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Tag: Yemi Edun

  • Yemi Edun congratulates Adesina on prestigious Kenyan honour

    Yemi Edun congratulates Adesina on prestigious Kenyan honour

    Founder and director of Daniel Ford International, Yemi Edun, has congratulated the President of the African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina on receiving Kenya’s highest national honor, the Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart.

    In a statement he personally signed, Edun said Dr Adesina’s ’s visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to Africa’s economic transformation have earned him the well-deserved recognition. 

    According to him, Adesina’s dedication to agricultural innovation, infrastructure development, and financial empowerment continues to shape the continent’s future, creating opportunities for millions.

    He said, “As a leader who has consistently championed sustainable growth and prosperity across Africa, Dr. Adesina’s impact is truly inspiring. This honor is a testament to his tireless work in fostering economic resilience and development. 

    “We celebrate this remarkable achievement and look forward to witnessing his continued contributions to Africa’s progress.”

    In his remarks following the honor, Dr. Adesina recognized and recommended Yemi Edun as one of the foremost property experts in London and a trusted professional for those looking to invest in the city’s real estate market. 

    The endorsement further solidifies Edun’s reputation as a leading figure in the UK property industry, known for his expertise, integrity, and commitment to delivering exceptional results for clients.

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    “Yemi Edun is a trailblazer in the UK real estate sector, celebrated as the first Black member of the Propertymark board. As the Founder and Director of Daniel Ford International, a premier property acquisition firm based in London, he has built a reputation for excellence in real estate investment, property management, and consultancy. 

    “Under his leadership, Daniel Ford International has facilitated multi-million-pound investments, helping clients navigate the complexities of the UK and international property markets. 

    “Edun is also a passionate advocate for increasing diversity and inclusion in the real estate sector, working to bridge the gap for underrepresented communities in property ownership and investment.

    “Daniel Ford International remains committed to supporting initiatives that drive sustainable investment and economic advancement across Africa and beyond”, the statement read in part.

  • Nigerian-Born Yemi Edun named among Britain’s most influential black people for fifth year

    Nigerian-Born Yemi Edun named among Britain’s most influential black people for fifth year

    Nigerian-born property mogul Yemi Edun has been named on the 2025 list of Britain’s Most Influential Black People for the fifth consecutive year, in recognition of his contributions to the growth and development of the Black community and the United Kingdom.

    Based in the UK, Edun is the Founder and CEO of Daniel Ford & Co and Daniel Ford International, companies renowned for their portfolio of high-end London real estate. Beyond his business success, Edun is also celebrated for his dedicated philanthropic efforts.

    The prestigious list, launched in 2007, is voted on by an independent panel of judges and aims to highlight Black role models across various industries, inspiring young people. 

    It annually honors individuals excelling in fields such as tech, business, sports, science, and the arts.

    Edun’s Daniel Ford International, one of the capital’s leading property acquisition consultancies has successfully sourced and acquired more than £650million of residential property for private clients.

    He has entered the community housing sector with the launch of Daniel Ford Developments, aiming to build more than 40 ‘high quality’ units in the short-term leading to rapid expansion over the next five years.

    In October 2023, Edun published his debut book, The Number One Mission, “which delves into the intricate diplomatic relationship between the United Kingdom and Nigeria”.

    Read Also: Yemi Edun: Why I’m sponsoring table tennis tournament

    The book which has been described as a “tribute to Nigeria and Nigerians in the UK” has all proceeds from the sale donated to charitable causes.

    Edun’s gesture that got attention was his sponsoring of the Under-18 Daniel Ford Table Tennis Championships, a two-day tournament in Lagos, Nigeria, which was recognised by the International Table Tennis Federation. 

    He said the aim of the competition was to elevate the profile of the sport and provide a platform for young talents to showcase their skills and pursue their athletic aspirations.

    Addittionally, Edun is a long-time sponsor of the Central St Martins Fine Art Auction and runs a lecture series where inspirational leaders from the black community speak at local schools. It launched in 2021 with the first black Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, addressing the London Academy of Excellence in Tottenham.

    Edun’s NGO, Action for Change and Empowerment (ACE), supports charities in Nigeria and brings together professionals from different industries to use their resources to help the vulnerable.

  • Yemi Edun: Why I’m sponsoring table tennis tournament

    Yemi Edun: Why I’m sponsoring table tennis tournament

    United Kingdom-based Nigeria-born property expert and Managing Director and Founder of Daniel Ford International, Yemi Edun is venturing into table tennis and not as a player but as a financier of the first Daniel Ford International Elite Youth Championships taking place in Lagos on December 21 to 22.

    The property magnate’s interest in table tennis was borne out of his experience while growing up in the Surulere area of Lagos where the sport was popular among the residents particularly having watched the legendary exploits of former African and Commonwealth champion Atanda Musa in the early 1980s, OLALEKAN OKUSAN writes

    Yemi Edun is synonymous with the property business in London and his firm – Daniel Ford International is one of the leading firms in UK but Edun is also passionate about philanthropy and giving back and this has inspired his decision to bankroll the maiden Daniel Ford International Elite Youth Championships – a two-day table tennis tournament for youngsters across Nigeria.

    Explaining his rationale behind the tournament, Edun said: “Table tennis was widely played at homes and on the streets growing up, but I also lived in Surulere, which was and still is, to some extent, the sports capital of Nigeria. In fact, the National Stadium is also known as Sports City, and my growth in this section of the country made me acutely aware of all things sport, including table tennis. Aside from that, I grew up during a period when table tennis legends like Atanda Musa were routinely featured on the front pages of national newspapers.

    “To expand on my initial comment, table tennis was an enormously accessible sport. A disused door and broken bits of wood were suitable entry points, with the balls fondly referred to as eggs by us back then due to their appearance and mild fragility.

    However, the sport’s accessibility and non-aggressive nature made it a family cantered sport, which meant that most Nigerian households, regardless of class, had a tennis table in some form or another.

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    So, with that said, there is a nostalgic look back to the glory days of table tennis, as well as an undying love and passion for the sport. We believe that the missing link or void is competition, and that is what we are attempting to bridge by introducing competition into the equation, which we believe will fan the flames that are still present and make it even better.

    On whether he hopes to make it a long-haul, he said: “If the anticipated passion and interest remains, we will consider making it even bigger and for a much longer period of time. In this scenario, the assistance would be long-term.

    “To enrich the existing talent pool and provide opportunities for talent to shine. We also believe it would be something that is suitable for the festive season, a good way to round up the year.

    “In the long run, we hope it will be something that opens annually 4 – 5 days before Christmas, and what better way to end the year than with a well-attended and well-organized competition that can only benefit the game, players and community at large. It may also be able to keep some kids off the streets

    “Our objective is to elevate table tennis’s place in Nigeria’s sporting hierarchy and, ideally, bring it back to the times when it was frequently featured in the media.

    “A Nigerian is currently ranked among the top 20 in the world, and I think we can do much better if we show more support for the game,” added Edun.