Nola Adetola
At PeopleDem property we believe in celebrating our community by spotlighting black excellence in property. Today we are celebrating Nola Adetola.
Nola is the founder and CEO of Veritasi Homes and Properties PLC and the chairman of ARN Foods. and A.R.N Farms, which operates one of the largest rice milling plants in West Africa. Through these ventures, he has earned recognition on the global stage, including Forbes Africa’s 30 Under 30 and Avance Media’s Most Influential Young Africans .
Born in November 1990 in Molete, Ibadan a low-income community in Nigeria Nola grew up where the most common ambition was to become a bus driver. Determined to chart a different path, he developed a love for learning from an early age. With both parents working as teachers, he had access to his father’s books, which shaped his worldview and inspired him to dream beyond his immediate environment. As he puts it: “I read my way out of poverty.”
Nola holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical Engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. Committed to continuous learning, he furthered his education at the London Business School, Harvard Business School, and earned an Executive MBA from HEC Paris.
His real estate journey began as a sales consultant with Grenadine Homes, where he excelled in closing deals and won a trip to Dubai for his outstanding performance. Interestingly, his interest in real estate was sparked when a client impressed by his skill in selling shoes suggested he would thrive in property sales.
In 2017, after facilitating projects for other companies, Nola launched Veritasi Homes with just one staff member his secretary. Guided by his detail-oriented and profit-driven leadership, the company generated over ₦2 billion in revenue within two years. Despite his success, Nola remains humble, crediting the company’s vision to solve the housing challenges of Nigeria’s middle-income earners.
Nola’s entrepreneurial journey hasn’t been without setbacks. He openly shares that several of his previous ventures failed, but each one served as a vital learning ground. These experiences equipped him with the knowledge and resilience needed to build Veritasi into a formidable brand.
Today, Veritasi Homes is renowned for delivering premium yet affordable housing in Lagos. Drawing inspiration from global luxury hubs such as France, Dubai, England, and New York, Nola has brought world-class design to some of Lagos’ most affluent neighborhoods. The company is now rebranding to reflect its growth and is expanding into prime areas like Ikoyi, Lagos, and Asokoro, Abuja with future plans to enter markets in Accra, Ghana.
Nola remains committed to addressing Nigeria’s housing deficit. One notable achievement is the Camberwall Estate project an affordable housing development designed not only for cost-effectiveness and quality but also to improve mortgage accessibility. To further serve the mass market, Veritasi launched Eystone Development, focusing on low-cost housing, land sales, and bungalows tailored to diverse financial capacities.
Beyond business, Nola champions smart, green-energy communities in Nigeria, delivering properties that are timely, cost-effective, energy-efficient, and durable. He also invests strategically in sectors like automobiles, fashion, and agriculture. His philanthropic work includes partnering with NGOs to fight poverty, create jobs, and inspire a new generation of African entrepreneurs.
Nola has already achieved remarkable success and remains dedicated to building not only a thriving business empire but also a lasting legacy of social impact. He truly embodies the spirit of entrepreneurship making his mark across industries while shaping the future of real estate in Africa.
