ESV ADEKUNLE AWOLAJA, AFRES Pres. (Africa)
When the African Real Estate Society (AfRES) gathered for its 24th Annual Conference in Lagos, it was more than another professional event. It was a continental conversation about the future of cities, the fight against illicit funds in property, the promises and limits of artificial intelligence, and the role of real estate in securing human dignity across Africa. The atmosphere was vibrant, with delegates from across the continent and beyond filling the halls, exchanging ideas, and reflecting on a sector that is both a business and a human necessity.
AfRES, founded in 1997, has grown steadily into one of Africa’s most influential professional platforms. The first conference was held in 1998, and except for the forced cancellation in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a virtual gathering in 2021, it has continued to meet annually without fail. Under the International Real Estate Society (IRES), AfRES stands alongside its global peers in America, Europe, Asia, Latin America, and the Pacific Rim, yet it has carved its own identity: a society uniquely African in its mission to link research with practice, academia with industry, and policy with the everyday needs of people.
Speaking exclusively to City People, AfRES President for Africa, ESV. Dr. Kunle Adekunle Awolaja, described the society’s enduring mission. “AfRES is all about bridging the gap between the town and the gown. When we say the town and gown, it means connecting practice with academia. At our conferences, we have presentations, we have research, we talk about gathering data, and all of this assists the town. These data and presentations are what we use in the development of real estate, whether in finance, management, land administration, surveying, or education.”
For him, the relevance of real estate is unquestionable. “In economics, shelter is a basic need. Without shelter, even if you eat very well, you will not be healthy. Even if you have money, without proper shelter, how do you thrive? Shelter is key, and through AfRES, we are saying let’s have our annual conferences and use the outcomes to impact the development of towns, cities, and villages, and improve life for the people.”
The Lagos conference did not shy away from the challenges facing the sector. One of the most impactful sessions came from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of Nigeria, which warned about the growing use of real estate as a tool for money laundering. “Real estate can easily be used to launder money because, unlike liquid cash, property is harder to trace. You can put huge sums into real estate, and nobody will know,” Dr. Awolaja explained. By pushing for stronger regulation and transparency, AfRES is signaling that property development must not become a safe haven for illicit wealth.
Technology was another dominant theme. Delegates explored how big data, proptech, and artificial intelligence are reshaping the industry. But while many hailed AI as a game changer, Dr. Awolaja added a note of caution. “Artificial intelligence is now moving faster than many realize. But does AI solve all the problems? No, it doesn’t. It doesn’t remove human reasoning. Human reasoning is key, and that’s what is inputted into AI.” His words reminded the audience that no matter how advanced technology becomes, human values and judgment remain the backbone of real estate practice.
AfRES itself is proof of how collaboration can transform a continent. What began as a modest platform for professionals has grown into a network with three main chapters: West Africa, East Africa, and Southern Africa, with ambitious expansion plans. The West African chapter, once centered on Ghana and Nigeria, has grown significantly through the Francophone Project launched in Dakar, Senegal, now embracing countries such as Senegal, Cameroon, Mali, Mauritania, Guinea-Conakry, and Côte d’Ivoire. East Africa brings in Kenya, Rwanda, and Burundi. Southern Africa is anchored by South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, and Botswana. Even North Africa, long more aligned with Arab institutions, is represented today through Morocco’s Association of African Real Estate Union.
AfRES is not stopping there. “Our aim is to cover all of Africa’s 54 countries,” Dr. Awolaja said with conviction. The society is already engaging with the African Union to become its official partner in real estate. Beyond the continent, AfRES has launched AfRES Indaspora to involve Africans in the diaspora, both in Europe and the United States, and has created the AfRES Caribbean Project to include the Caribbean islands. “The Caribbeans are our brothers and sisters, and we are bringing them in too,” he added proudly.
Leadership within AfRES rotates every two years among its chapters, ensuring that no region dominates and that diversity is preserved. Dr. Awolaja, who became President in 2023, noted that his term is drawing to a close. “My tenure completes tomorrow, and I’ll be handing over to the Vice President. It doesn’t elongate, but I’ll still remain part and parcel of AfRES.” His confidence in continuity was evident, and his legacy is already clear: a stronger, more inclusive, and more outward-looking AfRES.
The choice of Lagos as the 2025 host city was deeply symbolic. Nigeria has hosted AfRES before in 2009 and 2018, but this year’s event underscored Lagos’s growing reputation as Africa’s business capital and a city at the heart of real estate innovation. The theme, “Shaping the Future of African Real Estate Markets: Exploring Opportunities,” drew policymakers, investors, and academics eager to align ideas with action.
Dr. Awolaja himself embodies the bridge between practice and policy. He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (FNIVS), a Registered Surveyor and Valuer (RSV), and Director of the Lagos State Valuation Office (LASVO). He is also a Member of the Nigerian Institute of Management (MNIM) and has been active in AfRES since 2007, presenting papers at international conferences across Africa, Europe, and the United States. At the 18th AfRES Annual Conference in Abeokuta in 2018, he played a key role in organizing and ensuring the high standards of peer-reviewed research, demonstrating his commitment to rigorous scholarship as well as professional practice.
Colleagues describe him as a visionary leader. He often reminds peers that Africa is “the only continent that is still green,” stressing that vast opportunities remain untapped in land, housing, and innovation. Under his presidency, AfRES has deepened its reach, broadened its collaborations, and strengthened its voice on issues like sustainability, transparency, and inclusivity.
As the Lagos conference drew to a close, anticipation turned toward the next gathering, scheduled for Kampala, Uganda. “You’re going to expect better things, better than this, and we’ll work it out. AfRES is always coming up, coming up, and we’re going up,” Dr. Awolaja assured. His optimism captured the spirit of AfRES: a society determined not just to talk about Africa’s future, but to help build it, brick by brick, policy by policy, and home by home.
By Benprince Ezeh
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