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There’s no shortage of women in Nigeria’s real estate industry. At least that’s what you’d think if you were surveying marketers for projects and companies in the space. But if you look past the lower levels of the business, you’ll find that there aren’t nearly as many women working at the pinnacle of the industry. So, it’s right that we celebrate those who do make it to such heights.

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We have come up with a list of 10 of the leading Nigerian women on the local real estate scene. If you’re female and are thinking about pursuing a career in construction, property development, or any other aspect of real estate, we hope you’re inspired by the figures we spotlight here.

Olajumoke Adenowo

Olajumoke is a chartered architect, intellectual, and self-described polymath. She’s Principal Architect at AD Consulting, the architecture and Interior Design Company she founded in 1994. After completing her studies at her university, Olajumoke was employed as an Assistant Architect at Towry Coker Associates. Then she practiced as an architect at Femi Majekodunmi Associates, before setting up her own company. Under her, AD Consulting has completed well over a hundred projects for a diverse collection of clients. Notable brands on her client list include Coca Cola, L’Oreal, GT Bank, and Access Bank. The projects she’s worked on range from institutional and office building complexes to healthcare facilities and private residences. Olajumoke has Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Architecture from the University of Ibadan. In addition, she’s attended programs at the Yale School of Management and Harvard Kennedy School, among others. In 2019, she was a visiting professor at the Technical University of Munich, Germany.

Jayne Onwumere

Jayne Onwumere is cofounder, CEO and MD at Property World Africa Network (PWAN). She set up the company in 2012 with her husband, Augustine Ozioma Onwumere. At the time, it was called PWAN Homes. PWAN operates on a networked model and has several affiliate companies. Its records say that it employs more than a thousand staff. The company markets a large number of residential estates across Nigeria, including in Lagos, Ogun, Rivers, Anambra, the FCT, Kaduna, and Kano States. In 2023, the SUN Newspaper named Jayne “Investor of the Year” for her contribution to the development of human capital in the country. She has been involved in various philanthropic efforts, including the distribution of food to the economically vulnerable and scholarship awards for indigent children.

Udo Okonjo

Udo Okonjo is the founder and CEO of Fine and Country West Africa, a luxury real estate marketing and consulting company. For over 17 years, she’s delivered value to clients throughout the industry’s value chain, and has become well known on the Nigerian property marketing scene. Her company offers real estate advisory, marketing for prestige acquisitions and sales and leasing for luxury residential developments. Properties on its radar are typically located in high-brow areas: Ikoyi, Banana Island, Victoria Garden City, Lekki, and Oniru, all in Lagos State. Udo has an LLB (Law) from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and a Master of Law (LLM) from King’s College, London. She also has certifications from the Cambridge Judge Business School, the Haas School of Business (University of California, Berkeley), and the Said Business School (University of Oxford).

Saadiya Aminu

Saadiya Aminu is the MD and CEO of Urban Shelter, a property development company headquartered in Abuja, FCT. There, she oversees development and expansion of a real estate corporation that is a major player in Nigeria’s capital city, as well as in Lagos, Niger, and Kaduna States. She has worked at Urban Shelter for over 15 years. In that time, she’s helped to streamline operations, drive corporate change, and position the company for growth in an evolving market. But her career began in public service, where she was a technical assistant to the Director General of the Debt Management Office (DMO). Saadiya has a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from Brunel University, and an M.Sc. in Finance and Development from SOAS, London.

Tosin Oshinowo

Tosin Oshinowo is an architect, designer and entrepreneur. Her professional practice, Oshinowo Studio, has designed commercial, residential, and artistic structures that have now been built in various parts of Nigeria. Before settling into a career in Nigeria, Tosin worked with Skidmore Owning and Merril’s LLP, London, and Metropolitan Architecture, Rotterdam. After returning from Europe, she was hired by James Cubitt Architects. There, she helped to design projects for the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) projects. In 2012, she left James Cubitt and launched her architecture firm. She also founded Ile Ila, a lifestyle furniture brand. Ile Ila creates furniture collections from West African fabric and Nigerian teak wood. Tosin has a Bachelor’s Degree from Kingston University, London; an M.Sc. in Development and Planning from the University College, London; and a Diploma from the Architectural Association.

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Olayinka Ogunsulire

Olayinka Ogunsulire is the CEO of Orange Island Development Company, a property developer in Lagos State. Her involvement with the real estate industry spans more than 25 years. In her role as chief executive of the Orange Island Development, she’s guiding efforts to bring the Orange Island project to life. The project is a Private Public Partnership (PPP) that also involves the Lagos State Government. Upon completion, it will consist of residential, industrial, institutional, and public use property. Olayinka was previously CEO of Heirs Real Estate and Managing Director of ARM Properties. Earlier in her career, she was VP at African Capital Alliance. She sits on the boards of Afriland Properties Limited and Anchorage Leisure Limited. Her educational attainments include a Bachelor’s Degree in Geography from the University of Strathclyde and a Master of Philosophy in Land Management from the University of Reading. She is a member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.

Alaba Alozie

Alaba Alozie is the CEO of Lasgidi Realtors, an independent property development company. She is also cofounder of Lasgidi Property Limited, a real estate management and marketing outfit. For several years, Alaba has worked as an agent in five different states. She serves as a principal agent and broker to other real estate professionals, assisting them with the marketing, management and sale of real estate products and services. Her specialties extend to survey and title documentation. The Lasgidi Group provides serviced and short let apartments in Lagos, specifically in such locations as Victoria Island, Eko Atlantic City, Lekki, Ikoyi, Banana Island, and Lakowe. Alaba has a Bachelor’s Degree in Demography and Social Statistics from the Obafemi Awolowo University.

Gbemileke Banjo

Gbemieke Banjo is the Executive Director at Vans and Resa, a company that sells luxury real estate to high-net-worth Individuals in Nigeria and from the Diaspora. It has offices in Lagos State and in Johannesburg, South Africa. The properties offered by Vans and Resa are located in Nigeria, the UAE, and South Africa. Besides selling, the company markets, leases, and manages apartments and buildings on behalf of developers. According to her LinkedIn page, Gbemileke has a certificate from the School of Estate, a training institution for aspiring real estate managers.

Mercy Iyortyer

Mercy Iyortyer is an experienced Quantity Surveyor. She is currently the MD and CEO of Zihabit, a construction, building, and engineering firm headquartered in Abuja. Mercy has over 40 years of experience in the management and development of infrastructure projects. Her career began at the Ministry of Works and Housing, Makurdi, Benue State. Then she joined the Federal Capital Development Authority, where she eventually became Assistant Chief Quantity Surveyor. In 1991, she resigned from this position and cofounded Zihabit. Mercy has a Bachelor’s Degree in Quantity Surveying from Ahmadu Bello University, and a Master’s Degree in Building Economics and Management from the University College London.

Jamila Mohammed-Faniyi

Jamila Mohammed-Faniyi is the Managing Director at M & E Kaiser, a mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire service installer. She is also Executive Director at Construction Kaiser, a company specializing in the construction of residential, commercial and industrial projects. Her previous roles include Head of Procurement and Logistics (Construction Kaiser), Head of Operations (M & E Kaiser), and Chief Operating Officer (also at M & E Kaiser). She has been with the company for two decades. Jamila is a member of the Project Management Institute and the Nigerian Institute of Building. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Building from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and a Master’s Degree in Construction Management from the University of Lagos. She also attended the Building Businesses in Turbulent Times (BBTT) program at the Harvard Business School.

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Final Words

Women in Nigeria’s real estate industry have made giant strides in recent times. The signs are that we’ll see more of them make a mark in that space in the coming years. The terrain is difficult, and the obstacles are considerable, but the opportunities for women here are ever-expanding.

Featured Image Source: Women in Nigeria’s Real Estate

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This article was first published on 4th April 2025
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ikenna-nwachukwu

Ikenna Nwachukwu holds a bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He loves to look at the world through multiple lenses- economic, political, religious and philosophical- and to write about what he observes in a witty, yet reflective style.