It’s generally believed that property business is largely male-dominated, especially in Nigeria where it’s believed that women can’t be trusted with a huge amount of money when it comes to big investments. But this notion is now gradually waning off by the day.
Over the last few years, the real estate sector in Nigeria has witnessed the intervention and various inputs from top Nigerian women who have contributed to the property sector by investing heavily in it. Some of them had other businesses they were doing before they delved into the property business. Many of them are lawyers, entrepreneurs, while some had worked in financial institutions. The input and contributions of these women to the sector can’t be ignored.
This week, City People will be spotlighting women who have made it big as property players and their impact will greatly be felt in the coming months. Some of these women are into property development; they handle big housing projects worth billions of naira, while some of them basically are into land sale and they are doing well too. All these women are running their businesses independently. Below are some of them.
The first on the list is Mrs. Jayne Onwumere. She’s the founder and Group Managing Director of PWAN Group, a Pan African real estate company.
Talk of one property company with many subsidiaries in Nigeria, PWAN Homes will be in the top 3. PWAN Homes is one company set up many years ago to provide affordable homes for Lagosians, especially in the Lekki-Ajah axis, but now it has grown beyond Lagos. They have extended to many parts of Nigeria and other countries.
Mrs Jayne Onwumere 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. She was awarded an outstanding Female Real Estate player 2 years back at the City People Real Estate awards and she is someone to loot out for in 2021.
Another female who is doing well is Ichechi Okonkwo, the beautiful wife of Lagos property titan, Mr Kennedy Okonkwo. Mrs Ichechi is the founder of Laundry King and CEO Dream Estate Limited, located in Lekki axis. She’s currently doing well. She handles some of the multimillion projects of her husband. And she’s doing well in that regard. Her husband is the CEO of Nedcomoaks Limited, a foremost property development company. Mrs Ichechi’s property company is also doing well by providing necessary information on where to buy good houses in the Lekki axis.
Also playing big is Mrs Elizabeth Grace, the Founder of popular Lagos property company, GodMade Homes. This is a property development company that has done a lot in the last few years.
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. It’s selling offplan now. Mrs. Elizabeth is one woman who has done well but we hardly talk about her because she doesn’t like noise.
Mrs Sade Gbadamosi is another top female player who has distinguished herself. She is the founder of Amen Estate and Financial Director of her husband’s property development company, Redbricks Homes International Limited. Mrs Gbadamosi is the beautiful wife of Mr Babatunde Gbadamosi. They both co-run the company. Talk of luxury, class and elegant estate where celebrities live in Lagos, it’s no other plan than Amen Estate and Mrs Sade Gbadamosi is the face behind the estate.
Amen Estate is located on Eleko Road, Ibeju Lekki. Presently, they have sold out Phase 1, and Phase 2 is what is selling. This woman is in charge of the day to day running of this magnificent estates.
HRH Chief (Dr.) Becky Olubukola Esther (Phd) is the, President and Group Managing Director of BSTAN GROUP. She has been a major advocate for the MDG goal for Housing deficit in Africa with her focus on Nigeria. This has earned her a sit at the table to a member of the Presidential Committee on Housing Sector and Construction. She leverages on her vision to provide jobs for some of the numerous Nigerian graduates that are churned out each year by helping to secure jobs for the unemployed. This energetic lady is one of the big real estate players in Abuja last year (2020) and she has also extended her operation to Lagos in recent years. In 2021, it’s expected she would do well, not only in Abuja but Lagos.
Another big name in the list is the daughter of Nigerian Billionaire, Otunba Mike Adenuga. Her name is Bella Disu, the Vice Chairman of Global Communication. She is also the CEO of a reputable real estate company, Cobblestone Properties.
In 2011, she took on an additional role of group executive director of Cobblestone Properties and Estates Limited to become CEO in 2015. She is also a non-executive director of a Nigerian construction company, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc. Under her watch In the last few years, Cobblestone has handled a lot of remarkable real estate/construction projects in the Lagos high rows.
Mrs Funke Adesoji is another top female property players who has done well in her own way. She’s the Managing Director of Remax Realtors, a reputable company with the right standard. Remax Realtors did so well last year and 2021 won’t be an exception.
Another big name is Dr Ololade Abuta, the MD/CEO of Gracias Gardens, a subsidiary of Gracias Group.
Her real estate firm is one of the leading real estate firms in Lagos in 2020.
Dr Ololade started her career as an actress (Yoruba movies). She featured in a few movies and produced 2 movies MADARU 2008 and OGIRI 2010. She switched to buying and selling,She Owned a Wine shop on Aladelola Street Ketu, Lagos and Adekunle Banjo Street Magodo in 2011/2013. She also owned a fashion store on Association Avenue, Magodo in 2012/2014. Dr Ololade is an entrepreneur. She is one of the fast-rising Real Estate Gurus in Nigeria.
Another big name on the list is Mrs Funke Kehinde, the founder of Brilliant Concepts. She is one of the notable female players in the sector. She is the toast of top property developers in Lagos, because of her remarkable sales record.
The following names have also been doing well over the years. Mrs Udo Maryanne Okonjo, CEO of Fine and Country West Africa, Hajia Bola Shagaya, Olajumoke Adenowo, Chukwunonso Onny-Ezeh of Assist-2-Sell Properties, Ifeoma of Bidhomes, Ifeoma Obianwu-Fafunwa, Ada Osakwe, Funmi Alao, Ayodeji Finnih, Ndidi Nwuneli, Uche Majekodunmi, Mosun Ogunbanjo, Olawatoyin Edun, Adeyemi Adefunke, Mrs Aisha Ahmed, Agnes, Tokunbo Martins, Dr Hannatu Fika, Saadiya Aliu, Rear Admiral Itunu, Hotonu, Torkwase Iyortyer, Uzoamaka Oshoge, Rose Ada, Chinwe Ajene Sagna, Chii Akporji, Adenike Fasanya Osilaja, Mrs Ini Onuk-Abimbola, Mrs Erelu Angela Adebayo, Grace Ofure, Fifi Ekanem Ejindu, Mrs Vivian Mbagwu, Mrs Lizzy Shonekan, Toxin Ajose, Miss Bimbo Alashe, Omonike Fowowe, Yinka Ogunsulire (MD, Orange Island), Tokunbo Ishmael, Mrs Aderonke Oyelami, Module Anjous, Maya Horgan, Engr Ebele Okeke, Regina Olarewaju, Funke Opeke, Margret Oguntala, Arch Abimbola Ajayi, Arch Tosin Osinowo, Flora Anne and many others.
– ISAAC ABIMBADE
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