Dr Stephen Akintayo, chairman of real estate company Gtext Holdings and investment coach, has defended his $18,000 mentorship programme following heavy criticism on social media.
The programme was announced earlier this week on Facebook. It promises participants access to exclusive investment opportunities, monthly one-on-one coaching, networking events, and all 45 of his published books, among other benefits.
“If you ever wanted to be mentored by me, here’s the best news you’ll see today,” Akintayo wrote in his announcement.
“For the first time ever, I am opening up 10 exclusive slots for my One-on-One Mentorship Program for a special price of $18,000 instead of the $20,000.”
He also offered a payment plan, stating, “For today, pay just N2.5 million and spread the balance over 12 months.”
The announcement drew backlash from online users who questioned the cost of the programme, prompting Akintayo to respond in multiple follow-up posts.
In one post on Friday, he addressed the critics directly, writing, “3 Slot left in the 18,000usd coaching discount. As for Critics ; Only players are paid not Fans. Let me keep playing and you keep fanning.”
He also made light of the backlash in another post, writing, “Now that I Am Trending on FB! I need advice on what I can sell to my draggers that’s cheaper than 18k USD, since that the course of this dragging. Any Product advice? Graggise too, can advise, please.”
Akintayo further suggested the criticism had worked in his favour, saying, “Dragging, cheapest way to Market. Marketing Team said with 100k USD in FB advert we couldn’t have gotten this visibility. How can we keep this for 1 week as sales has rising in last 30 hours? How do I keep the graggers?”
To buttress his point, Akintayo shared a testimony from a young beneficiary of his mentorship.
“He made N20 million at 23. Dropped out in SS2. And still said: ‘Dr. Stephen, I need your mentorship.’ That moment reminded me — it’s not about how much you have or the degrees you hold. It’s about your mindset,” he wrote.
“Because even the wealthy invest in their thinking, not just their pockets. Your mind is your greatest asset — sharpen it, stretch it, and surround it with wisdom. Success doesn’t respond to background; it responds to growth. DSA!”
