The drive to reposition Ibadan as a major investment and commercial destination has received a significant boost with the arrival of Great Wall Motors (GWM), a leading Chinese automobile manufacturer of affordable luxury vehicles, in the ancient city.
This initiative, powered by Afia Group of Companies, is being positioned as part of the company’s broader commitment to the re-industrialisation of Ibadanland, in line with the development agenda of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Senator Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, Arusa I.
Behind the initiative is Engr. Abduljelyl Adekunle Karheem, MCIArb, MCIOB, MCABE, the Chairman and CEO of Afia Group of Companies and Mogaji of the Adanla family of Ibadan.
The initiative also offers prospective buyers who prefer a flexible payment option an auto finance scheme that allows customers to make an initial 20 per cent down payment and spread the balance over a period of 36 to 60 months, making vehicle ownership more accessible and convenient.
The initiative also offers prospective buyers who prefer a flexible payment option an auto finance scheme that allows customers to make an initial 20 per cent down payment and spread the balance over a period of 36 to 60 months, making vehicle ownership more accessible and convenient.For Adanla, the arrival of GWM represents another step in a growing vision to transform Ibadan from merely a historic and administrative centre into a city capable of attracting major investments, modern businesses, technology and international brands.
The entry of GWM, known for producing a range of modern vehicles combining technology, comfort, style and affordability, is expected to give residents of Ibadan and the wider Oyo State access to brand-new Chinese vehicles without having to look outside the city for such automobile offerings.
More importantly, the development adds a new dimension to Adanla’s growing business footprint, which has already made Afia a notable name in construction, real estate and property development.
A construction professional with more than two decades of experience spanning the United Kingdom and Nigeria, Adanla returned to Nigeria after years in the UK and channelled his international experience into the development of Afia Group.
His professional qualifications include expertise in Building Surveying, Building Engineering and Construction Project Management, alongside memberships of the Chartered Institute of Building, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and Chartered Association of Building Engineers.
In recognition of his achievements in the built environment, Afia Homes and Properties was recently honoured as the Biggest Indigenous Real Estate Developer of the Year at the City People Real Estate Awards, while Adanla himself received a Special Recognition Award from the Al-Basar International Foundation for his contributions to business, humanitarian initiatives and community development.
He was also featured by The Guardian among its “100 Top-Notch Engineers Powering the Nigerian Economy,” recognition that further underscored his contribution to Nigeria’s built environment and economic development.
Adanla’s influence extends beyond business. He’s the Turaki Adinni of Oyo State, Wakil Faido Tijaniyyah of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta States, and Giwa Adinni of Offa Land, Kwara State, positions that reflect his involvement in Islamic affairs, philanthropy and community development.
His growing portfolio of developments in Ibadan includes Afia Court and Afia Apartment at Chief Lateef Oyelade GRA, Ring Road; Mandamis Luxury by Afia in Iyaganku GRA; Magdalen’s Court and The Crest in Agodi GRA, among other projects.
The GWM initiative therefore appears to fit into a much larger philosophy—one in which private enterprise becomes an instrument for urban renewal, employment creation and economic expansion.
Afia Group’s latest move also reinforces the message that Ibadan can accommodate businesses operating at an international level while providing opportunities for indigenous entrepreneurs and investors to participate meaningfully in the city’s economic transformation.
For a city with a rich commercial history and a rapidly expanding population, the arrival of another internationally recognised brand could prove significant, particularly if it stimulates ancillary businesses, creates employment and strengthens Ibadan’s position as a regional commercial hub.
The development also gives practical expression to the re-industrialisation agenda being championed around the Olubadan institution, with indigenous investors such as Adanla increasingly looking beyond traditional business models to attract new sectors and opportunities into Ibadanland.
With Great Wall Motors now joining the Afia Group ecosystem in Ibadan, Adanla’s message appears clear: the future of Ibadan’s economy cannot be built solely on its glorious past; it must be deliberately constructed through investment, innovation, enterprise and the return of international-standard businesses to the city.
In that unfolding story, the arrival of GWM could well become another significant chapter in Adanla’s continuing push to build—not just structures—but opportunities, businesses and a stronger economic future for Ibadanland.
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