Driving structure, transparency and growth in Nigeria’s real estate sector – A conversation with Amaka Udeh

As Nigeria’s real estate sector continues to evolve, persistent concerns around transparency, documentation, and investor confidence remain central to industry discourse. In response, a new generation of developers is redefining the landscape, leveraging technology, structured systems, and more accountable processes to rebuild trust and improve market integrity.

Amaka Udeh stands at the forefront of this shift. A real estate entrepreneur and PropTech-driven developer, she serves as managing director of Leadway Property Development & Interiors Ltd and founder/CEO of Qualassets Realty, with operations spanning multiple Nigerian cities.

In this interview with BusinessDay’s Taofeek Oyedokun, she reflects on the realities of the market, the transformative role of technology in property development, and how her early experience in broking has shaped her approach to building a more transparent and investor-focused real estate business. Excerpt…

How would you describe the current state of Nigeria’s real estate sector?

The sector is full of opportunity, but it is also at a critical point where structure and transparency must improve. Demand is strong, but investor confidence is often affected by issues around documentation, allocation, and delivery.

What we are seeing now is a shift; investors are becoming more informed, and there is increasing pressure on developers to operate with greater accountability. This is where technology and proper systems become very important.

What informed your transition from broking into full-scale property development?

My experience in broking was actually the turning point. We worked with several developers and sold properties to many clients, but over time, we began to see recurring issues: clients not getting the exact locations they paid for, reallocations, and inconsistencies that affected trust.

At some point, it became personal. Clients would come back to us because we were their point of contact, and it became a responsibility to restore confidence and protect our integrity.

That was what pushed me into development. I wanted to create a system where transparency is built into the process, where clients can select their plots themselves, make payments securely, receive instant documentation, and have clarity from start to finish.

You describe your company as PropTech-driven. What does that mean in practice?

For us, PropTech is not just a concept; it is how we operate. We have integrated technology into our transaction process to ensure transparency, accountability, and ease for clients.

Clients can select their plots digitally, make payments, receive instant receipts, and have their allocations properly documented within the system. This eliminates issues like over-subscription, unclear allocation, and delays.

Technology helps us remove ambiguity and build trust at scale.

Leadway has expanded across multiple states. What has driven this growth?

Our growth has been driven by a combination of structure, trust, and consistency. Because of the challenges we faced early on, we had to operate at a much higher standard – almost five to ten times the effort – to prove credibility.

We built strong internal systems, ensured faster documentation timelines, and focused heavily on client experience. Over time, people began to see the difference, and that trust translated into growth and expansion.

What are some of the key challenges in the sector today?

Key challenges include documentation issues, lack of standardisation, and trust deficits. Many investors have had negative experiences, which makes them more cautious.

However, these challenges also create room for innovation. Developers who can solve these problems through structure, transparency, and technology will define the future of the industry.

What opportunities should investors be looking at?

Investors should focus on credible developments with proper documentation and long-term growth potential. Emerging locations with infrastructure expansion also present strong opportunities.

Most importantly, investors should prioritise working with structured organisations that can provide clarity and accountability.

What is your long-term vision?

My vision is to build a real estate system that is transparent, technology-driven, and globally competitive. I want to continue expanding while also contributing to raising industry standards.

For me, it’s not just about growth; it’s about building trust at scale.