Cooperatives Urged to Build Wealth Through Smart Real Estate: Experts Chart New Paths at CEO Forum
Naija CooperativeNews
Lagos, Nigeria – Experts have urged cooperative societies across Nigeria to shift from traditional savings models and actively invest in high-value real estate to build sustainable wealth and long-term financial security for their members.
Speaking at the 4th edition of the CEO’s Forum organized by the CTTNetwork in Lagos, Founder and CEO of Solid Foundation Group, Adetoun Otepola, emphasized the transformative power of strategic real estate investment for cooperative societies. The forum was themed: “The Role of Real Estate in Strengthening Cooperative Wealth Structures.”
Otepola explained that real estate serves as a “mobility tool” that creates access to prosperity, legacy, and global opportunities. “Real estate is more than owning land or buildings,” she said. “It is a strategic gateway to wealth mobility, global relevance, and a secure legacy for families, organisations, and cooperatives.”
The forum brought together cooperative leaders, financial controllers, administrative executives, and business heads to explore innovative models that can help transform cooperative capital into appreciating assets. Discussions focused on practical ways to harness pooled funds through structured investments that offer measurable returns.
Otepola also highlighted major challenges undermining cooperatives, including poor governance, lack of transparency, limited professional oversight, and regulatory bottlenecks. She called for reforms such as professional management, legal compliance, and improved access to financial instruments like the National Housing Fund (NHF), which she described as a key tool for wealth preservation.
In a compelling contribution, Chinyere Chimezie, Head of Marketing at Homebase Mortgage Bank Ltd, underscored the importance of homeownership as a hedge against inflation. She addressed skepticism surrounding mortgage accessibility, introducing products such as MREIF loans and Family Own Funds designed to simplify the journey to homeownership for Nigerians.
Another keynote speaker, Emmanuel Adeshina, Vice President of Corporate and Offline Business at Wakanow, presented the company’s “Pay Small Small (PSS)” scheme. The flexible payment model, which allows customers to make travel payments in installments, was highlighted as a practical example of inclusive financial innovation that can inspire cooperatives to offer scalable solutions to their members.
A major highlight of the event was the unveiling of CitiMall Lagos by Oluwatobi Osonuga. Positioned to become a premier destination in one of Lagos’ fastest-growing commercial hubs, CitiMall will feature a mix of retail outlets, dining, wellness centers, entertainment hubs, and executive office spaces. The development aims to attract both modern consumers and institutional investors looking to diversify their portfolios.
With rising inflation and economic volatility, stakeholders at the forum agreed that now is the time for cooperative societies to rethink their strategies and invest in secure, appreciating assets like real estate. The event ended with a call to action for cooperatives to become more forward-thinking and use strategic investment as a path to empowerment, sustainability, and collective prosperity.
