Omolabake Fasogbon
Nigeria’s Billionaires Realtors Group (BRG) Network has hosted the inaugural Africa Real Estate Innovation Summit of Excellence (ARISE Africa) 2026 in Lagos, bringing together stakeholders to discuss innovation, investment and partnerships for Africa’s growing property market.
The event also marked the 10th anniversary of BRG Network, Nigeria’s largest real estate marketing company.
Speaking at the summit, President of BRG, Dr. Emmanuel Abikoye, noted that continental development requires multi-sectoral collaboration beyond real estate.
“Our biggest achievement is the transformation of lives. We built BRG not solely to sell real estate, but to build people, create access and democratise opportunities to show that an ordinary person, with the right relationships and the willingness to work, can produce extraordinary outcomes,” Abikoye said.
In his keynote address, the President of the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), Oba Akintoye Adeoye identified institutional strength as the primary factor for sustainable housing growth.
He stated that the future of African real estate will not be decided by how many buildings we construct.
“It will be decided by whether we build the institutions that turn those buildings into productive, inclusive, investable and enduring cities,”he asserted.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Commissioner for Housing, Hon. Moruf Akinderu Fatai, highlighted government efforts in housing delivery and urban planning.
“Our administration has delivered 10,000 new homes across the state through direct government investment and public-private partnerships. We have strengthened data-driven planning, encouraged constructive innovation and deepened partnerships with professional bodies and academia,” he said.
Board Chairman of BRG, Dr. Niyi Adesanya, urged industry players to embrace technology, capital, and data to solve housing deficits, stating that the sector’s future relies on collaboration between capital, technology, and government.
Also, Managing Director of the National Housing Corporation, Kenya, QS David Mathu Njuguna, advocated for reduced reliance on foreign building materials to lower housing costs across Africa.
On his part. Co-founder of BRG, Hon. Gbenga Adeleke reflected on the firm’s growth challenges, highlighting talent management and developer relations over the past decade.
In his closing remarks, Chairman of REDAN, Lagos Chapter, Dr. Tony Aspire Kolawole informed that the summit met its goal of uniting industry leaders to drive continental property solutions.