The Pelican CEO was decorated alongside the founder of Penpushing Media Mr Dimeji Kayode – Adedeji, former state chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Elder Joju Fadairo, retired Head of service in Ogun State Mrs. Amope shokur where recognized and inaugurated as Anti – Corruption Ambassadors by the group.
Speaking shortly after receiving “Integrity First Initiative Award” bestowed on him by the group in recognition of his adherence to integrity first and continous practices of integrity in the discharge of the organization’s functions, Adeyemo noted that Nigeria needs hope and people who could help change the narrative, saying things would get better if Nigerians imbibe the spirit of integrity in every of their endeavours and live a corruption – free life.
He said this informed why he donated money in support of free distribution of
the ‘Quarterly Anti – Corruption Report On Nigeria’ in all tertiary institutions in the Gateway State.
Adeyemo said, “The award means a lot to me because it is coming at the right time when Nigeria needs hope, Nigeria needs people that can model the thought, people that can change the narrative, people that can change the thinking of younger ones in Nigeria.
“Secondary this award is a lot to me. The high point of it is the unveiling of the ‘Quarterly Anti – Corruption Report On Nigeria’ written by no one but an incorruptible retired ICPC Commissioner in charge of Ogun, Oyo, Edo and Delta by erudite person, Mr Olusesan Olukile.
And unveiling the book meant a lot to me and the Pelican Valley because the task was given to who deserved it. I made it clear to the media that Pelican Valley has been operating her business in the last 10 years without a single litigation, without dispute. I have never been to a police station, I don’t know any DPO. It shows we are doing it the way it should be done.
“Although, it comes with one or two challenges. You know Nigerians are like Oliver Twist. My wife sent something to me yesterday on social media showing a given state government was doing real estate programme and people were coming out to challenge some people for buying property from them but did not get any allocation. It is very very unfortunate.
“We as real estate company we hold dear to our heart our guiding principles, that is integrity first. When someone buys land from us, we get you allocation within the next 24 hours because before we sell our land, we would have done the necessary things we are supposed to do. Things that could create bottlenecks and disturb people from getting allocation we will first address them. That is why Ogun State Government has been referring to Pelican Valley Nigeria Ltd and me personally as the Poster boy of real estate in the state.
I always believe that whatever you are doing, you are doing it for yourself, because you will surely reap what you are doing. All our performance and the accolades we are getting are not flukes. I just have to blow my trumpet now because I just have to say it so that people can learn because they didn’t come cheaply, it wasn’t served alar carte. I have been preparing for it for over 15 years.
Getting into corruption, most times it is not the wish of the corrupt to be corrupt. Nobody wants to be called a corrupt human being or a thief most especially if you are a Yoruba man. Nobody wants to be addressed that way but most of them find themselves in corruption simply because they made themselves vulnerable to corruption indirectly. That is the secret I’m telling you now. Corrupt people made themselves vulnerable to corruption due to lack of planning and also because they do more than themselves.
I’m Babatunde Adeyemo, the CEO of Pelican Valley Nigeria Ltd and that is all what people can know but so many people will not know that I built my first house when I was barely 26 years and I have been a millionaire at 26 quietly. The reason why it was quiet is because building a house I did not see it as a luxury but I saw it as a foundation towards self sustainability and economic growth. My aim is to set up my own company. Building a house was a way of trying to avoid distraction of house rent and landlord issues and not having a stable mind mentally, to achieve my overall objectives. That house at 26, was just like a stepping stone.”
