Ayobami Akindipe: Reimagining Victoria Island

Victoria Island has always been one of Lagos’s most important addresses. It is where business, culture and lifestyle converge, and its skyline continues to evolve in response to a city whose ambitions are constantly growing.

For Ayobami Akindipe, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Ace Real Estate, that evolution presents an opportunity.

His response is The Twist, Victoria Island.

More than Ace Real Estate’s flagship development, The Twist signals a new phase for the company, one defined by larger ambitions, a broader outlook and a more prominent presence in one of Lagos’s most competitive property markets.

A New Chapter

As Ace Real Estate marks six years of growth, the company is entering an important new phase.

What began with a focus on land and the promise of ownership has grown into a portfolio that includes Number 31, 78 Residence, Ace City, Vision City, 234 Residence and The Vertex, among other developments.

Ace Real Estate is expanding its presence across Africa, building on the foundation established over the past six years while exploring opportunities in new markets across the continent.

The journey has not been without its challenges. Rising inflation, economic uncertainty and increasingly high bank interest rates have created a demanding environment for businesses, particularly in real estate.

Yet, through these conditions, Ace Real Estate has continued to grow while remaining completely debt-free.

That is no small feat in an industry where access to capital often comes at a significant cost. It reflects a deliberate approach to growth; one that places sustainability and financial discipline alongside ambition.

At the heart of the company’s growth has been a commitment to delivery.

In a sector where trust remains one of the most valuable currencies, Ace Real Estate has built its reputation around honouring its commitments and maintaining the confidence of its clients as the business continues to expand.

The journey has also brought wider recognition to Akindipe, including being named Young Real Estate Person of the Year and being selected for the Forbes 30 Under 30 2025 list.

But recognition is not the focus.

The attention is now on what comes next.

The Vision Behind The Twist

The Twist, Victoria Island is Ace Real Estate’s most ambitious project to date.

But the vision behind it extends beyond creating another residential address on Victoria Island.

The Twist is conceived as a destination where residential living, lifestyle and investment intersect.

Set within one of Lagos’s most active mixed-use environments, the development is designed for people who want to be connected to the energy of the city without compromising on comfort, convenience or experience.

For families, it offers a more complete residential environment. For professionals and expatriates, it provides a home within easy reach of one of Lagos’s most important business districts. For members of the diaspora, it offers an opportunity to own a home in a well-connected part of the city while remaining close to the lifestyle, social and commercial activity that makes Victoria Island one of Lagos’s most sought-after locations.

The Twist also speaks to a different kind of property buyer.

Today’s high-value real estate buyer is increasingly looking beyond square footage. Location matters. Design matters. But so too does the experience of living within a development and the long-term value of the investment.

Those considerations are central to the concept behind The Twist.

Designed as an amenity-heavy development, the project places significant emphasis on the experience of its residents. Lifestyle, wellness, recreation and social spaces form an important part of the overall concept, creating an environment that extends well beyond the private residences themselves.

The intention is to create a place that works for different rhythms of life.

A family should be able to enjoy the comfort of a well-considered residential environment. A professional should be able to live close to the centre of business activity. An expatriate or diaspora buyer should be able to return to a standard of living that feels familiar, convenient and complete.

The investment proposition is equally important.

For diaspora buyers, high-net-worth individuals and investors seeking quality real estate, The Twist offers an opportunity to own property in one of Lagos’s most valuable locations.

The combination of location, lifestyle and quality gives the development a strong proposition for buyers who are considering not only where they want to live, but also where they want to place capital.

The project is supported by a team of experienced professionals and contractors responsible for translating the vision into reality.

For Akindipe, The Twist represents the direction in which Ace Real Estate is moving: towards developments that are not simply built to be occupied, but thoughtfully created around how people want to live, connect and invest.

Beyond Real Estate

Akindipe’s ambitions for Ace Real Estate extend beyond the developments the company delivers.

In 2022, he established Ace Academy, a corporate social initiative focused on equipping young Nigerians with practical skills.

Since its establishment, more than 31,000 people have graduated from Ace Academy completely free of charge.

The initiative sits alongside Ace Real Estate’s commercial growth and reflects a broader belief that the success of a company should not be measured solely by the scale of its projects, but also by the opportunities it creates.

As the company expands, investing in people remains part of that vision.

What Comes Next

The next chapter is already taking shape.

Construction on The Twist, Victoria Island is set to commence in September and is expected to run for approximately 36 months.

For Ace Real Estate, it marks the point at which years of planning and ambition begin to take physical form.

The project arrives at a significant moment for the company, which is expanding its footprint across Africa while taking on increasingly ambitious developments at home.

Victoria Island is changing, and The Twist is Ace Real Estate’s contribution to that changing landscape.

For Ayobami Akindipe, the project is not simply about adding another building to the skyline.

It is about creating an address that brings together the things modern buyers increasingly value: location, experience, convenience and long-term investment potential.

And as construction begins, The Twist, Victoria Island will offer the clearest view yet of where Ace Real Estate is headed next.

For more information about The Twist, Victoria Island, including its features and amenities, visit TheTwistLagos.com or call +234 911 111 1771 or +234 911 111 1772.