By
Patrick Ogungbola
MD/ CEO, BLUEHEDGE REALTORS
Happy New Month!!!
We welcome you to the month of June 2020. Isn’t it so funny that the first half of the year is ending; and it looked as if this year is just starting. Obviously, the COVID-19 has seriously ‘eaten’ into our time. While some countries like Nigeria have eased the lockdown, some other countries such as United Arab Emirates (UAE) are still observing full lockdown. One of our clients who resides at UAE informed that the enforcement of the lockdown is very stringent over there and that one needs special permission even to go out and buy food, and that even if the permission is granted, you will be instructed on the route to follow and how long you can stay outside. Our client said the fine for violation is equivalent to one million naira.
We are indeed in a trying time, and many nations of the world seem to be confused at this moment. Even up till now, COVID-19 vaccine or drug is yet to be discovered. A ‘common’ virus has destabilized the world system, and this is causing a huge impact in our lives – new laws and policies are being formulated as things continue to fall apart amidst the threat of COVID-19 and therefore, the centre could no longer hold. People are now redefining a new way of life which is being referred to as ‘the new normal’. COVID-19 has caused man to set a new standard in the way they live, work and play. We have now devised means to do almost everything digitally courtesy of internet and other technologies.
No doubt, the situation is causing serious disruptions in our world, and human beings have started to adapt to this new normal. Just last week, a client called to enquire about one of our properties for sale at Lekki, Lagos. The woman informed that she is looking at purchasing a property with mortgage, and to this end, we enlightened her on how to go about the process most especially about the need to come for the ‘physical’ inspection of the properties, and thereafter arrange a ‘physical’ meeting with our mortgage partners. The client informed that although the lockdown may have been eased, she has not been coming out of the house. She also pointed out that she doesn’t need to come for ‘physical inspection’, but rather she would prefer ‘virtual inspection’ whereby she can inspect the properties from the comfort of her home, and thereafter make a choice. On the need for ‘physical meeting’ with our mortgage partners, she said ‘what’s the need for a physical meeting when almost all our faces will be covered’. She therefore advised that we should send the mortgage requirements, and if there will even be need for a meeting, it can be done virtually via WhatsApp video call or through Zoom video application or through other means that will not involve physical meeting. If truth must be told, this is the new normal, the new thinking, and the new way of life we are talking about. We either get used to this (as we don’t know how long it will last) or we may be ‘phased out’, in other words, we either adapt and conform to these new normal or we will be confounded by the realities of the times.
I was in the bank sometimes last week to withdraw some money, with my face mask in place. At a point, I observed the cashier just kept gazing at me and at the same time looking at her computer, this went on for about 20 seconds until I asked what the problem was. That was when she opened up that she could not confirm if I’m the same person with the picture on her system since my face mask was covering my face. She then requested I take off my face mask for few seconds, and I responded to her that it takes just few seconds to contract corona. But I just had to adhere to the directive as I didn’t want to be delayed any longer.
Every situation and experience of life has advantages and disadvantages, including COVID-19. Most people only see the bad side of COVID-19 and the changes/ disruptions it is causing, and as humans we hate and resist change but the current reality is really making change inevitable – there’s nothing we can do about it. Therefore, it will be wise not just to dwell on the demerits of the current situations, but more on the merits. If not for any other thing, man’s creativity and ingenuity is currently being put to work; many things we thought were impossible are now becoming possible. Church services are now being conducted online with people taking Holy Communion from the comfort of their homes. We now have virtual schools, virtual meetings, virtual court and virtual events. Virtually everyone is going virtual. One of our staff who gave birth during the period of the lockdown had to do ‘virtual baby christening’, the Pastor conducted the naming ceremony through phone call. Very soon (and that’s if it’s not already happening), we will be experiencing virtual wedding, virtual parties, virtual cinema, virtual office, and virtual ‘anything’.
What does all these mean to you and I? It is simply on the need to adapt to the new trend and the new normal, as well as the need to set a new standard or upgrade existing ones. The need to turn every seemingly impossible situations to possible, turning disadvantages into advantages, and turning our lemon into lemonade. As we know, lemon suggest bitterness (a problem or adversity you are facing), while lemonade is sweet and pleasant. Staying positive and figuring out how to solve problems is much more advantageous than allowing situations to go sour. We must devise ways to stay and remain positive even when life is not going the way we expect.
Every problem we face is an opportunity to create solutions, and there’s no problem without a solution. This is a period not just to do things haphazardly, but a time to apply wisdom and engage in critical thinking on the best ways to achieve clear-cut tangible results. This is not a time to throw in the towels, but a time to stay motivated and be courageous to face the challenges of the times.
Alas! We are currently facing disruptions, but we should be prepared for more heartbreaking disruptions. Human history is full of stories of men and women who in the face of adversities and obstacles were not discouraged but were courageous enough to turn their bad situations to good ones. Sometimes, I wonder why we all detest challenges, knowing fully well that without a fight, there can never be a champion. Every great inventions of today were as a result of man trying to solve human problems and to make our lives and living better. We all love and celebrate heroes and heroines, they are great people who have changed the course of history for good in one way or the other. In the course of this writing, I googled the definition of who a hero or heroine is. Wikipedia defines a hero (the man) and a heroine (the woman) as ‘a real person or a main fictional character who, in the face of danger, combats adversity through feats of ingenuity, courage, or strength. The antonym of a hero is a villain’. Those highlighted words are what separates ‘ordinary people’ from heroes/ heroines – ‘extraordinary people’. What villains run away from, heroes run towards. Who are you in this regard?
No doubt, COVID-19 presents to us many challenges (as well as with immense opportunities), our approach to these challenges will determine how we come out at the end. Without challenges, champions can never emerge. We are a reflection of our product. Socio-economic, political, scientific and technological development praises man’s abilities in turning lemons into lemonades. We must strive to see the positives in every negative, light and darkness has their respective benefits. The potency of a battery only comes alive when the positive terminal comes in contact with the negative terminal. We don’t know what we are capable of doing without challenges; the problems of life brings out the best in us. A crude gold must go into the burning furnace before the pure gold can emerge.
Let us all brace up and turn the challenges of the present times to our advantages. Without any doubt, if you keep to the above advice, you will soon laugh; and please remember to invite us to your ‘virtual party’, we look forward to celebrate with you.
We wish you the very best in the month of June 2020.
As usual, we want to remind you that we care so much about you, and that when it comes to your real estate investment and advisory, we are always here to give you the very best service you can never get elsewhere. This is our promise, and will always be.
Meanwhile, please find below the powerpoint presentations of our current properties for sale in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Thank you.
Affordable Properties For Sale in LAGOS, Nigeria
Affordable Properties For Sale in ABUJA, FCT, Nigeria
Affordable Properties For Sale in PORT HARCOURT, RIVERS STATE, Nigeria
