Entrepreneurship Bootcamp targets bridging knowledge, innovation gaps in African real estate sector

African Real Estate Entrepreneurship Bootcamp (AREEB), a strategic intervention designed to bridge Africa’s knowledge gap, has perfected plans to empower young entrepreneurs with the right information needed to grow the economy.

This step will be achieved during the maiden bootcamp event in Lagos, which will bring together over 22 experts in the real estate industry and millions of participants from across the African continent.

According to the organisers, the two-day programme scheduled from May 8th through May 9th, at the Landmark event center, Lagos, is expected to empower developers, both aspiring and established, with the technical skills, compliance knowledge, and construction expertise needed to do the right thing for the continent.

Speaking at a press conference held to officially announce the programme, Oluwatosin Olatujoye, Convener of AREEB, said the initiative is a movement geared towards shifting the narrative of real estate from simple transactions to a tool for generational wealth and urban transformation.

He noted that as Africa’s population is projected to reach 2.5 billion by 2050, the continent faces a staggering housing deficit, noting that AREEB 2026 emerges as a response to this challenge, moving beyond mere theory to offer tested insights from industry leaders actively shaping the continent’s landscape.

According to him, for too long, real estate has been seen through a narrow lens of buying and selling, adding that bootcamp is the organiser’s response to the housing deficit.

He said that AREEB 2026 stands as a testament to the belief that with the right education and collaboration, the future of African real estate is not just bright, but also sustainable.

“With 22 expert speakers, we are providing a platform where investors, developers, and young entrepreneurs can collaborate to build the future of Africa intentionally, rather than by chance,” Olatujoye said.

Bukola Olatujoye, chief executive officer, Zylus Home, the Platinum Sponsor of the African Real Estate Entrepreneurship Bootcamp, said that the greatest hurdle in the real estate industry is not a lack of opportunity, but a lack of access to mentorship and structure.

Reflecting on the company’s philosophy, she noted that Zylus believes that when people are empowered with the right information, they build stronger businesses, and when businesses grow, the economy thrives.

Peacemaker Afolabi, Chairman of the organising committee of the bootcamp, emphasised that the bootcamp is a pan-African mission, adding that across African countries, there are common problems in development.

Afolabi said the goal of the event is to empower developers, both aspiring and established, with the technical skills, compliance knowledge, and construction expertise needed to do the right thing for the continent.”

Ezekiel Solesi highlighted the immense scale of the Nigerian market, noting that the industry is still in its infancy.

Solesi disclosed that Nigeria is sitting on a N450 trillion real estate budget through 2050, adding that to meet this demand, Africa’s largest population must improve Technical Capacity by building teams that can function with high-level skill in the leader’s absence.

He further said that real estate operators need to have brand equity which delivers consistently on promises to build trust.

“Another important critical pillar of growth is data. Real estate players in Nigeria need to utilise market data to identify high-capacity buyers, including the diaspora. They also need a process, as this will ensure that business success is duplicable and not a “one-time miracle,” he said.

On her part, Adetoun Otepola, founder of Solid Foundation Estate, challenged young professionals to find their niche within the value chain. She stressed the importance of “learning years before earning years,” urging attendees to embrace mentorship, volunteering, and the ethical building of trust.

“Africa is not poor; it is simply disconnected. In a world of AI and rapid technology shifts, human connectivity and trust remain the bedrock of real estate,” Otepola said.