The Entrepreneurial World of Aderemi Kilaso
There are entrepreneurs whose business model transforms literal (ie physical) landscapes, while others are adept at transforming metaphorical landscapes.
Aderemi Kilaso does both.
As the Chief Executive Officer of the RKK Group, he sits atop an indigenous Nigerian conglomerate whose extensive portfolio of interests spans a wide spectrum of economic and business sectors, and whose accomplishments over the years have given it an enviable reputation as a dynamic and innovative player, particularly in the construction and renewable energy industries in Nigeria.
Established in November 2008, the conglomerate, under the guiding hand of Kilaso and his team, boasts of proven experience in executing top-of-the-range projects for a vast diversity of clients and customers ranging from government establishments, corporate bodies and non-governmental organisations, to high networth individuals across the country – in line with the core values which have undergirded and sustained its success in the more than a decade and half of operations, namely, Excellence (borne out of continuous innovation); Teamwork; Integrity; Commitment (to the effective and timely delivery of positive outcomes); Sustainability (in terms of health, safety and environmental protection); and Accountability.
Like the boabab tree, the RKK Group has grown exponentially in the 16 years of its operations, so that it now comprises almost a dozen subsidiaries, among them RKK Inspire Services Limited, RKK Solar Light Limited, Kilash Oil Limited, Ritesim Africa Limited, Glowing Ages Academy, Amfara Properties Limited, Acute Options Limited, Lux Continental Limited, 25th Investment Limited, 7th Aisle Limited and Al-Rasheed Properties Limited.
From its headquarters located at 38 Lobito Crescent, Wuse II , Abuja, FCT, the RKK Group and its subsidiaries have carved a niche for themselves in each of the sectors they play in – namely, construction and engineering, real estate, renewable energy, information and communications technology, supply chain management and logistics, training and consulting, procurement, and agricultural education.
Among the services RKK Group offers in the area of construction are: Quality Assurance, which is a product of its commitment to operating with the utmost integrity, to the use of superior methods and materials, and to its dedication to honest and ethical practices at all times; Construction Management and the provision of expertise across multiple disciplines from preconstruction to finishing; Design-Build; and Precostruction. The conglomerate’s flagship, RKK Inspire Services, for example, is a full-service building and civil engineering construction company which has over the years become one of the foremost construction companies in Nigeria, enjoying wide renown for its ability to undertake successful projects across the geopolitical zones of the country. This is in line with its overarching vision, namely, to be the leading construction company in Nigeria, and to command the market by virtue of its track record in executing reliable, cost effective, and world-class projects which stand out in terms of class and technical sophistication.
Another key component of the RKK Group’s market footprint is the All-in-One Advanced Solar Lighting Module. Sold by its subsidiary, RKK Solarlight Limited, the module utilises the latest solar technology and smart power management techniques as it delivers efficient and cost-effective lighting solutions. These modules boast a compact and elegant design, and are extremely easy to install. These devices are the centrepiece of RKK Solarlight Limited’s range of services, which also include Solar System Installation and Maintenance; Solar System Consultation; and Procurement.
The RKK Group is also a player in the financial sector, with subsidiaries which offer services such as Securities Trading; Investment Opportunities (whereby clients are assisted in the management of funds through the creation of profitable investment portfolios); and Investment Consultancy.
Not surprisingly for such a versatile conglomerate, the burgeoning real estate market in Nigeria has not escaped the attentions of the RKK Group. Its services in this regard include Property Management, where developers and landowners are provided with a full range of services such as property marketing and leasing; preparing and documenting lease agreements; lease coordination and management, as well as rent collection and facility management.
Agriculture, they say, is the new gold. TAhis understanding has led the RKK Group to invest in the sector and it’s auxiliary services, especially in the area of value addition in a manner that reduces risk, ensures quality, and improves productivity.
Health, they also say, is wealth, a dictum that the RKK Group has taken to heart – and inculcated into its business model, as shown in the Disinfection and Decontamination Services it offers in a bid to help clients ensure sanitation and hygiene in the workplace. This is in addition to related services such as Coronavirus Cleaning and Disinfection; Facility Management; as well as ‘soft‘ services such as House-Keeping; Gardening and Landscaping; Facade Cleaning; Fumigation, and ‘hard’ services such as Building Management; Preventive Maintenance, and Plumbing, Carpentry and Civil Works.
In view of the foregoing competences, therefore, it is only natural that the RKK Group would also be big on human capacity development – as can be seen in the robustness of its Trainings/ Workshops and related programmes. In the case of tech-based subsidiaries such as RKK Solarlight Limited, this entails driving practical and hands-on skills on the job, aimed at the provision of practical design solutions to clients.
Needless to say, this record of excellence and versatility across sectors on the part of Aderemi Kilaso and his team, and the success that has attended it, has not gone unnoticed by the denizens in each sector, as can be attested to the various recognitions the RKK Group and its dynamic CEO have garnered over the years.
For such a relatively young organisation to accomplish this much is no accident; it speaks of intentionality at all levels – and especially of sound corporate governance and inspirational leadership. With such attributes (and resources) at its command, it can only to be expected that the RKK, under the leadership of Aderemi Kilaso and his team, is poised for greater heights in the days to come – in spite of the rather hostile business environment – and sustainable growth in the highly competitive 21st century marketplace of goods, services, information and technology.