Lagos Content creator and car dealer Ola of Lagos, whose real name is Waris Olayinka Akinwande, has spoken about his approach to money and success in an interview this week.
On the KK Show podcast, Ola explained that he has never lived in any house he purchased with his own money. He said comfort from ownership would slow down his drive to work.
He told the host, “I’ve never slept in any house I bought with my own money.” He added that although he owns property in a well-known estate, he still pays close to ₦50 million a year in rent on a separate apartment.
Ola gave more detail on his reasoning. He said, “I will relax, no.” According to the brand influencer, rent reminds him he still has responsibilities to meet.
Ola also made clear that his choice is not advice for anyone else. He said financial decisions should depend on a person’s own circumstances rather than trends. He gave an example of common online advice that tells people to buy a car rather than a house with their first earnings, and said such rules do not apply equally to everyone.
Ola also described what he would do if he ever sat beside billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote, stating he would not ask Dangote for money.
He explained, “I’ll talk to him about how I can make things easier for his refinery.” He said he would rather present ideas that could add value to Dangote’s companies.
Ola also said he would look to become a brand ambassador for one of Dangote’s products. He said, “I will become an ambassador for his sugar or another product, then earn my percentage.”
Following the revelation about how he spent his money, some fans on social media questioned the logic of paying such a large rent while owning multiple properties, calling it a poor use of money.
READ ALSO: UniAbuja Students Advocate Skills Acquisition Alongside Academic Qualifications
Ola did not respond further to the criticism. He maintains that his methods work for his own situation and that he does not expect others to follow the same path.
Ola of Lagos moved from his village in Owode, Ogun State, to Lagos in 2019 with almost nothing. He started out earning ₦17,500 a month as a cleaner, and later worked his way into luxury car reviews and influencing, which built his brand as “Ola of Lagos.”
