Nigeria’s future lies in youth-driven entrepreneurship and technology integration – Adewola

Doyin Adewola is a globally recognized entrepreneur, innovation strategist, and ecosystem builder who has spent over a decade transforming how people work, live, and invest. As the founder of Box Office HubNigeria’s pioneering co-working space he helped launch over 2,000 startups and SMEs, supported 187 organizations including Uber, Bolt, BudgIT, and the British Council, and catalyzed an estimated 5,000 jobs across 4,000 square meters of creative workspace. From tech-enabled workspaces to accessible real estate, Doyin Adewola is not just building companies he’s building ecosystems. In this interview with KENNETH ATHEKAME, he spoke on the key economic challenges currently facing Nigeria, and the most critical opportunities for the country’s economic future. Excerpts:

Your profile highlights a decade of transformational ventures. How do you assess your overall impact on Nigeria’s economic development, particularly in terms of job creation, entrepreneurship, and wealth distribution?

Over the past decade, my ventures have been deeply intentional about job creation, entrepreneurship, and wealth distribution. Through Box Office Hub, we supported over 2,000 startups and SMEs, catalyzing innovation and job creation. Roomeo Construct introduced new pathways for inclusive homeownership, redistributing access to one of the most significant assets real estate. Our impact is not just in numbers but in shifting mindsets and enabling ownership among the underserved.

Nigeria faces various economic challenges, including unemployment and access to capital. How have your ventures, Box Office Hub and Roomeo Construct, directly addressed these challenges?

Box Office Hub tackled unemployment by creating affordable, accessible coworking spaces and capacity-building programs for entrepreneurs. We addressed the capital access challenge by enabling fractional property investment allowing low and middle-income Nigerians to invest in real estate without needing full ownership capital. Together, both platforms reduced barriers to entry in high-potential sectors.

Looking ahead, what do you see as the most critical opportunities and challenges for the Nigerian economy, and how do you envision your future endeavours contributing to its growth?

Nigeria’s future lies in youth-driven entrepreneurship, technology integration, and inclusive asset ownership. Challenges include inflation, access to capital, and infrastructure gaps. My future efforts will focus on deepening access to investment opportunities, digitizing real estate processes, and scaling financial inclusion to millions especially through diaspora engagement.

Box Office Hub supported over 2,000 startups and SMEs. Can you elaborate on the specific ways it fostered their growth and contributed to the vibrancy of Nigeria’s entrepreneurial ecosystem?

Box Office Hub wasn’t just a space, it was a launchpad. We offered subsidized office space, incubation, investor readiness training, and access to networks. We created an enabling environment where startups thrived and built confidence in Nigeria’s startup economy. It was a strategic ecosystem intervention at scale.

You’ve estimated Box Office Hub helped generate 5,000 jobs. How was this impact measured, and what are the long-term implications of these jobs for the Nigerian economy?

The 5,000 jobs created were a result of tracking the growth of businesses hosted, supported, or trained at Box Office Hub. These include full-time, part-time, direct and indirect jobs created by members of the community. The long-term implication is sustainability; many of these businesses are now employers themselves, creating ripple effects across the economy.

What were the biggest lessons learned during your ten years of leading Box Office Hub, and how have those insights informed your subsequent ventures?

One key lesson was that community is a business enabler. Entrepreneurs don’t just need funding they need belonging, trust, and strategic support. This insight informed how we built Roomeo Construct: as a trust-based platform that democratizes investment while fostering a sense of ownership and collective growth.

Evolving landscape of work, how do you see the long-term sustainability and continued relevance of co-working spaces like Box Office Hub in Nigeria, especially post-pandemic?

Coworking is evolving from physical desks to community infrastructure. Post-pandemic, the relevance of Box Office Hub-type models lies in hybrid offerings online communities, resource networks, and flexible real estate. It’s no longer about space alone but about adaptive support systems.

Nigeria has a significant housing deficit. How does Roomeo Construct’s model of providing “ready-made” apartments and fractional ownership directly contribute to addressing this national challenge?

Roomeo Construct addresses housing demand with ready-to-own apartments and a fractional model that breaks down the cost barrier. By enabling more people to co-invest, we are accelerating ownership, improving housing supply, and introducing liquidity to an otherwise rigid market.

The co-investment platform for low- and middle-income individuals is a unique approach. How does this model promote financial inclusion and wealth building for a broader segment of the Nigerian population?

Our model opens real estate to people who would otherwise be excluded teachers, nurses, tech founders etc. They co-own income-generating assets and build wealth over time. This is economic inclusion in practice: turning renters and spectators into stakeholders.

Fractional ownership, while innovative, can have perceived risks. What measures has Roomeo Construct put in place to ensure transparency, security, and trust for its co-investors, particularly considering the complexities of real estate in Nigeria?

We’ve implemented full legal documentation, tech-enabled dashboards, third-party escrow services, and transparent reporting. Investors know what they own, their expected returns, and exit options. In a market plagued by distrust, clarity is our currency.

How do you plan to scale Roomeo Construct’s co-investment platform to reach a wider audience and further democratize real estate ownership in Nigeria? What are the potential challenges in achieving this scale?

We plan to scale through part. As an innovation strategist, how do you define and apply innovation within the Nigerian context, particularly when developing solutions for real estate and entrepreneurship?

Education is key we’re demystifying real estate and turning it into a click-to-invest opportunity. Challenges include regulatory hurdles and infrastructure, but our adaptive tech stack is built for scale.

You are described as an “ecosystem builder.” What is your philosophy behind building sustainable and impactful ecosystems, and what key elements are essential for a thriving entrepreneurial and investment environment in Nigeria?

I believe ecosystems thrive when there’s shared value. You need infrastructure (spaces and tools), networks (people and capital), and a culture of trust. We’ve built ecosystems around Box Office Hub and Roomeo where entrepreneurs, investors, and creators thrive together, not in isolation.

How important are collaborations with government, private sector, and international organizations in achieving your goals and fostering economic growth in Nigeria? Can you provide examples?

Partnerships have amplified our work. For example, our FCTA collaboration enabled wider access to coworking in Abuja. We’ve also engaged private developers and diaspora groups to fund housing solutions. Multi-sector synergy is not optional it’s the engine of scale.

Based on your decade of experience, what advice would you offer to aspiring entrepreneurs in Nigeria looking to make a significant economic impact?

Solve real problems and start where you are. Build something people really need. Nigeria rewards resilience and creativity. Focus on building trust and long-term value, not just short-term hype. And remember—your venture doesn’t have to be big to be impactful. Start small, think systemically.