Celebrating Findo: Entrepreneur at 14, Now Builds Mansions and People

Ronke Kehinde/

A host of friends, family members, and well-wishers thronged Ijebu-Jesa on July 8, 2023, to celebrate a philanthropist who has invested much in building people and estate development in Nigeria and the United States.

Otunba Funmi Abiodun, a Home Builder in the United States, who is fondly called Findo, was installed as Otunba Atunluse by Oba Moses Agunsoye of Egboroland in Ijebu-Jesa, Osun State, southwest, Nigeria.

As he was being celebrated by kith and kin, Findo told the story of his life, revealing why he has been giving to the poor, and how he formed his company as a poor boy at 14. His old schoolmates, friends, and associates whose lives have been touched by his generosity also spoke about him in glowing terms.

Findo is the founder and Executive Chairman of Findobact Holdings Corporation, a real estate enterprise operating in Atlanta, Georgia, with its flagship subsidiary: Findo Homes and Communities – a Luxury home builder with annual sales exceeding $ 10 million and over 60 bespoke homes built.

His passion to give to the needy and the community led to the creation of the Findocare Foundation – providing direct cash transfers to needy families in Nigeria.

“I’ve always had it in my head that when God blesses me, I will give back. I’m not super rich, by His grace I can afford more than three square meals,” he said. “Once you get to that point in life when you can feed yourself and your immediate family without too much hassle that means, you can give back.”

Speaking about Findo’s chieftaincy title that brought people from all over Nigeria and across the world to Ijebu-Jesa, Oba Agunloye said, “I met Abiodun-Findo in America years back; his philanthropic ways are reasons I’m conferring him with this title. He empowered some of my subjects with cash and he promised to do more. We have laid the foundation for the multipurpose hall he promised to build for the town.”

It was a gathering of friends and family from all over the world, at Findo’s installation as Otunba Atunluse of Egboroland. People came in from America, London, Lagos, Ibadan, Ijebu-Mushin, Igbodo, and all over Nigeria.

The two-day event started with the Foundation laying ceremony of the Findo Building Project.

“When I asked Kabiyesi what he wanted me to do for the people, he said they wanted an office complex that could accommodate government agents like VIO, road safety officials, drivers’ license officials, and so on. I asked Architect to draw the plan and we have laid the foundation. It will be completed soon,” he said.

After the foundation was laid, in the evening, guests came out from their hotel rooms adorned in white outfits to attend an old-school white party at Prinaj Hotel Hall. It was an evening of glitz and glamour with lots of fun. People danced to mostly old-school music all night long.

The installation took place on the second day at the palace ground, Ijebu-Jesa. Apart from the host Oba Moses Agunsoye, his wife Olori Omolara, chiefs, elders, and representatives from different groups, there were notable personalities such as Oba Micheal Arowotawaya 2, Elerimo of Erimo Ijesha, Oba Adediran Owaomiran of Esa Oke among many other monarchs in attendance.

Findo’s old schoolmates were well represented, from Saint Finbarrs College Old Boys Association 1987 set and members of Ogun State University alumni. Findo’s family members were also there in numbers, including his mother, siblings, and children.

Showing appreciation, Findo thanked the Monarch for the honor bestowed on him. He thanked family and friends for honoring him with their time. He said, “It’s been a great journey; I saw people that the last time I saw them was over 30 years ago; some people over 23 years ago when I left Namibia for America. We’ve been talking on the phone. I saw them again today. It’s been a very fulfilling day.”

When Findo was asked about the motive behind his generosity, he said he could relate with the people because of his humble beginning.

“I was born relatively poor, the second son and second child, and grew up at 27 Oluwalogbon Street in Somolu, In a one-room apartment. We later moved to Oke Suna Street, also in Somolu to a room and parlour. My dad was a teacher and my mum was a nurse. We were in a low middle class. Although we were poor, we still had people who were poorer than us, and people who were very rich. We were told if we face our education, we will make it in life.

“Growing up, we lived in a 12ft-by-12ft house and now I build mansions for people. It makes me really go back to my humble beginning. I’m proud of my humble beginning. I’m not ashamed of it.”

Findo was born to an Anglican family. He said, “My family brought the Anglican family to my hometown in Ijebu Mushin. We are the pioneer of the Anglican Church in Ijebu Mushin. Later, we became Pentecostal. My mum became a CAC prayer warrior and MFM prayer warrior.” 

Asked about his family’s reaction to the chieftaincy title when they first heard of it, he said, “When I told my mum I was honored with Otunba Atunluse, she shouted: “Blood of Jesus!” She was thinking in terms of a secret society and all that. I assured her that it is not a secret society. Why would I do that at this stage of my life? It is just an honorary thing. I’m Pan Yoruba. I’m pan Africa. It is a good thing to honor my culture, to honor the culture of my ancestor, to honor the culture of my forefathers. Yes, we have attained white man education and culture, and white man ways of doing things, but I will not throw away my culture, that is why I accepted to become an Otunba which is like a Prime Minister, the right-hand man of the king, who will help the king to administer the community and get things going.

“My name is Olorunfunmilayo. I think my mum was over joyous when she gave me the name which is so feminine. I had a couple of nicknames. By the time I got to secondary school in 1983, my friends gave me the name Findo. In my household, we used a lot of nicknames. Opeoluwa is Oppy, Fiyinfoluwa is Fiffy, and my son is Junior. We are comfortable with nicknames. 

“Since 1983, everyone calls me Findo; my friends, my parents, my family, even my grandparents. In 1985, I was 14 years old; we had biology class, and we were studying bacteria, that was when I took the ‘Bact’ from bacteria and I added it to Findo. It became Findobact. I watched an American movie that night, there was this company that had this, had that, involved in different kinds of businesses. It was weird. It possessed me and I said Findobact Holdings Corporation. It just possessed me overnight, and I wrote Findobact Holdings Corporation. I wrote it on all my notebooks and all my friends identified with it. That was how Findobact Holdings was formed in 1985. When I got to OSU, some people called me Olafindo, Adefindo, Olufindo, BabaFindo, and a lot of variations of it. By the Grace of God, I registered that company in the United States on February 22, 2004, in the state of Georgia. That dream came true.”

Describing the role his mother played in his upbringing and the most memorable moment of his life, he said, “Throughout the journey of my life, my mum has been there, praying for me, prophesying into my life. I’m in the real estate business. I build houses, I buy houses, I sell houses, I fix houses. I do real estate loans and mortgages; I do property management. We do everything in real estate from buying, selling, building, fixing, financing, and other kinds of stuff. In 2008, and 2009, the economy crashed in America; it all started with real estate crashing, and I was so worried, I wanted to sell a couple of my properties in Nigeria so I could raise money to continue doing what I was doing in America. My mum was not having any of that. She is old school. She was thinking that why would you sell your property? I told her that I was selling properties every day and there was no sentimental attachment to any of them. She would not agree.

“She prayed one prayer for me. She said even if all markets in America crashed you will be successful. I told her my faith cannot take this prayer. Just pray that I would be fine. I don’t want to be the only one. She said if only one person in America will be fine it will be you. That was such a powerful prayer and I believe the prayer is still going forth in my life. I thank God for my mum, she’s been through a lot. She did not walk away from her matrimony when she had every reason to, because of her children she was patient, and she was prayerful. Even today when I tell her things she will take it to the place of prayer. She’s been my big rock, my angel on earth, the one supporting me and making sure she is taking care of my spiritual needs for me.

“I was married. The mother of my three kids was not giving me peace. She was just all over the place. She was married to her mum already, so her mum will not just give the marriage a chance. The mum was just all over me demanding things I could not do then. Maybe I could do those things now if she were patient. If her mum says jump, she jumps, if her mum says fly, she flies, so it was not working. So, I got custody of my kids. I’ve been a single parent since 2016. I’m committed to raising my kids, giving my devotion to my kids and my business. I still have great memories of the love I shared with my ex. I’m sure she has great memories of that too. She is human. I’m human too. We will see how that pans out in the future. The important thing is that we are all alive in good health and we can all retrospect the things we did that we shouldn’t have done. I’m sure she is dealing with that now.

“I’m a workaholic. I have always believed in hard work. Hard work is profitable.

“When I was married and even after that we’ve been everywhere in the United States. Since 2003/2004, I’ve taken my family to every vacation spot. We love beach locations; my kids and my ex all love vacations. We’ve been to about 6 or 7 countries. We tried to visit one country every year, to know the place, know the culture, and enjoy the place. Some of our favorites are Miami, Florida, and Cape Town, South Africa. I have old friends who are still in my life; I’m not good with new friends like that. When we can get together, we drink, eat, and are merry. I love hanging out with people who know what they are doing.”

Bose Joseph, Actor, Politician, and entertainer is a friend of Funmi Abiodun Findo. They were schoolmates at Ogun State University. She said, “I met Findo in 1988 at Ogun State University. We were in the same department – Chemical Engineering. He always uplifts my spirit. He gave me the name BJ Pumping; everyone still calls me by that name. I was always everywhere. He still called me by that name seconds ago.

“I love Findo. His humility is second to none. If I must leave Lagos and be here it is only Findo that will make me do that. He is humble, God-fearing, and a giver. Two years ago, our WhatsApp group went crazy. He gave everybody N50,000. I thanked him and thanked him for a long time. I know what it is to give someone N50,000, with what I do, such money doesn’t just drop on your lap. You must have earned it; you must have done something extraordinary.

“I’m here in Ijebu-Jesa. I’m happy that I am part of the ceremony. I’m wishing him exceeding grace. I’m wishing him greater happiness. I’m hoping that not only this community will recognize him, but Ogun State will also recognize him. Nigeria will recognize him. I will give this ceremony a lot of mileage on my social media handle.

Everything he is doing here; he is doing it so effortlessly. All the Aso Ebi, he paid for it. I’m filled up, I’ve not heard so much food in a long time. He is so calm, cool, and collected. All I just want to wish him is exceeding grace, plenty of grace, abundant grace, and much more.

“I’ve listened to testimonies a lot even from this community, and his secondary school. Giving 10,000 people money without having political ambition is a lot. Findo, I am very proud to be called your friend. He was just telling me now that high heels that you wore on your 21^st birthday, do you still have it? He has good memories of people. I’m happy that I saw this day and I’m glad.”

Bobagunwa of Egboroland, Chief Kenny Olatunji, is another friend and schoolmate of Findo. He said,

“We went to the same college, graduated in 1990 together. Ogun State University Ago Iwoye. We met again at the Ogun State University Alumni reunion in North America. He lives in Atlanta; I am in Chicago. We became very active there. I was the first general secretary for four years. Towards the tail end after I left, we transitioned to Findo’s when he became one of the executives of the association. He is currently the president of the association for the past three or four years. From the time I know him, he has shown himself to be a man of integrity and honesty and he is a philanthropist. Those are the things that endeared him to me, and we became friends. Fast forward to today, I introduced him to my king, Kabiyesi Elegboro; from there he was given the title Otunba. And he has invested his time and money in community projects. We just laid the foundation of one yesterday, Findo Multipurpose Building. That is a testament to what he is and what he can do. He is a man who is kind and generous. We never met in college. We were on different campuses. He was in science, and I was in the faculty of law. I’m an attorney. Our paths never crossed until the reunion in North America. We have known each other for seven years. He is a man that is ready to give, roll his sleeves, and be part of whatever project is at hand.

Ademola Ogunnaike and Findo attended the same secondary school. He said, “We met at Saint Finbarrs College, Akoka. We finished in 1987. I remember in those days we’d go everywhere after school. He usually comes to my house in Somolu. In those days something was sure in my house, you must eat Eba in the afternoon. It doesn’t matter who you are if you get to my father’s house. You must eat. I remember going to literary and debating society with him. It’s been fun all the way. He has a very large heart.”

Soji Ajisebutu is Findo’s Personal Assistant in Nigeria. He said, “I’ve known Uncle Findo for a couple of years. Whenever he comes around, I act as his P.A. He is a wonderful man. He is a blessing to a lot of people. He is a philanthropist. He has a passion for humanity. He wants to see others grow. Knowing him is a blessing. One of his projects is Findocare – a charity organization. He does a lot for people. He gives funds to the less privileged every year. That is something he is committed to. He does it every year.”

Findo, a banker turned home builder received a full scholarship at the prestigious Branch Banking and Trust, now Trust University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA for his banking and management training.

He completed graduate studies, Master of Business Administration at Mercer University, Atlanta, Georgia. He is a foremost alumnus of Ogun State University, Ago Iwoye, and the president of the Ogun State University Alumni Association, North America. He is blessed with two beautiful daughters, Oppy and Fiffy, and a son Funmi Junior.

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