Lagos is set to host the 24th Annual Conference of the African Real Estate Society (AFRES) from September 9 to 12, 2025. The gathering will spotlight opportunities and innovations driving Africa’s property market under the theme ‘Shaping the Future of African Real Estate Markets: Exploring Opportunities.’
Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos on Thursday, Adekunle Awolaja, AFRES president, said the conference would bring together policymakers, investors, academics, and industry leaders to explore sustainable growth in Africa’s real estate sector.
“Africa seems to be the only continent in the world that is still green,” Awolaja said. “There are enormous opportunities in our land and resources, and this conference will examine how we can harness them through innovation, policy, and investment.”
Awolaja highlighted Nigeria’s growing importance within the AFRES network, noting that this is the third time the country will host the continental event after previous editions in 2009 and 2018. He also disclosed that AFRES recently expanded its West African chapter to include Francophone countries, bringing total membership to 26 countries, with a long-term goal of covering all 55 African nations.
According to him, the Lagos conference will feature panel discussions, keynote sessions, and networking opportunities focused on emerging issues such as sustainable development, finance, and property technology (PropTech).
“We are going to look at how artificial intelligence and other technologies are reshaping real estate,” he added.
Adediran Adetunji, the conference chairman and AFRES Nigeria chair, said the gathering comes at a critical moment for Nigeria’s real estate sector and the wider African market.
“Funds don’t need passports or visas. They flow where there is an enabling environment,” Adetunji said. “With the government’s deliberate investments in infrastructure, Nigeria is positioning itself to attract capital into real estate and related industries,” he said.
He projected that the event could inject up to $5 million into Nigeria’s economy through hotel bookings, travel, and related spending, in addition to potential investment deals.
The organisers confirmed a lineup of high-profile speakers, including Ahmed Dangiwa, the minister of Housing and Urban and Development, Ola Olukoyede, chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and international experts.
Among them is Yemi Olatunji, a US-based artificial intelligence and cybersecurity specialist, who will deliver a keynote on the role of technology in the real estate sector.
The conference will also tackle pressing issues such as illicit financial flows in sub-Saharan Africa, the impact of inflation on housing markets, and policy reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s mortgage system.
“Government has revamped the mortgage industry to be responsive to the earnings and aspirations of Nigerians, with single-digit loans and refinancing structures to support the sector,” Adetunji explained, adding, “these policies are geared towards reducing the country’s housing deficit.”
Registration for the event costs $300 for foreign delegates and N350,000 for local participants, inclusive of conference sessions, networking opportunities, and a gala dinner.
Awolaja urged Nigerians to embrace the opportunity, saying, “From September 9 to 12, the global real estate community will be in Lagos. This is a chance to showcase Nigeria’s potential and change the negative perceptions that have held us back.”
