Oliyide Oluwashina is the managing director/chief executive officer of Tsebo Nigeria, formerly Tsebo Rapid. In this exclusive interview with BusinessDay’s WASIU ALLI, he discusses the reasons behind the rebranding of the company. He also identified erratic power supply, inflationary pressures and naira fluctuations as some of the biggest challenges his company grapples with, urging the authorities to double down on policies to further ease the country’s business environment. Excerpts…
Can you give an overview of your company and how it has fared over the years since its existence?
Tsebo Nigeria is an integrated workplace solutions provider, delivering facilities management, catering, hygiene, and business support services across key sectors in Nigeria. Our journey began as Rapid Facilities, a bold and locally-grown company committed to excellence. In 2019, we joined the Tsebo Solutions Group, a pan-African leader in workplace management. This partnership accelerated our growth and deepened our capabilities. From managing a single iconic site to now delivering nationwide solutions across finance, technology, infrastructure, and energy sectors, we’ve grown over 200% in six years and expanded our team to over 400 professionals.
As a man who deals with foreign investors, what is their perception of Nigeria’s investment climate?
Foreign investors see Nigeria as a market of great potential but with considerable risk. They are drawn to our population, youthful workforce, and resource base. However, concerns around policy inconsistency, infrastructure gaps, and security challenges persist. That said, strategic investors with long-term views remain optimistic, especially in sectors like services, logistics, energy, and digital infrastructure.
What are your expectations from the government in terms of attracting foreign investors?
We expect clearer regulatory frameworks, consistent policies, and greater ease of doing business. Simplifying tax structures, improving forex stability, investing in critical infrastructure, and providing stronger legal protections will boost investor confidence. Public-private partnerships also need to be more transparent and outcome-driven.
What are the challenges you envisage or encounter operating in Nigeria?
Power instability, high operational costs, inflation, currency volatility, and delays in public procurement processes are constant challenges. The human capital gap also requires continuous investment in training. Nonetheless, these challenges have helped us build resilience and innovation into our operations.
Who are your major competitors?
We compete with both multinational and strong local players across different service lines. However, we see competition as validation of a healthy market. Our focus remains on differentiation through excellence, structure, and the ability to provide scalable, multi-site solutions across Nigeria.
What value are you bringing to Nigeria, and why Nigeria?
We’re bringing world-class service delivery, job creation, professional development, and operational excellence. Nigeria is strategic not just because of its size but because of its untapped potential in structured outsourced services. Our presence here is a vote of confidence in Nigeria’s future.
You have an energy subsidiary company. Are you planning to invest in Nigeria’s energy sector? If yes, shed more light.
Yes, we are exploring opportunities in energy management, particularly in solar, energy audits, and efficient power solutions for commercial clients. Our goal is to help clients reduce energy costs while improving sustainability.
You recently joined the global Tsebo Solutions Group and changed your name from Tsebo Rapid to Tsebo Nigeria. How would this association impact your service delivery to the Nigerian business community?
We have always been part of the Tsebo Solutions Group. This allows us to tap directly into Tsebo’s pan-African expertise, systems, and scale. With operations in over 25 countries and over 40,000 employees, we now bring global standards with local execution — enhancing quality, compliance, and innovation.
You have been around for over two decades. How would you say you have impacted the Nigerian economy?
We have created over 1,500 direct and indirect jobs, supported hundreds of SMEs, and enabled client success through cost optimisation and operational efficiency. We’ve also contributed to industry standards and professional training.
What is your niche in this sector of the Nigerian economy, vis-à-vis competition?
Our niche is the ability to deliver integrated, scalable, and technology-enabled workplace solutions across multiple sites with a focus on compliance, transparency, and performance tracking.
Who are your clientele, and how can you describe your service delivery?
Our clients include leading businesses in the various industries we serve. We are known for our structured approach, proactive communication, and measurable service delivery.
What is your market share of the Nigerian facility/outsourcing management industry?
We estimate our share of the formalised, Tier-1 facilities and business support market at about 6%, with plans to double that through strategic sectoral expansion.
What makes up Tsebo Nigeria — your services and employment footprint?
Our services include integrated facilities management, hygiene and sanitation, business support services, energy management, and hospital facilities management. We currently employ over 400 people directly and support an extended value chain of over 1,000 across vendors and suppliers.
What are your short, mid, and long-term goals/vision?
For the short term, we hope to strengthen operations and digital capabilities. And in the mid-term, we see ourselves expanding into new sectors and reaching 10% market share. For the long term, we aim to position Tsebo Nigeria as the most respected integrated workplace solutions brand in West Africa, with a regional support hub in Lagos.
What specific support do you expect from the Federal Government?
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