Korede Shonekan-Ayodele

ERA Nigeria Branch Manager, Korede Shonekan-Ayodele, joined the Nigerian offices in 2013 and has witnessed an influx of foreign nationals to the oil-rich West African country. Korede is passionate about Nigeria and the promise it offers to relocating expats.

“It is my dream to put Nigeria on the international map. I am often the first connection foreign nationals have before travelling to Africa and it is very important that I set their minds at ease. Africa is often viewed in a negative light by the Western world but expats are pleasantly surprised when they relocate to Nigeria.”

Korede is an experienced local traveller and is very familiar with the pitfalls inexperienced expats can fall into when first relocating to Nigeria. She’s been in the industry for more than 9 years and believes it’s important to set the right expectations to ensure a successful and seamless relocation process.

“We are not magicians, but we have to resourcefully handle missions as they usually have particular requests and circumstances. A couple of times we have had to be available outside regular working hours or days, to fulfil and accommodate last minute requests and arrangements. But in the end, having a happy and appreciative client makes it worthwhile,” says Korede.

“The biggest challenge expats face when moving to Nigeria is mostly immigration issues before arrival,” says Korede. Integration is usually easy, except for climate shock, especially for those who come from colder regions.

“It’s important for me to be resourceful, innovative and a good negotiator,” says Korede. “I always try to equip myself with knowledge about our locality, education system, property market, security and all other relevant areas. I always strive to achieve the best, to be assertive and a good listener. I represent my clients and I have their best interests at heart.”

Korede admits that the one thing that still drives her after many years in the industry is meeting and interacting with expatriates. “I love meeting new people and learning about other countries and cultures. I especially love to introduce them to Nigeria and enjoy viewing the country through their eyes.”

When Korede is not interacting with foreigners, she loves to spend time at home with her husband. She’s also a prolific gardener and loves plants.