The Chief Executive Officer of Wardiere Oakmount, Kunle Ilori-Diamond, has described 2025 as a defining year for business, marked by economic pressure but rich in strategic lessons.

Speaking on the firm’s performance, Ilori-Diamond said the past year tested discipline, resilience, and clarity, as inflation, currency volatility, and cautious capital flows reshaped the operating environment.

According to him, Wardiere Oakmount deliberately shifted focus from aggressive expansion to value creation, asset quality, and long-term positioning.

“2025 separated speculative operators from true professionals, and that distinction worked in our favour,” he said.

He noted that the company closed the year with leaner operations, better-structured transactions, and deeper trust from clients and investors.

On his return to Nigeria, Ilori-Diamond said the business has performed strongly, driven by the country’s unmet demand across key sectors.

He described Nigeria as one of Africa’s most dynamic markets, where demand for housing, offices, logistics, hospitality, and income-yielding assets continues to outpace supply.

“In Nigeria, capital does not struggle to find use; it struggles to find credible operators. When you bring structure, compliance, and execution discipline, you immediately stand out,” he said.

Ilori-Diamond observed that Nigeria’s real estate market has matured over the past two to three years, with reduced speculative activity, higher construction costs, and tighter financing forcing developers to adopt more efficient designs and disciplined financial structures.

“The sector has not weakened; it has matured,” he said, adding that successful developers today are those who understand location fundamentals and realistic demand.

Addressing Nigeria’s housing deficit, the Wardiere Oakmount CEO stressed the need to move beyond luxury-led development, calling for public-private partnerships, land reforms, long-term financing, and scalable mass-housing models.

He noted that housing remains a powerful economic multiplier when properly executed.

On rising property prices, Ilori-Diamond said affordability must be intentionally addressed through satellite cities, smarter density planning, modular construction, and innovative financing models such as rent-to-own schemes.

Operating largely from Abuja, he identified government policy and land administration as critical to real estate investment, noting gradual improvements through digitalisation while emphasising the need for consistency and transparency.

On foreign investor confidence, he said trust is built through verifiable titles, independent legal due diligence, escrow arrangements, and strong governance structures.

“In a market where trust can be fragile, professionalism becomes the strongest currency,” he said.

While Wardiere Oakmount remains active in the premium and luxury segment, Ilori-Diamond said the company’s strategy is evolving in line with changing consumer preferences, with greater emphasis on efficiency, sustainability, and long-term value.

He added that technology is increasingly shaping real estate value creation, improving efficiency, transparency, and decision-making across the sector.

“Developers who leverage technology will not only build faster; they will build smarter,” he said.