FEMI OSIBONA: 360 Degrees Ikoyi: A Bold, Beautiful Lifestyle Statement in Lagos

There was a time when it was thought that multi-storey buildings sprouting in Ikoyi, Lagos, would deface its serene landscape, but years have passed and more skyscrapers are being built without Ikoyi radically losing its calmness. Town Planners say Ikoyi possesses a unique character thrust upon it by its location which was enhanced by painstaking planning by the British colonialists who created the exclusive enclave. Bennett Oghifo writes about his 360 Degrees Towers, three fine pieces of high-rise, real estate, being built on Gerald Road. There are others dotting the highly priced landscape of the pristine enclave, all adding to the allure of the ever-changing neigbourhood. Land in Ikoyi does not come cheap which is why those who dare to render buildings there spare no expense to get the right type of facilities, and they only have one opportunity to get it right. The 360 Degrees Towers being built by a highly regarded developer Femi Osibona, from the look of things, is about to present something excitingly different

Characteristically, most developers in Ikoyi do all that is necessary to put their money’s worth on ground and traces of these accomplishments can be seen on both sides of the dual carriageway from Osborne Foreshore through Alfred Rewane Road (former Kingsway Road) to the foot of Falomo Bridge. Turn into Bourdillon Road to see other beautiful buildings, a mix of office spaces and head-spinning residential apartment buildings.

A good number of sturdy pieces of commercial and mixed-use real estate line Alfred Rewane, some evergreen in their rendition like the Kingsway Towers, Mulliner Towers and Heritage Place, the upcoming Famfa Towers and the Dangote HQ, British-America Tobacco building, Rising Sun, Alliance Place, One 6 Temple, among others.

Leaving Alfred Rewane, taller apartment buildings dot the landscape along Bourdillon, Lugard, Alexander and Gerald Roads. Joining the multitude, are two of the three towers of 360° which are already up, rising up to 15 floors and are being serviced by a busy crane. The construction wrappers of the towers, which look like body-hugs, are attention grabbers. Also intriguing is the fact that the towers enjoy very good setback from the road, a feature that shields it from busy and noisy traffic on Gerald Road.

THISDAY sought out the developer of these emerging edifices who turned out to be an unassuming and shy young man, Olufemi Adegoke Osibona, the Managing Director of Fourscore Homes. He reluctantly discussed the project and the reach of his company in Nigeria and overseas.

He said Fourscore Homes is a member of the NHBRC (National Home Builders Registration Council) in South Africa and Zurich Building Guarantee in Europe, as part of the company’s presence overseas. His company specialises in the building of choice properties in different parts of the world, Osibona said. “We have exhibited our expertise in property development in the United Kingdom, South Africa, the United States of America and Nigeria. Fourscore Homes possesses uncommon capabilities in redefining property development in any market we choose to play in.”

Unique Rendition

This 15-floor strictly residential facility is the brain-work of Fourscore Homes, evolving from Osibona’s desire to do something unique that has never been done in Nigeria. The concept is to have serviced flats in the three towers and for residents to experience a stress-free lifestyle, complete with a hotel flair. “What we want to achieve is to have people live in their homes as if they’re living in a 7-star hotel. There is security with access control from the entrance on Gerald Road and there is another security post when coming into the buildings. Electricity will be guaranteed 24 hours a day and there will be cleaning and gardening around the estate, as well as housekeeping/ concierge services for those who desire it.”

The design and rendition is targeted at people that are too busy to concern themselves with anything else, Osibona said. “This development will give peace of mind and comfort to the residents, because everything works.”

On the first floor is a suspended platform that serves as a recreational area where residents can unwind and hold a small party, if they wish. Also, there is a five-star lobby where residents can host friends and family members, without compromising their privacy. The towers have various house types: Maisonettes of about 420sqms each on three floors; penthouses on two floors; and 4-bedroom flats on one floor, with each flat as large as 400sqms – almost twice the size of most flats in other developments in Ikoyi. The penthouses are about 600sqms to 800sqms.

The homes in 360° Towers, better described as ‘Luxury in the Sky’, are being sold off-plan and directly to people who intend to live there, Osibona said, explaining that “ninety per cent of people that have bought from us are those that own houses. However, what is happening now is that most people with big, single unit dwellings are now cutting down for several reasons; their children have left the nest, most of them are in their 50s and they want to really enjoy their lives and are looking for a place that is secure with no headache. Imagine living in a hotel where your money works for you.”

The design of 360° Towers located at 44B, C & D Gerald Road, presents very unique features, which instantly attract attention. The towers will encompass smart homes, imbued with accessories controlled with artificial intelligence. There are virtual offices for homeowners and five star board rooms, among others.

Besides, it is an improvement on whatever structure that has been built in Ikoyi, according to Osibona. “The buildings that can compare with ours is Number 4 Bourdillion where 3 bedroom flats and above sell for $1.9 million to $7 million. There is also The Belmonte where apartments go from about $1.7 million upwards. These are on Bourdillion and they are the two properties that can be compared with ours, and our prices are very competitive.”

However, there is an exciting difference that stands 360° out of the crowd, according to Osibona. “You need to understand something. Anywhere in the world, nobody wants to live on a very busy road, but we also understand that Gerald-Bourdillion Roads are some of the most expensive locations in Africa. So, we are very lucky that we are on Gerald Road but we have a very long setback of about 200 metres. The implication is that you’re living in a place where you can open your windows and take in breathtaking views but without noise because the building is not smack on the road. Our entrance is on the road but you will need to drive for about 200 metres to get to the parking lot. The setback is our main selling point.”

Added to this is that from the building, residents would have scenic views of the Lagos lagoon, the Atlantic Ocean, neighbouring estates such as Banana Island and Parkview, Osborne Road and the Third Mainland Bridge, as well as the Lekki-Ikoyi link bridge, among other interesting sights in Lagos.

An issue that becomes very contentious with projects of this nature is parking which can be a challenge with the prosperity of the residents. This would not be an issue said the promoter of 360°, as they are building more than 160 spaces for vehicles of residents and their visitors, even when parties are being hosted and with appropriate landscaping with rich green areas. The facility also has water and sewage treatment plants, as well as private and public power sources.

Another unique feature of the development is that at the entrance, there is a huge aquarium on the driveway and can be viewed at both the entrance and exit gates of the property. There is provision for water fountains at strategic positions on the property. The towers are expected to be completed at the end of next year, Osibona said, and that as things stand, his firm has sold over 50 per cent of the apartments.

“The advantage of buying off-plan is that you’re buying at a discounted price and it always appreciates. You have to understand something about Nigeria; people say the market is not moving but if you do something that is interesting and unique, then people will buy. I guarantee you that. The market doesn’t bother us, we have always been selling. Remember this is not my first development, I did Nos. 2-4 Mosley Road – The Shalom Apartments in Ikoyi, which we built in 2010. It has 40 flats with common facilities like a swimming pool, gymnasium, and the estate is powered 24 hours a day amid tight security. The low-density facility is occupied by high net worth personalities. It was sold out.”

International Developments

Fourscore Homes has an enviable track record built by Osibona, better known as “Femi Fourscore”.

The company began its foray into real estate in the United Kingdom before branching out to South Africa and later Nigeria. In 2009, when Brig-General Buba Marwa (rtd) was the Nigerian High Commissioner in South Africa, Fourscore Homes built six luxury units called Fourscore Mansions in Waterkloof, a very expensive neighbourhood in Pretoria.

Osibona was also the first African developer to develop a seven-storey building in the United Kingdom. The property called Fourscore Mansion is located at 113, Albion Drive London Fields, E8, 4LZ, East London. Not only that, he was the first black developer of African origin to build other projects in the UK.

The company’s real estate business started in Hackney, London in 1997. “I was one of the people whose real estate developments led to the growth of East London. I bought a house on New Cross Road and renovated it. I also bought a piece of land behind it and built two flats there, and that is what I will call my first real estate project. That was how I started building houses for sale. Renowned Juju music maestro, Ebenezer Obey visited the property when he was in London.”

Osibona said prior to making a foray into real estate, he sold clothes and shoes for a living in London. “I started selling shoes in July, 1991 after I finished my HND in the UK, and later sold suits but I stopped in 1998 and I started real estate development and purchase of property in 1997. The popular Pastor Ashimolowo never ceases to talk about the testimony and rise of Osibona. I also noticed that many Nigerians at that time were reluctant to go into construction but I believed anything was possible with God on my side.

“I built over 50 projects in London and Manchester and from there, went to South Africa where I built a number of estates.” After developing so many properties abroad, Osibona said he decided to come back to Nigeria to contribute positively to the nation’s real estate development.

Osibona also started building in Atlanta, Georgia, USA in 2016. “In all the projects abroad, we buy land and develop and I am the builder, I don’t engage any builder. I was in Atlanta for only four months before I decided to buy land. It is the same procedure in housing development and if you have done it in one country, then you can do it in another because it is the same principle.”

Apart from developing residential homes, Fourscore also deals in residential light fittings and other building materials. “We are really passionate about value creation, we want everyone who purchases real estate from us to derive maximum value for their money. To achieve this, we go out of our way to ensure we chaperone the entire process from design to completion, ensuring that we adhere to best practice while minimising our costs. This way, we are able to deliver high quality units at the best value for money.”

Funding and Engineering

Real estate developers all concede that funding is a major issue that must be taken seriously. Osibona said 360° Towers are being built through venture capital funding and from off-plan sales, which is doing very well because of his company’s track record in the industry. The project is being developed by expatriate project managers, he pointed out, adding “two of them are from England and two from South Africa.”

Future Developments

Osibona plans to build another high-rise building of 25 floors on Gerald Road, adding that there is keen competition for the development of skyscrapers in Lagos.

Fourscore Homes also has plans for more accessible housing on the mainland, specifically at Isheri. But they had some challenges that are being resolved. “We are trying to tackle the water challenges in the area,” Osibona said.

Fourscore Homes had secured approval for the development of 420 flats and another set of 110 flats also in Isheri North, less than a minute’s walk from the popular Isheri North estate built by the Lagos State Government, about a three-minute drive from Shoprite, a three-minute drive from the newly built fire station, and two minutes away from the police station, making it the ideal residential estate for prospective homeowners and investors in the property market. The facility is to be built on five hectares of prime land and each flat will occupy 133sqm.

Social Responsibility

Cost-effectiveness rules in the real estate market, which is why the talk is always about the bottom-line. While profit is cool, Osibona is also not new to philanthropy, as background checks revealed that he built and donated three buildings for Little Saints Orphanage at No. 15 Joe Ona Agbato Close, Ogudu Garden Valley G.R.A. He also visits and feeds orphans monthly and has an annual feeding programme at Ikenne Ijebu, his hometown. By his nature, he derives more pleasure giving than receiving, saying “Most of my developments have always enjoyed the favour of God.”

A graduate of Croydon University in the UK where he studied Business and Finance, Osibona before proceeding overseas for his undergraduate studies, had his primary education in Lagos and his secondary education at the prestigious Mayflower Secondary School, Ikene, Ogun State.