Collaborative Sustainability in Global Real Estate

Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen

Publication (Outlet/Website): A Further Inquiry

Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2025/09/08

Part 3 of 4

Akin Opatola, President of FIABCI-Nigeria and founder of Olawale Jordan Company, explores the evolving landscape of Nigerian and African real estate. Opatola shares his professional journey from banking to real estate, his global perspective shaped by visiting over 40 cities, and the critical role FIABCI plays in cross-border networking, sustainability, and professional collaboration.Opatola highlights FIABCI-Nigeria’s small but specialized firms collaborating globally to adopt sustainability and ethical standards. Through networking tools, knowledge exchange, and events like the Prix d’Excellence, members benchmark against global practices, fostering growth, innovation, and partnerships that integrate diverse real estate disciplines and raise industry standards in Nigeria.

Scott Douglas Jacobsen: What about including sustainable development practices in real estate, especially in collaborative projects with international partners?

Akin Opatola: That’s an important area—and we’re making meaningful progress.

Many of our members operate small but focused firms. For example, my firm has been around for over ten years. We deliberately run a tight team—myself and three staff members—because we prioritize quality and agility. This is common within FIABCI-Nigeria. We have many independent consultants and architects who don’t operate large firms.

But remarkable is how these professionals have formed collaborative relationships with foreign counterparts. They’ve been able to partner on projects, exchange ideas, and even share consultancy fees. This collaboration strengthens our understanding of sustainability, green building practices, and ethical development standards.

We learn much from our FIABCI chapters in Europe, the U.S., and Canada, where sustainable development is far more embedded. But we’re catching up—by building trust, credibility, and technical capacity.

One key resource that supports this is the FIABCI Global Directory, which is updated annually and helps members connect based on expertise. We also have a dedicated members-only app, which allows us to chat with any of our 600+ members globally, all with specific competencies.

This ongoing exchange ensures that we stay informed and inclusive and that sustainability becomes a core part of our development philosophy.

You’ll also notice that we’ve intentionally discussed the conference’s structure. Each panel session is limited to 40–45 minutes, and each keynote address is capped at 30 minutes. We want the conversations to be focused, engaging, and inclusive.

With our theme, “Global Real Estate Renaissance,” we ensure that every significant real estate area is touched upon—as comprehensively as possible.

Jacobsen: FIABCI now has over 2,000 members in more than 70 countries. Where do you see the most promising areas for expansion—within Nigeria, new sectors or regions, or nearby countries that have not yet been brought under the FIABCI umbrella?

Opatola: Great question. One recent example is Saudi Arabia. When I attended the World Congress in Miami three years ago, we formally launched the Saudi FIABCI chapter. They’ve grown very quickly and impressively. Soon after, they hosted the Global Leadership Summit in Riyadh, which I had the opportunity to attend.

It was a remarkable experience. Tony Blair, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, delivered a keynote on leadership and his foundation’s work—it was an incredible session.

We typically see two to three new FIABCI chapters form each year regarding global expansion. A few years ago, FIABCI Ireland launched, though it faced some challenges. A dynamic new leader has recently stepped in, reviving the chapter with fresh programming.

We also have a FIABCI chapter in Australia, and I’ve personally connected with a member there. We’re exploring some collaborative opportunities, even though I haven’t visited Sydney or other parts of Australia yet.

In Africa, our FIABCI Africa President is focused on developing and expanding chapters across the continent. Conversations are underway in Uganda and Ghana, and we’re hopeful that by the end of this year, they’ll have initiated the first or second stages toward formal chapter formation.

Today’s mindset is no longer about competition but collaboration and positive partnerships among professionals who share a common vision.

As mentioned, access to credible information and networks matters more than physical travel. If I need data from Uganda, I can easily reach out to a trusted colleague who’s well-connected and can provide relevant insights or contacts. That’s the power of the FIABCI network.

One standout advocate of this approach is Terry Duncan of FIABCI-USA. He has been a strong proponent of international collaboration. A few years ago, he sent valuation briefs to some of my colleagues here in Nigeria. He works with the U.S. State Department and large corporations, and he’s always saying:

“Let’s keep the network active. Let’s keep the doors open for partnerships.”

During the pandemic, we organized a series of webinars and virtual engagements to stay relevant and connected. And guess what? It turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

Typically, when we host physical FIABCI events, non-members rarely attend. But during lockdown, everyone was home, seeking structure, community, and professional engagement. We brought in subject matter experts and notable global figures, and the content resonated deeply.

As a result, many non-members joined our webinars, impressed by the quality of the discussions. After the lockdowns were lifted, many attendees reached out and submitted membership forms. Since then, they have become active, long-term members of FIABCI-Nigeria.

We touched on a wide range of topics. In a typical session, we’d have two or three Nigerian panellists and colleagues worldwide. This redefined the essence of the association for many of us here.

Jacobsen: You mentioned the Prix d’Excellence earlier. How do standards and innovation tie into that global showcase?

Opatola: Yes—this is something I’m very passionate about. I’ve been fortunate to travel extensively and observe iconic architectural projects across the globe. In Cannes in March, I visited real estate developments in Monaco with a few friends. I was stunned.

We saw a particular project where units were selling for €120 million—and most were already sold out. It was breathtaking. These experiences push me to think differently.

That’s why I’m so excited that we’re hosting the FIABCI World Congress in Lagos, mainly because of the Prix d’Excellence Awards. It’s an opportunity to open the eyes of local developers.

Sometimes, developers here feel like big fish in small ponds. But when they participate in the Prix d’Excellence, they quickly realize they’re small fish in a vast global ocean. That perspective is humbling—and necessary.

Last year, at the FIABCI World Congress in Singapore, I saw buildings that could easily rival those in Dubai. One project had over 30% green integration, blowing me away. We want to see that level of innovation, sustainability, and excellence replicated in Nigeria.

And now, with the Prix d’Excellence Awards coming to Lagos, we’re expecting around 100 non-FIABCI participants—designers, architects, and developers from all over the world. They’re coming not just as award nominees but as potential collaborators and thought leaders.

Benchmarking, knowledge transfer, and cross-cultural idea exchange are inevitable in that room.

And that’s what excites me about Lagos and Nigeria. A simple online search reveals how ambitious our high-end real estate market has become. Many developers here are now benchmarking their work against the best global practices. Events like the World Congress and Prix d’Excellence accelerate that growth and connection.

I just mentioned Eko Atlantic and the level of development happening there. You cannot deliver anything substandard in that environment—it simply will not work.

Nigerians are very well-traveled and highly informed. Our citizens live abroad, study abroad, and observe global trends. So, local architects and developers are stepping up to meet international expectations.

One of the best ways to accelerate that growth is through platforms like the Prix d’Excellence, which we’re honoured to host here in Lagos. It will be a transformational moment for the industry.

Jacobsen: How do you integrate the various real estate disciplines—architecture, finance, law, investment, and technology—into a coherent and practical skill set? How do you approach blending technical and interpersonal strengths?

Opatola: That’s a great question. I’m a bit unique—I believe deeply in specialization.

I’m a certified property valuer but spend less than 30% of my time on valuation work. I’ve chosen to specialize in high-end, luxury real estate marketing.

Every aspect of my professional development aligns with that. The webinars I attend, the books I read, the mentors I follow, and the podcasts I subscribe to all focus on luxury real estate marketing and global trends in high-end project sales. That’s where I want to grow, improving every day.

At the same time, many of my colleagues within FIABCI have also selected their focus areas—architecture, development, valuation, or finance. This is where collaboration becomes key.

If a colleague has architectural expertise and a high-end listing, it’s a no-brainer—they refer it to me for marketing while focusing on the design and structural side. It’s a synergistic relationship, and it works beautifully.

FIABCI supports this model exceptionally well. At our networking or marketing lunches, we deliberately introduce ourselves to one another—almost like professional speed dating. Each member gets a few minutes to present who they are, what they do, and their significant listings. Business cards are exchanged, and relationships are formed.

Through that, I’ve met remarkable professionals, including a gentleman from South Korea. His expertise is in development, an area I deeply respect. South Korea is hosting the FIABCI Global Leadership Summit in December, and I’m excited to attend—it will be my first time in Seoul.

Our webinars here are often broken down by specialization—one session might focus on developers, while another brings in PropTech specialists, architects, or marketers. That way, people can speak from experience, and attendees walk away with insights directly applicable to their core discipline.

Some members are specialized in finance, others in law, and what’s remarkable is that very few associations—even in Nigeria—bring together all of these disciplines without falling into internal competition.

Within FIABCI, everyone has a common goal: to do business, learn from one another, and engage in cross-border transactions. We’ve truly gotten it right in that regard.

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