"
From Highrise to Rubbles: When the Structure Collapses on Its Own Builder
Every great idea begins with passion. Every structure begins with a foundation. And every dream, no matter how noble, depends on the people who believe in it. But sometimes, the tragedy lies not in external sabotage, but in a structure collapsing under the weight of its own neglect — while the builder is still inside.
A few years ago, I was part of a project that started with promise and purpose. Though I joined as a subordinate to someone of more experience, I quickly found myself immersed in the thick of things. Alongside a few others, we poured our energy into building something that took the city by storm. The early days were filled with enthusiasm, innovation, and teamwork. We weren’t just building a business; we were shaping a vision.
Then, as success began to blossom, something changed. Opinions that once mattered became dismissed. The environment that once encouraged creativity became toxic with suspicion and manipulation. We found ourselves victims of a divide-and-rule strategy — colleagues no longer knew who was a true teammate or a hidden informant. Every action taken in the interest of progress became a fault. You could be blamed for doing the right thing if it bruised the wrong ego.
Then came the era of the so-called “special advisers” — people whose ideas looked perfect on paper but crumbled in practice. Yet, those ideas took center stage. The same people who built the foundation were suddenly treated as expendable. Still, we stayed — not out of weakness, but out of loyalty to the dream we helped create. Deep down, however, everything was wrong.
One by one, key members of the pioneering team began to leave. For every departure, there was either no suitable replacement or an overhyped one. The energy changed, the passion faded, and what was once a thriving structure began to crack. Eventually, I too left — not because I didn’t believe in what we built, but because I could no longer breathe in a place that no longer believed in its own builders.
The building stood tall for a while, but without its foundation — without its people — it started to sink. The structure eventually collapsed, even while its original builder was still inside.
That experience taught me a valuable lesson: no structure, no matter how grand, can stand if it forgets those who built it. Success is not just in ideas or infrastructure — it’s in people. When leadership begins to silence its builders, suspicion replaces trust, and ego replaces vision, the fall becomes inevitable.
Yesterday, as I listened to Dr. Yinka Ayefele speak during the commencement of Fresh FM Nigeria’s 10th anniversary, I couldn’t help but reflect. He spoke passionately about how deliberate he has been in branding and appreciating his staff. It hit me deeply — that’s exactly what many organizations fail to do.
Ayefele described himself as “the boss of bosses,” and truly, there’s no lie there. He understands that when you celebrate your people, you multiply your strength. His deliberate investment in his staff is visible in their loyalty, excellence, and growth. Those who worked with him and leveraged the brand have become remarkable successes themselves. That’s leadership — empowering others, not suppressing them.
Every leader, every founder, every dreamer should learn from that. Build people as you build your vision. Celebrate them, trust them, and make them part of your legacy. Because when people feel valued, they protect what they helped create. But when you tear them down, the very walls you built together will one day come crashing down — with you still inside.
At the end of the day, the strength of any highrise lies not in its height, but in the hearts of those who built it.