You literally live in a country where rent probably swallows more than half of your salary, and landlords treat you and your fellow tenants like they’re doing charity work. Especially if you live in Lagos or Abuja, where living spaces cost an arm, a leg and maybe a kidney or two.
Amidst all of these, there are some women in the room today who are becoming landlords instead of enriching other landowners year after year. They’re putting their names on title deeds, collecting rent checks, and steadily watching as their net worth grows while their friends are still arguing with agents about caution fees. These three Nigerian women figured out that owning property is for everyone, and here’s what they have to say.
“My family taught me that real estate is one investment that lasts” – Elizabeth*, 29
How did growing up in a wealthy family affect how you perceived real estate generally?
My father owns a number of properties in Lagos and Abuja, and this was a major source of his income while I was growing up. We were basically rich-rich, so I grew up knowing that real estate was a real way to achieve generational wealth. When my friends started working after college, they got cars and fancy wigs with their first salaries. The whole time, I was watching my dad collect rent from his tenants every year without stress.
When I grew old enough to be involved in the family business, my dad would always tell me that land never depreciates. I turned 25 around this time, and instead of asking for something typical for my birthday gift, I asked my parents to help me buy my first plot of land in Lekki Phase 2 for tens of millions of Naira. My friends thought I was tripping. That land I bought 4 years ago is worth almost twice the price now.
Do you have a strategy for expanding beyond your family’s help?
I use my family’s connections as a foundation because I don’t believe in all that ‘pretend I don’t come from a rich family’. Growing up as a privileged child gave me access to the right networks, property lawyers and the mindset that real estate is not just about having a roof over your head. It’s about building the kind of wealth that my children can inherit and eat from. Anyway, I work as a marketing director, and I save almost half my monthly income for real estate. It’s not like it’s my salary that feeds me anyway.
I’d like to note that having wealthy parents doesn’t mean sitting back idly; it means having a head start to build something that’s even bigger. That’s why I bought a 4-bedroom duplex in one of the high-end estates in Lagos with a combination of my savings and family loans. My goal is to own properties worth ₦500 million by the time I’m 35. Hopefully before then sef.
“My husband opened my eyes to real estate. Now, I own more properties than he does” – Cynthia*, 33
How did your husband influence your real estate journey?
By the time we got married in 2020, my husband already owned 3 plots of land in Ibadan and a duplex in Abeokuta that he built with his savings as a software engineer. I was working in HR at the time, and I was earning ₦300k monthly and just keeping the money in fixed deposits. My husband kept telling me that inflation was eating my savings, and I should buy land instead.
I didn’t agree at first cause I didn’t really get the whole land buying thing, and it really just looked risky. But one time, he took me to see his properties, explained how he had found the locations and basically the rental income from his house in Abeokuta. I became agreeable afterwards, and I didn’t need much convincing after this. He helped me buy my first plot in Mowe for ₦2.8 million in 2021.
How did you even surpass your husband’s property portfolio?
Healthy competition? My land in Mowe appreciated to ₦4.5 million within a year, which was when I became obsessed. It literally looked like easy cash, and I was ready for it. I started following real estate companies on Instagram and basically kept myself up-to-date. I’m more aggressive than my husband in taking what some would refer to as calculated risks.
He personally prefers buying and holding land, which is really reasonable and safer, but I do the opposite. I hold for a bit, sell for a sizable profit and reinvest. Like last year, now I got a 3-bedroom flat in Lagos for ₦8 million, renovated it for ₦10 million and sold it for ₦13.5 million, all within 8 months. I have 5 properties currently, and my husband owns 4. He’s quite proud of me and has every right to be.
“I turned my social media following to investments by buying properties for myself” – Azaria*, 27
How did you build your brand and transition into real estate?
I started as a lifestyle influencer on Instagram in 2019. Content about skincare, fashion and healthy living? You’ll find me there. I come from a rich home, so it wasn’t hard for me. By 2022, I had over ₦100k followers, and I was making money from brand partnerships and affiliate marketing.
There was a period when I was really thinking about what I would do with my life after social media. So, like when I’m 45, I probably wouldn’t be making content anymore. I attended a seminar where they talked about real estate investments, which was how it started for me. I have a couple of properties that no one outside of my family knows about, and I’d like to keep them that way.
How are you building wealth through real estate now?
Most of the money I make off creating content on socials stays saved up, it’s always been this way cause I already have most of the things I want and the ones I don’t, I simply ask my parents for or use my allowance. Back on track, I used my income to buy 3 plots of land in Sagamu. They’re currently worth almost three times how much I bought them for at the start. I have a few places scattered around in Ibadan and Ilorin as well. The rent I get from these properties is probably one of the most satisfying things in my life right now.
Well, you’ve heard it from women who are raking in millions annually. Owning property in Nigeria might seem like a horror story unfolding, especially with fake documents, inflated prices and red-tapism. Despite the chaos, these women are doing it. The beauty of property investment is that it works while you sleep. In 10-20 years, your friends may still be complaining about rent increments, but you’ll be one of those setting the rates. Start land shopping today.
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