Technology as the Catalyst for Sustainable Housing Growth in Nigeria
Nigeria’s housing deficit, currently estimated at 28 million units, remains one of the most significant economic hurdles in the South-Saharan region. However, as the 2026 fiscal year unfolds, "Proptech" is evolving from a buzzword into a structural necessity. Mr. Tola Akinsulire, Group Chief Commercial Officer at Mixta Africa, recently delivered a defining presentation on how digital innovation is the key to moving the needle on sustainable housing.
In his session, “Building Proptech Businesses that Actually Move the Needle on Housing,” Akinsulire argued that technology must transcend simple fintech transactions to solve the structural inefficiencies of land, capital, and trust.
Beyond Fintech: Harnessing Technology to Scale Delivery
According to Akinsulire, the Nigerian housing ecosystem is often hindered by "transactional noise." To achieve real growth, stakeholders must address three fundamental realities:
Land and Infrastructure: Seamless land acquisition and legal title transfers are the bedrock of development. Digital solutions must streamline these to provide security to both buyers and developers.
Capital and Risk Transparency: To mobilize the billions required for 28 million units, digital platforms must provide the governance needed to protect and recover investment capital.
Trust and Service Quality: User-centric design and reliable data are required to repair the historical lack of confidence in the Nigerian housing market.
The Three-Pillar Framework for Proptech Success
For founders and investors in the 2026 market, Akinsulire proposed a framework designed for "Impact over Vanity":
Pillar 1: Product Pipeline Fit
Startups should aim to become "essential nodes" in the housing value chain. A successful Proptech tool is one that, if removed, would significantly disrupt the development pipeline. It must be indispensable, not just "nice to have."
Pillar 2: Digital Discipline & Behavioural Change
Technology should consolidate information into a "Single Source of Truth." By driving digital discipline, developers and regulators can access the accurate data required to make high-stakes decisions.
Pillar 3: Capital and Confidence Design
Akinsulire highlighted his experience with the MREIF (Ministry of Finance Incorporated Real Estate Investment Fund)—a public-private partnership designed to attract private sector investment. He stressed that metrics must focus on unit economics and predictable revenue, ensuring that technology-driven solutions are investor-ready.
Actionable Strategies for 2026 Proptech Founders
To maximize long-term impact, the presentation urged innovators to adopt three specific strategies:
Essential Positioning: Integrate products into the critical nodes of the housing pipeline.
Operational Efficiency: Implement systems that change stakeholder behavior through data reliability.
Narrative of Security: Develop capital narratives that clearly show how technology safeguards and recycles investment funds.
"The ultimate measure of success is not the number of funding rounds closed, but the number of homes delivered and the sustainability of the solutions behind them." — Tola Akinsulire
The 2026 Outlook: Proptech as a National Asset
As Nigeria moves toward a more transparent real estate system, Proptech is positioned as the primary tool for mobilizing diaspora capital and institutional funding. Leveraging tools like "thinking sheets" for strategy and data-driven market insights will define the industry leaders of the next decade.
Through Product-Pipeline Fit and Capital Confidence, Nigerian Proptech companies are no longer just startups—they are becoming the industry-defining institutions that will finally bridge the national housing gap.
