police work but I will do the policing of love’, Ogunsan affirmed.
This piece is contributed by Oki Samson
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Shamsedeen Ogunjimi as the new Accountant General of the Federation after a rigorous selection process.
A statement by Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy), Bayo Onanuga said his appointment, approved on Tuesday, takes effect from 7th March 2025, the same day the incumbent Oluwatoyin Madehin will retire.
Ogunjimi, 57, was first named as Madehin’s successor last December.
“A selection committee later chose him through a competitive, rigorous, and merit-based process involving Directors of Accounts in the Federal Civil Service. The committee conducted the process through three stages: a written assessment, an ICT proficiency test, and oral interviews.
“The selection process underscores President Tinubu’s commitment to promoting transparency, excellence, and competence in key public service positions,” the statement read in part.
Ogunjimi graduated from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, in 1990 with a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy.
He also obtained a Master’s in Accounting and Finance from the University of Lagos.
He is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria.
President Tinubu congratulated Ogunjimi on his appointment, and urged him to discharge his duties in the service with integrity, professionalism, and dedication to Nigeria’s service.
