Ruth Obih- Lawyer, Serial Entrepreneur and CEO of 3Invest Ltd.

Ruth Obih is the founder and chief executive officer of 3Invest Ltd, an emerging technology-driven real estate and infrastructure investment company specialised in providing acquisition, disposition and investment service through a network-based platform to developers and investors looking to invest in real estate and infrastructure.

With an amazing track record in Real Estate strategy & marketing, Ruth continues to shift boundaries and make impact in her space. For her outstanding accomplishments in business, she was recognized by Forbes magazine and profiled as “different” in 2012. In the same year, she also received the Fortis MFB Award for Aspiring Business Person of the Year.

A trained lawyer, the leading lady graduated from the Imo State University and the Nigerian Law School, Lagos, before proceeding to the UK to study courses in fashion designing. Versatility at its best you’d agree.

While in the UK, Ruth passed the Qualified Lawyers Transfer test which made her eligible to practice both in London and the UK. One would expect that, that would have boosted her desire for real law practice, but while interning in a UK based law firm, whose main line of practice was real estate, her passion for real estate soared and gained huge expression and shortly after that, in 2007, she returned to Nigeria to launch her real estate company 3invest.

Few years down the line, she started “3Invest Intelligence”, an innovative division of the company focused on real estate media and advocacy. Through the medium, the power lady has succeeded in mentoring and empowering young men and women to make wise investment decisions, via the platform, 3investonline.com.

Ruth remembers how she was earlier denied a visa to travel to the UK for a Masters degree in Oil & Gas Law. That strengthened her resolve to further seek greatness and looking back today; she affirms strongly that in every disappointment indeed lies a blessing.

The focused entrepreneur is also the anchor of the bi-weekly radio programme, Real Estate ON AIR, where she talks about entrepreneurship and her journey to the top of the real estate business ladder in Nigeria.

“The real estate industry is male-dominated but as a woman in their midst, it strengthens me because though I may act like a man because of the nature of the business, I can think like a woman which is who I am. Knowing who you are and what you want to achieve is highly important. You don’t have to appear as being weak because you are a woman; you can achieve great heights and do the seemingly impossible if only you believe.” She says in an interview with businessday online.

Ruth has also organized several real estate conferences, to change the norm and genuinely educate and entertain investors.

When asked how she combines law, advocacy and real estate, she says clearly that being a lawyer has made her a good talker and broadened her scope; making it possible for her to fit in and thrive in every space. She ends by affirming to bellanaija thus; “The best thing that happened to me is still being a lawyer. I have the choice today to open my eyes and I see myself in one penthouse office running a big law firm and still calling the shots at 3Invest.”

In all of this, the power woman admits that she didn’t foresee herself wearing the real estate shoes or occupying the position she has now. At first, it wasn’t a passion, her only driving force was the need to make money and be in the industry. But as she progressed, she realized the many challenges associated with succeeding in the industry and that inspired her to begin to think more passionately about real estate.

Ruth encourages other women to sit up, face there challenges and step out to impact there world. “Life is filled with challenges, yet you must keep moving. You can’t afford to lose focus or get discouraged because of certain situations that pose themselves as threats. Prove your worth and let your work speak for you. Go the extra mile and put your effort in what you are called to do, at the end of it, you will have reasons to smile. You can’t afford to lose hope because the world awaits your manifestation.”

Her all-time success secret is encapsulated in a few words, “I strive for excellence, I strive for good work; when all these are done, every other thing works out.”