The first ever African Women in Real Estate Network is set to increase participation and opportunities for women in the sector, according to Ruth Obih, CEO of 3Invest, a service real estate consulting and investment firm based in Lagos, Nigeria.
Referred to with the acronym A.W.I.R.E., the network was launched at the recently concluded Real Estate Unite, arguably the largest gathering of real estate professionals in Africa.
“If we in the real estate are committed to our own growth, we must make definitive strides for women’s participation in our sector,” said Obih.
Real estate trailblazer, Udo Maryanne Okonjo, CEO of Fine & Country, West Africa, who delivered a keynote speech at the event, connected the role that real estate plays with the ability of women to achieve economic empowerment and stability by comparing portfolios of the wealthiest women in Asia.
“Real Estate is an integral part of wealth creation for nations. Something is about to happen in Nigeria and we want to be part of it, we the women in real estate,” Okonjo said.
Onouju Irukwu, MD Chapel Hill Denham; Nonso Ume Ezeoke, CEO, Assist-to-Sell; Chima Asogwo, Business Development Executive at CMB Building Maintenance &Investment Co Ltd; Uzo Oshiogwe of Afriland Properties; Bola Adesola, MD/CEO of Standard Chartered Bank and Tosin Ajose of Detail Solicitors also spoke at the launch of A.W.I.R.E.
Ms Ume Ezeoke appealed to women to take the first step in owning or investing in property. “For every funding you get as income, there must be a portion that needs to go to real estate,” she said. The A.W.I.R.E network plans to serve tens of thousands of members across the African continent and will be a staple event at upcoming annual events.
The summit, which had real estate professionals and stakeholders explore answers to the theme “Igniting the F.I.R.E: Where Lies The Key?” F.I.R.E is an acronym for the four factors of Finance, Infrastructure, Red-Tapism and Education; identified as having the power to grow the real estate industry better.
The event has been billed a resounding success by its over 2000 participants, sponsors and partners.
