Keji Giwa is a man who thrives on purposeful chaos. A self-proclaimed non-conformist and entrepreneur, he has always challenged convention, turning audacious ideas into thriving ventures. This yuletide season, his latest project, Giwa Gardens, promises to be more than just a water park. It’s set to be an affordable escape for every Nigerian, a testament to Giwa’s vision of leisure and innovation.
Born KJ Abida Giwa into the respected Giwa family, Keji grew up understanding responsibility. His father, Mariah Giwa, invented Three Crowns Milk, and as the first son with two sisters living abroad, Keji quickly learned that leadership often comes with accountability. His education journey took him from Nigeria to the United Kingdom, where he studied at Kingston University and earned a master’s degree from the Digital Marketing Institute.
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Entrepreneurship came early. As a child, he painted and sold artwork to neighbors, saving every penny. At university, he spotted an opportunity in nightlife. Kingston had no R&B or hip-hop clubs. Negotiating with venues and offering free entry for women, he ran successful events that helped finance his studies. Later, he launched CV and cover letter services, IT solutions, and digital agencies, raising capital and learning financial discipline the hard way, including navigating loan defaults and credit blacklisting.
Returning to Nigeria was a calculated move. Initially helping friends with PR and tech projects, he quickly impressed sponsors and became a certified partner of the Digital Marketing Institute. Giwa noticed gaps in short-term rental experiences, particularly the lack of hotel-level amenities in Nigeria. By providing professional management, daily cleaning, and modern conveniences like coffee machines and microwaves, he transformed shortlets into lucrative, high-demand properties.
But Giwa’s ambitions go beyond real estate. He created Leki Party Villa, West Africa’s largest private party villa, featuring six soundproof villas, a rooftop lounge, and a jacuzzi, accommodating hundreds of guests. Giwa Gardens, his water park, draws on his love for outdoor experiences and his commitment to accessible, affordable recreation. Remarkably, Giwa achieved these feats without prior construction experience, managing a $50 million plus project through self-education, resourcefulness, and ingenuity.
Challenges have been constant. From coastal erosion threatening real estate projects to operational crises at his water park, Giwa navigated each obstacle with research-driven solutions, patience, and creativity. He emphasizes integrity and transparency as essential in Nigeria, where trust multiplies opportunities and partnerships.
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Keji Giwa’s approach blends calculated risk with long-term thinking. He encourages entrepreneurs to dip toes carefully into markets, understand the environment, and invest in revenue-generating assets over fleeting luxuries. Strategic planning, resilience, and delayed gratification are central to his philosophy, allowing him to grow ventures sustainably while maintaining financial independence.
For Giwa, controlled chaos is more than a personal mantra. It’s a brand, a way to turn unpredictability into opportunity. From London tech entrepreneur to real estate and leisure visionary in Nigeria, he has not just followed trends, he has built them. His story is a blueprint for those seeking to return home wiser, bolder, and ready to transform challenges into lasting success.
Keji Giwa is not just riding the wave of Nigeria’s growing hospitality and real estate markets. He is creating it, proving that audacity, strategy, and a willingness to learn can turn ambition into tangible impact.




