Nigeria’s real estate industry is well believed to be a male-dominated one, but as of now, the sector has witnessed the influx of top Nigerian women who are investing heavily in property, thereby, contributing to housing development. With the sector growing fast and wide, these outstanding women deserve accolades.
Mrs Folorunsho Alakija
Mrs Alakija who is the Africa’s richest woman, aside being a big time investor in Oil and Gas sector, has embarked on big real estate projects and is doing very well.
She has taken real estate by storm. And over the last few years, she’s developed more than 4 mouth-watering projects in Ikoyi and Victoria Island, Lagos.
Her new project on Kingsway Road, Ikoyi (adjacent Ikoyi registry), called Famfa Oil Towers is the talk of the town. The developer of the project is Dayspring Property Development Company. The project when completed will be the most expensive building in Nigeria. It’s a 22 floor edifice that will cost a whopping 60 billion naira.
Dr. HANNATU FIKA
Dr. Hannatu Fika is the former Executive Secretary of Federal Government Staff Housing Loans Board (FGSHLB) and a winner of life time achievement award at the 2017 National Housing Awards (NHA) for her participation in the development of housing in Nigeria.
The issue of affordable housing has been at the bottom of her heart for years especially provision of houses for Federal Public Servants and this passion has continued to drive her at the Staff Housing Loans Board where she performed excellently well
SAADIYA ALIYU
Sa’adiya Aliyu has had a varied career in a number of roles, bringing her charasteric drive and inter-personal skills to every position she has occupied. Prior to starting work, she received a Bsc in Economics from Brunei University, following that up with an Msc in Finance and development from the School of African Studies (SOAS) in London.
In 2009, Sa’adiya joined Urban Shelter Limited as a senior Manager to the Chairman Office. In a role requiring a deft hand and a steady touch, she streamlined the operations of the Chairman’s office, increasing efficiency and productivity.
Her ambition for Urban Shelter includes affordable housing- for which she has a particular passion- and she seeks to provide innovative means for the delivery and payment of these structures.
Mrs Olukemi Olomola-Sijuwade,mni
She is the Managing Director/ Chief Executive officer of the Nigeria Police Force Property Development and Construction Company Limited (NPFPDCC).
She has over 20 years post-qualification experience in Real Estate cutting across both the local and foreign environment, which has helped to broaden her horizon and also exposed her to different cultural, religious and ethnic backgrounds. She occupies the position of Founder of Greenland Concepts Nigeria Limited, a Real Estate Development Company based in FCT, Abuja. She is also the Principal partner of KOS Legal Services, engaged in the provision of general legal and consulting services especially in Construction Law; offering company secretarial services to corporate bodies; and providing specialist support and advisory Services.
ADETOKE BENSON -AWOYINKA
She is the special adviser to Lagos State Governor on Housing. A Legal Practitioner that is grounded in different areas of the Law profession ranging from Insurance Law including Underwriting policies, Risk and Claims Management. She also possesses expertise in Litigation, Probate and Land matters.
She worked variously at Sprint United – a Telecommunication Company in the United States as a Lawyer and Technical Consultant; Head of Corporate Strategy and Policy implementation at Dvyn Inc. also in the United States.
On her return to Nigeria, armed with a wealth of experience in policy making and implementation, she was part of the team that crafted the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) seeking Pillars of development for Western Nigeria that fits into the peculiarities as a region.
Imeh Okon, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Infrastructure
Imeh is the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Infrastructure, an Infrastructure Policy Development and Implementation Expert; with 18 years’ experience in various sector reforms and public private transactions.
Imeh began her career at the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE)in 2002, where she was a key member on the team that successfully privatized 23 terminals of the Nigeria Seaports. She was a member of the 7-man team mandated from the BPE to operationalize the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission in 2005. In addition to serving in the committee that articulatedthe 25 year Nigeria Railway Masterplan, Imeh also participated in the reform work for the Aviation, Inland waterways, River Basins, Railways, Electricity, and the Oil and Gas Sector.
In 2010, she joined the United States Mission in Abuja as Project Manager, Energy and Climate change. In 2013, she was appointed the In-Country Manager of the United StatesPresidential Initiative-Power Africa. Power Africa is PresidentBarack Obama’s signature development program designed to increase access to electricity to sub Saharan Africa. Nigeria was the lead country of the Presidential Initiative.
At USAID, Imeh successfully expanded the Energy portfolio using a start-up fund of USD 1,000,000 in 2010 to over USD 100,000,000 in 6 years leveraging over USD 2.5 billion of private sector investments. She conceptualized the design of the USD 90 million capital expenditure credit enhancement facility for an international commercial bank to increase access to finance for the privatized successor electricity companies. She also conceptualized and designed the USD 5million Renewable Energy credit enhancement facility for local commercial banks to increase access to finance for the Renewable Energy Sector. Both credit enhancement facilities were backed by the United States Treasury. Furthermore, Imeh designed the Loss Reduction Technical Assistance program for the Distribution Companies, which led to a 20% reduction in commercial and collection losses from the aggregate 60% for Eko, Abuja, Benin and Ikeja Distribution Companies.
She also articulated the process for the design of the Gas Flare Reduction and Commercialization Program, being implemented by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company. In addition, Imeh was identified and listed as one of the key success factors for Azura Energy, the first post reform private sector led electricity project to reach financial close in 2016, and complete construction in 2018.
For several years, she provided strategic direction and oversaw the successful implementation of all components of the Power Africa portfolio in Nigeria, which also provided technical support to enhance the activities of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, the Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Company, and the Transmission Company of Nigeria.
In her 7.8 years at USAID, she has won 11 Awards and in 2016, won the award for the Best Staff of the United States Mission in Nigeria. The renewable energy and the capital expenditure credit enhancement facilities program won the Nigeria mission an award for the best development program in the Energy sector.
Prior to her USAID experience, Imeh worked at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs in New York. At the UN, she was a member of the team that prepared the World Youth Report on Climate Change, 2008. She has published articles in International Energy Journals and has written several research-based articles on energy, climate change and the environment.
Imeh was inaugurated in 2010 into the Nigeria Leadership Initiative (NLI). The NLI is a platform for highly accomplished leaders (Fellows) and emerging leaders (Associates) to develop an understanding and appreciation of the roots of their values, and the importance of values-based leadership in the transformation of countries and societies.
In her current position as SSA–P, Infrastructure, she leads work on the Road and Housing Sector as well as on Public Private Partnerships. Her aim is to develop strategies to address shortcomings in the policy, legislative and regulatory environment, to allow the increased flow of private sector finance for infrastructure development. She has developed a transparent framework on which all government Investments in Infrastructure are articulated for public awareness, outlined a potential regulation which the government can use to address the proliferation of abandoned Federal Government projects, engaged the private sector on the design of a Credit Enhancement Framework to de-risk investment in Infrastructure projects and further coordinated the task team which proposed the framework to leverage Pension Funds for the Mortgage sector.
Imeh conceptualized a partnership with the private sector, Ministry of Works and Housing to facilitate the harmonization of all extant initiatives currently being implemented by different stakeholders in the housing sector into a Single National Housing Strategy. The Strategy will harmonize the interests of all stakeholders in the housing and mortgage sectors value chain, chart an implementable roadmap for affordable housing delivery and offtake, and facilitate the resolution of the long-standing housing gap in the country. Her goal is to ensure that Nigerians, no matter their income and social status are housed for an improved quality of life and are able to drive on safe roads.
An alumnus of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, the London Business School, the London School of Economics, the Lagos Business School, the Graduate School of Business University of Capetown, the Martin–Luther University Halle Wittenberg, Germany and the University of Dundee. Imeh holdsa Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration, a Master of Science Degree in Energy Studies and an LLM in Law in view.
MERCY TORKWASE IYORTYER
In the quantity surveying profession, Mrs. Mercy Torkwase Iyortyer is a woman of many firsts. She was the first female Quantity Surveyor in the Northern Region of Nigeria, the first female chairperson of a chapter in NIQS (FCT Chapter), the Pioneer and Founding Chairperson of the Women Association of Quantity Surveyors (WAQSN), the first woman to represent the institute on the Council of the African Association of Quantity Surveyors, and first woman to be elected into the position of the Deputy President of the NIQS unopposed. Recently, she capped it all as the first female President after 46 years of the Institute’s existence.
CHINWE AJENE SAGNA
Chinwe is based in Lagos, Nigeria and is responsible for the delivery of a full spectrum of real estate services across West Africa. She has over 14 years’ experience and was previously head of the JLL French International Desk. she holds a Masters in Business Administration from Harvard Business School.
CHII AKPORJI
Chii Akporji is the Former Executive Director, Corporate Strategy & Planning, Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC)
She Coordinated the set up and operationalization of the NMRC, a mortgage refinance set up under a PPP framework to address the key constraint of access to long term finance in the primary and secondary mortgage markets in Nigeria to the growth of home ownership in Nigeria.
Prior to her position at the NMRC, Dr. Akporji had served as Senior Advisor/Chief of Staff to the former Nigerian Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy. Before her return to Nigeria, she had a successful 13 year career at the World Bank Group headquarters in Washington DC, where she worked on City Development Strategies (CDS) and Slum Upgrading (SU) programmes of several cities and municipal governments like Lagos, Rio de Janeiro, Manilla, Durban and Cairo. She is currently on the board of Shelter Afrique,Kenya.
MRS. JAYNE ONWUMERE
She is foremost realtor and the founder and Group Managing Director of PWAN Group, a Pan African real estate company.
Mrs Jayne is one of the real estate players who have positively contributed to the growth of the sector. Through the company (PWAN Group), she has provided affordable homes to over 5 thousand Nigerians, and she remains one of the top real estate players in Lagos
ICHECHI OKONKWO
Mrs Ichechi is the founder of Laundry King and CEO Dream Estate Limited, located in Lekki axis.
Her business is currently thriving as she handles some of the multimillion projects of her husband. Her husband is the CEO of Nedcomoaks Limited, a foremost property development company. Mrs Ichechi’s property company is also providing necessary information on where to buy good houses in the Lekki axis.
Mrs Elizabeth Grace
She is the Founder of popular Lagos property company, GodMade Homes. It is a property development company that has done a lot in the last few years it started.
GodMade Homes focuses on the highbrow areas like Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Lekki and they also have projects at Gbagada estate. They recently launched another big project in Parkview Estate, Ikoyi called Elizabeth Grace Court: it’s a multimillion naira project. It’s currently selling to Lagosians who are interested.
Mrs Sade Gbadamosi
She is a top female player who has distinguished herself in the real estate sector. She is the founder of Amen Estate and Financial Director of her husband’s property development company, Redbricks Homes International Limited.
Mrs Sade is the wife of Mr Babatunde Gbadamosi and they both co-run the company. Talk of luxury, class and elegant estate where celebrities live in Lagos, it’s Amen Estate and Mrs Sade Gbadamosi is the face behind the estate.
Olajumoke Akinwunmi
She co-founded Alitheia Capital in 2007, a Private Equity firm that recently closed
Africa’s first SME fund targeted at women owned/led businesses, and in 2010, founded Alitheia Capital Real Estate Limited, a Real Estate development, investment and advisory firm.
Her specific areas of focus include the delivery of development management and Real estate business information services and developing/implementing affordable housing programmes.
She has six years (up to 2019) of public service experience as Special Adviser Housing Development, General Manager of Ogun State Housing Corporation, Director General of the Bureau of Lands and Survey, and oversight of the Urban and Physical Planning and Approvals Processing. She was the also the interim-Managing Director of the Family Homes Funds, a Federal Government-backed housing program (2017-2018).
In previous roles she was Managing Director at Avante Property Asset Management Services, a subsidiary company of Ocean and Oil Holdings and was for eight years’ prior at Shell Nigeria Closed Pension Fund Administrators (then called Shell Trustees Nig. Ltd.) as Property Development Manager creating a portfolio of high-end residential assets in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja.
She has been a Director on the boards of Eko Development Company Ltd. and Gateway Mortgage Bank, and Independent Director at Purple Limited.
Jumoke trained as an architect earning a B.E.S and B. Arch (with a distinction in portfolio) from the University of Lagos and an MBA (specialisation in Project Management) from the University of Dundee, Scotland in 1989 and 1994 respectively.
Nuru Susan Nyerere-Inyangete
Nuru Susan Nyerere-Inyangete is an award-winning architect with a distinctive eye and dynamic working style. She is a British educated (BSc, BArch & MSc) chartered architect and member of the Royal Institute of British Architects –RIBA, Architects Registration Board of the UK (ARB) NIA Abuja Chapter and AQRB Tanzania Nuru is not only the recipient of a prestigious award and silver medal for excellence in design (the first-ever woman and black recipient) by Strathclyde Regional Council but her work has been published in the renowned British Building Design Journal twice. More than that, she has exhibited her work in the prestigious National Headquarters of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).
Nuru is the Managing Director of Epitome Developers Limited; a real estate development and consultancy company. Her love for sustainable but exceptional designs has ensured she’s created homes rather then houses. Amongst her impressive list of projects are an ambitious award winning 112 houses of 36 designs in Tanzania, an affordable housing project of 56 homes, and a high end residential project close to the prestigious Ibom hotel in Uyo currently in progress. Her passion doesn’t stop here. She is also project manager to family Homes Funds Limited for 650 affordable homes in Delta State. She is currently in the early design process of a massive project expected to include 100 sustainable community centers in villages throughout the continent. These passions have inspired her to expand her horizons, venturing into construction in order to maintain and control the high quality of her numerous projects. With over 25 years experience in the real Estate sector, her clients have included international organizations such as the World Bank, ILO, Various Embassies (US, UK, etc.), prestigious Banks, and renowned health organizations such as the CDC, Abbot Funds, KFW amongst others. Today, Nuru also holds various roles, namely, executive director of Epitome Architects Limited ; an exceptional firm with offices in Tanzania and Rwanda. She equally holds a number of directorship roles. As a Tanzanian married to a Nigerian, she strives to bring diversity to her business, always rooting it in her passion for quality sustainable designs, green architecture and affordable housing.
Mrs Medinah Huthman
A great real estate investor with vast estates development to her credit. She is a fellow of institute of chartered accountant of Nigeria. She is the former National Treasurer of Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria and the Executive Director, Hydraform Nig.limited
ISOKEN OMO
Isoken Omo is the current Executive Chairman of the Edo Development and Property Authority (EDPA).
Isoken also has experience as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of ACCOUTRE Investment and Development Company Ltd. An MBA holder from the University of Hull, United Kingdom. Isoken possesses a highly relevant, award-winning career spanning over 20 years in Finance and Investment Advisory and Real Estate, covering various sectors and global regions.
Prior to becoming CEO of AIDC, Isoken served as Head, Real Estate, Construction & Cement Sectors, Mainstreet Bank, Regional Head – Corporate Banking (North Central Region), Afribank Nigeria Plc where she won the best Region for Good Business Initiative Deal. She also headed the Infrastructure/Construction arm of Afribank Nigeria Plc. She is a member of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers
Chinwe Ohajuruka
Chinwe Ohajuruka is a Green Architect and Project Manager who is an ardent advocate for sustainability in the built environment. She is the CEO of Comprehensive Design Services (CDS), an innovation-focused organisation that stresses the importance of building Climate Resilience as a basis of all projects. She is successfully able to work globally through teamwork, technology and travel. In addition to her extensive architectural experience, Chinwe is a green building trainer and coach. Chinwe has worked on several award-winning projects in the United States & Nigeria. She was the 2015 Sub-Saharan African Laureate for the Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards in France. Chinwe holds a Master’s degree in Architecture from Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh, UK. She has also attained four Accreditations from the US, UK and South Africa Green Building Councils.
OLAJUMOKE ADENOWO
Olajumoke Adenowo, founder of AD Consulting, is a Nigerian Architect, Speaker, Radio Host, Philantropist and Author.
CNN has described her as “Africa’s Starchitect”. She has been featured in the World’s foremost Architectural Journal; Architectural Record and has spoken on several platforms including the Global Women’s Forum and Harvard Business School (African Business Club).
Olajumoke also hosts a Syndicated Radio show on Leadership called “Voice of Change”.
DR VIRGINIA ANOHU
She is the Nigerian Vice Chairman/CEO, MGSL, Nigeria. Dr Mrs Virgy Anohu is Nigeria’s leading Mortgage Banker and a very senior veteran pan-African Banker with top strategic management experiences from Diamond Bank, United Bank for Africa, First City Monument Bank, Guardian Express Bank and now Vice Chairman/ Chief Executive Officer of Mortgage Guaranty Savings and Loans Limited.
Dr. Anohu is on the board of Premium Pension Limited, a pension fund Administrator licensed under the Pension Reform Act 2004.
Dr. Mrs Anohu, an Aluminus of the Prestigious Harvard Business School Boston is a prolific writer, and has authored many works.
IFEOMA OKOYE
Ifeoma is a professional with over 20 years’ experience in start-up operations across human capital management, business development, business strategy, turnaround plans, process mapping and business re-engineering.
She holds a Master of Arts degree in Human Resources Management from Middlesex University Business School (UK).
She is a Chartered member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development(M.C.I.P.D) and a member of the Chartered Institute of Managers.
Ifeoma has a sound knowledge of real estate investment strategies and fund generation, with experience spanning developing sales, marketing communications and budget plans to implementing sound corporate governance structure for large corporates, SMEs in Nigeria and the UK. She is the Executive Director, Business Development at Brains and Hammers Limited.
LADY MARIA-GORETTI OMEGO
A seasoned banker with over twenty years experience. She holds a First Degree in Accounting from Loyola University, Chicago, United States of America and a Masters Degree in Management from the Imo State University Owerri, she is equally a Doctorate Degree candidate of the prestigious Madonna University Nigeria. She has since the formation of Mayfresh been its Managing Director and Chief Executive. She is a Member of the Nigeria Institute of Management.
ROSE OKWECHIME
Rose Ada Okwechime is the founder of Abbey Building Society PLC .
Mrs. Okwechime served in the Banking industry for over 24 years including time at the Bank of England. She serves as a Director of Abbey Building Society PLC. She served as Vice Chairperson of United Bank for Africa Plc since 2013. She has been a Non-Executive Director of United Bank for Africa Plc since July 2012. She served as a Director of United Bank for Africa Plc from August 1, 2005 to May 2010. She served as a Non-Executive Director of Standard Trust Bank Plc. She has at least 8 notable awards to her credit in recognition of her achievements and contributions to womanhood. Mrs. Okwechime holds a Masters degree in Banking and Finance.
RUBY I. OKORO
Ruby Okoro has a BSc (Hons) in International Relations with a Second Class (Upper), a Masters Degree (MSc) in Public Administration as well as International Certification in Credit, Risk Management, Investment and Mortgage Banking. She has a wealth of financial experience and expertise in Retail, Commercial, Investment and Mortgage Banking with over 25 years of local and International experience with notable Banks and Other Financial Institutions such as Citibank (Nigeria), FCMB (Nigeria) Bank of Montreal (Canada) as well as Mortgage Alliance Company also in Canada. She is a Licensed Mortgage and Investment Specialist in Canada and a registered member of several professional bodies such as the Real Estate Council of Alberta (RECA) Canada, Alberta Mortgage Brokers Association (AMBA) Canada, Investment Specialist (ISC) Canada and Nigerian Institute of Corporate Administration.
She is currently the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Delta Trust Mortgage Bank Ltd.
TOSIN AJOSE
Tosin is a Solicitor with a great commercial mind, excellent analytical skills and vast transactional experience that spans across construction, real estate, finance, capital markets and corporate commercial.
She is a key member of DETAIL’s real estate and construction practice and actively engaged in recent regulatory efforts at financing real estate projects via the capital market. She has recently advised on UPDC’s 30B REIT transaction, the setting up of a <1.3B Private Real Estate Co-ownership scheme, the recapitalization of Intercontinental Homes PLC and the setting up of the Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Company.
She is a member of the Real Estate Lawyers Association of Nigeria.
FLORA ANNE
Flora Anne is a Presenter, Producer and Broadcaster. She hosts the popular Housing Development Programme on African Independent Television (AIT ) and on Television continental. (TVC)
She is an Executive Director of Abuja international Housing show ( Largest hou sing event in Africa).
This successful media Practitioner advocates for the provision of affordable housing to Nigerians through her weekly TV Programme. She is a motivational speaker, script writer and a go-getter. She has at various time received the presidential merit awards of Nigeria institute of Building, Nigeria institute of quantity surveyors and that of Nigeria Housing Awards.
HAJIA AISHA DAHIR UMAR
She is the Acting Director of the Pension Commission (PENCOM) of Nigeria. She was a facility Manager with her background in History prior to becoming the acting DG, she is presently acting pending the confirmation of the DG Designate by the Senate. She is renowned in the real estate sector as an advocate of the policy to allow pension usage by husband and wife as a down payment for home purchase.
ENGR. BECKY DAMILOLA OKE
Engr. Becky Damilola Oke is a Managing Director at Bstan Construction Limited with head office in Lagos.
She heads a Company that is an indigenous and professional construction infrastructure development outfit with world class expertise in Real Estate Development and Global Reinvestments.
SALIMA MAKAMA
Salima Makama is the Managing Director of Shelterplus Nigeria Limited, a comprehensive real estate firm, headquartered in Abuja with branches in Niger State, providing comprehensive commercial and residential real estate services for individuals and Organisations.
Shelterplus has undertaken numerous construction projects and specialist works for both private and public sector clients, chief amongst which are the construction of office complexes, school compounds and staff residential estates for several government agencies.
EWUWUNI ONNOGHEN-THEOPHILUS
She is a Lawyer and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. She was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2008 and holds a Bachelor of Laws degree (LL.B) from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State. Ewuwuni also holds a Master of Laws degree (LL.M) in Construction Law from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
She is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, UK, Nigeria Branch (MCIArb), a Certified Negotiator (Programme on Negotiation, Harvard Law School) and a member of the Society of Construction Law for Africa. She is also a Member, Panel of Neutrals, Cross River State MultiDoor Court House; Member, Panel of Neutrals, Bayelsa State MultiDoor Court House; Member, Panel of Neutrals, Delta State MultiDoor Court House..
She is the author of the first Nigerian book on Construction Law titled “Construction Law in Nigeria” and is a leading legal authority on the sector.
HAJIA BINTA IBRAHIM
Hajia Binta Ibrahim currently serves as the Financial Secretary of the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN). Her Association aims to effectively represent the members to achieve their corporate objectives and to effectively carry on their business as agents of development by ensuring public appreciation of the importance of REDAN and efforts it is making to meet the housing needs of Nigerians. The Association also aims to ensure balanced national legislative, regulatory and fiscal policy to provide the enabling framework and environment for effective housing delivery.
RAHIMATU AMINA-ALIYU
Rahimatu Amina-Aliyu is the Executive Director, Loans and Mortgage Services at the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN). Hajia Rahimatu Aminu-Aliyu is a versatile Legal practitioner with specialty in Finance, Property and International Law. She is an articulate and persuasive negotiator with track record of resolving complex disputes and securing long term funding. Her career goal is to ensure that development is inclusive and sustainable.
Ruth Obih-Obuah
She is a lawyer and a versatile entrepreneur. She is the founder of 3INVEST a Real Estate Company serving real estate owners, investors, developers and occupiers globally. In January 2011, she started 3Invest Intelligence, a division of the 3Invest Limited that focuses on real estate media and advocacy. She also anchors a bi-weekly radio programme Real Estate On-Air on Classic 97.3 FM and Beat 99.9 FM, both in Lagos.
She was named ‘Aspiring Business Person’ in 2012 by the National Youth Economic Council for her exploits in increasing awareness of possibilities in real estate investment.
Quo Ikpeme
She has been involved in the acquisition, development, finance and marketing of real estate developments for the past 20 years where she worked with various real estate development companies involved in hotel, residential and commercial developments.
She is currently the Chief Operating Officer of Rock of Ages Properties Plc where she is leading a team of very dynamic professional in developing over 700 hectares of land into different asset types in major cities in Nigeria. Prior to working with Rock of Ages Properties Plc, she was Chief Operating Officer of Moorhouse Properties Limited, a Hotel development company where she led the team to develop a 200 room Ibis Hotel in Ikeja. At some time during her professional career at Lionstone Group as VP Development and African Capital Alliance Real Estate division, she worked on various hotel developments including the Golden Tulip Hotels, various Protea hotel developments in Nigeria and the Southern Sun Ikoyi Hotel.
She has an MBA from the University of Surrey and a B. Sc in Economics from the University of Ibadan
Mrs. Adeniun Taiwo
She is the acting managing Director of UPDC. Taiwo is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria.
She has a professional certificate in IFRS from ACCA and holds a Higher National Diploma in Accountancy from The Federal Polytechnic Ilaro.
She is an alumnus of Ashridge Business School. Prior to joining UAC in 2012, she had worked in KPMG Nigeria for 13 years where she rose to become a Senior Manager, in Accounting Advisory Function and Internal Audit Risk and Compliance.
She has led a number of engagements in internal and statutory audit services, corporate governance, risk management and accounting assistance services.
Her experience cuts across oil and gas, financial services, consumer markets, telecommunications and the public sector.
Imeh Okon
Imeh is the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Infrastructure, an Infrastructure Policy Development and Implementation Expert; with 18 years’ experience in various sector reforms and public private transactions.
In her current position as SSA–P, Infrastructure, she leads work on the Road and Housing Sector as well as on Public Private Partnerships.
Imeh conceptualized a partnership with the private sector, Ministry of Works and Housing to facilitate the harmonization of all extant initiatives currently being implemented by different stakeholders in the housing sector into a Single National Housing Strategy. The Strategy will harmonize the interests of all stakeholders in the housing and mortgage sectors value chain, chart an implementable roadmap for affordable housing delivery and offtake, and facilitate the resolution of the long-standing housing gap in the country. Her goal is to ensure that Nigerians, no matter their income and social status are housed for an improved quality of life and are able to drive on safe roads.
Olufunmilayo Atinuke Odia
Olufunmilayo Atinuke Odia is a certified Project Manager and the Executive Director of the Millard Fuller Foundation, a faith-driven organization which promotes collaborative and innovative partnerships with individuals & organizations in an unrelenting quest to provide, on a sustainable basis, affordable housing for all people in need.
Between 1977-1982, Olufunmilayo attended the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, where she obtained a B.Sc. in Architecture, after which she proceeded to the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where she obtained an M.Sc. in Architecture in 1984.
A member of the Nigerian Institute of Architects and a 2013 Project Management Professional (PMP), she has attended several courses which include Project Management Masterclass course Abuja (2012), Certified Associate in Project Management Exam Prep Course South Africa (2014), Mini MBA London School of Business and Finance (2018), Nigerian Finance Training Programme on Solar Energy & Energy Efficiency (2020), Housing Finance Course for Sub-Saharan Africa (2021).
As the Executive Director (Projects) of the Millard Fuller Foundation, Olufunmilayo has supervised the delivery of close to 1,000 housing units while ensuring the projects are delivered according to specifications. She has also been involved in the submission of project capital and funding applications, working with the management team to develop and implement corporate strategy, reporting at board level on project performance, while working directly with the CEO of the Millard Fuller Foundation to ensure that organizational goals are met by heads of departments of finance, community development, legal/administration and marketing and communication.
With over 35 years of work experience, she is presently leading a team of 15 project and procurement officers to ensure the timely delivery of the Reall UK-funded Grand Luvu 3B Estate, a project comprising of 240 housing units with infrastructure at Masaka, near Abuja.
Her hobbies and other abilities include excellent formal written communication skills, good strategic thinking and analysis, and walking her Alsatian dogs. She is married with two children and blessed with a grandson.
Dr Banke Abejirin
Dr Banke Abejirin is the Strategy and Business Performance Manager at Family Homes Funds Limited and oversees the Social and Environmental initiatives of the organization. She is a Development Economist with a PhD in Urban Planning from Columbia University, and a Master’s in City Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where she focused on International Development. She has worked as a Strategy Consultant with Dalberg Global Development Advisors where she advised various public and private sector clients on critical socio-economic and developmental issues, and also consulted for the United Nations. She is broadly interested in Africa’s industrialisation, industrial and social policies, the informal economy, and the dynamics of poverty and inequality in developing countries.
Agathachristie B. N. Irabor. MNIA, ARCON, SMIPDM
Is a seasoned Architect with over 20years experience successfully managing and delivering projects in highly complex and political setting in an emerging economy. CEO of Beseh Planning and Developers and COO of Neelds Realty a real estate firm whose mandate is delivering automated, energy efficient and sustainable buildings for the ecocentric. She is a Registered Member of the Nigerian Institute of Architects NIA, Licensed to Practice by the Architect’s Registration Council of Nigeria ARCON, a Senior Member of the Chartered Institute of Public Diplomacy and Management CIPDM and a member of the Interior Designers Association of Nigeria.
Currently the Secretary of the Female Architects of Nigeria and member of the Admission Committee of the Nigerian Institute of Architects. Accreditor( National Board of Technical Education) – Kaduna Polytechnic Nov. 2018.
She is experienced at leading complex project teams using multi-disciplinary and exceptional persuasive skills, thriving in pressurized settings, while staying abreast of new trends and global best practices through on-going education and immersion. She has delivered over 100 housing units for the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, supervising, monitoring, evaluating controlled projects by adopting flexible methods, which ensured the Bank got value for money spent and the beneficiaries got structures fit for purpose by ensuring developers adhered to HSE policy as well as Quality Control Specifications at various stages of construction. Transaction Advisory/ Risk Management for Caritas Foundation of Nigeria on an 80 units Staff Housing terraced duplex Project. Designed a 1000 Housing project for Agric & Allied Workers of Nigeria, a PPP project, as well as carrying out Transaction Advisory activities/ Risk Management for a 500 Housing units project for Niger State Government of Nigeria on behalf of Petters Pedigree LTD.
She has been an Independent Supervisor/ Monitor for the World Health Organization WHO as an Ad-hog staff for the eradication Polio in the world.
With a Masters of Science in Architecture from the University of Jos, certificates in Humanitarian Shelter and Settlement, Procurement and Logistics Certificate- Chartered Institute of logistics & transport /Mercy Corps/ Disasterready, Developing and Delivering TVET through the Private Sector – British Council /Association of Employment and Learning Providers (aelp) – Manchester, United Kingdom, Transaction Advisory and Gender Australian Awards and Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission of Nigeria, Introduction to Energy Audits in Buildings – Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP)/ Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). Agathachristie has a few academic works to her name.
Mrs Lauretta Odusolu
Mrs Lauretta Odusolu is the Group Executive Director of Octo 5 Holdings Limited a Real estate and services firm that amongst its many notable achievements developed, built and currently manages Ocean Bay Estate (a 250 unit housing estate by the Chevron Toll Gate) and Heritage Place Estate by the Novare Mall Sangotedo.
As Acting MD of the firm she oversaw the construction , development and management of the companies properties as well as those of other organizations from the onset of construction to the handing over of the homes and subsequent management of the properties .
Over the course of the last 18 years she has had impact in managing and maintaining properties of varying sizes and degrees inclusive of the utility grids of these properties. As well as offering home advisory consultation services under the auspices of the firms property management arms as well as trained its client, facility executives and security Professionals to deliver excellent services to her clients
She is also the Director of RAM Security, a licensee private guards company and FM company that provides guards to estates , corporations individuals which include but are not limited to Zinox Computers offices in Lagos and Abuja, Interior Options, DOII, DHL offices , Sandiland Arcade, Lake view estate, Ocean Bay estate Vantage Hospital and many others. RAMs primary objective is to ensure that clients homes and offices are secured by trained professional guards who are managed by a team of competent professionals led by her CSOs who are ex military officials. Using technology to deliver facility management and security solutions that make it easier for her clients .
She has just recently explored her passion for all things home by starting a lifestyle, home decor and table ware business called Laura Bentley Lifestyle which caters to the woman or man who desires their home to truly reflect their personality and style
Mrs Odusolu’s background is financial management , real estate services, funds management having managed a Technology investment fund in the early party of her career. She is an Alumnus of the Cranfield School of Management and the the Obafemi Awolowo University and has attended several executive management programs at the Lagos Business School. She is also a member of ASIS (American Society of industrial security practitioners ) and IFMA
She firmly believes that customer service and process management as well as key networks are the key to a successful business enterprise and places a priority on delivering that to her clients . She is a lover of properties and real estate …. developing them , maintaining, securing them and furnishing them.
Estates must be run in a way that allows the managers to run a healthy profit while still ensuring that the clients receive service In a timely fashion.
Lauretta loves God unashamedly and also believes that at the heart of every business must be the God focus who are you sent to and why?
She is a champion of small women business and women owning properties and having alternative sources of income and therefore loves to support women in business even when it hurts because she understands that women are the bedrock of a home and society and if they are not secure and emotionally sound then they cannot do what God has called them to do or be and is a champion of the resolution way out of difficult situations.
She is married to her husband and love of her life founder and Group CEO Octo 5 holdings Babajide Odusolu and They are blessed with 2 children a son and a daughter
