Real estate professionals at REMA 2026 in Lagos
Real estate professionals and technology providers have called for stronger collaboration and wider adoption of technology to improve the management, security and long-term performance of residential communities across Africa.
The call emerged at the second edition of the Real Estate Management in Africa (REMA) conference, convened by Venco on November 5, 2026, at the Admiralty Event Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos. The event attracted more than 600 participants from Nigeria's residential real estate sector.
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Held under the theme, “From the Ground Up: Rethinking How Communities Live, Operate and Grow,” the conference focused on practical solutions to challenges affecting residential estates, including electricity supply, financial management, internet connectivity, security and facility management.
The discussions highlighted a growing industry focus on the period after construction and handover, when developers, estate managers and service providers must ensure that residential communities remain functional, secure and attractive to residents.
Real Estate Industry Shifts Focus to Estate Operations
The conference built on the inaugural REMA event in 2025, moving discussions beyond identifying challenges towards partnerships and solutions that could improve residential community management.
Hakeem Ogunniran, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Eximia Realty Company Limited, delivered the keynote address, examining what residential communities should inherit beyond their physical structures.
Other speakers included professionals from property development, facility management, energy, security, technology and academia. Their discussions covered the responsibilities of developers, government agencies, estate operators and service providers in maintaining functional residential environments.
Abiola Showemimo, Chief Operating Officer of Venco, said the conference aimed to translate industry conversations into practical action through partnerships across essential services.
She noted that the success of residential communities depends not only on the quality of their buildings but also on the infrastructure, systems and services that support residents after occupation.
Venco Highlights Partnerships in Banking, Connectivity and Security
Venco used the conference to showcase partnerships designed to connect essential services within residential estates.
Its collaboration with Paystack MFB focuses on providing financial services tailored to residential communities, including estate banking, collections, disbursements and community financial management.
The company also highlighted its partnership with MTN FibreX, which aims to improve access to fibre internet connectivity across eligible estates within Venco's ecosystem.
In the area of security, Venco presented its collaboration with Halogen through Safe Haven, an initiative designed to introduce technology-enabled security solutions into residential communities, beginning with pilot estates.
These partnerships reflect an approach that brings financial services, digital connectivity and security into the wider management of residential properties rather than treating them as separate services.
Technology Targets Everyday Challenges in Residential Estates
Beyond its partnerships, Venco demonstrated technology solutions intended to simplify estate operations and improve residents' experiences.
Venco Tokenless is designed to remove the need for residents to manually enter prepaid electricity tokens after making purchases. Its Marketplace platform connects residents with merchants and providers of everyday goods and services, while giving businesses access to customers within residential communities.
The company's Partner Programme also seeks to bring more developers, facility managers and other property professionals into its technology ecosystem.
Venco Chief Executive Officer Chude Osiegbu said residential development should extend beyond constructing buildings to ensuring that communities function effectively and provide quality experiences for residents.
He said the company's technology and partnerships aim to simplify activities such as electricity payments, financial transactions, access to essential goods, internet connectivity and security.
Implications for Developers and Estate Investors
The issues discussed at REMA 2026 highlight an important consideration for property developers and investors: the long-term performance of residential assets depends on more than construction quality and location.
Reliable electricity, effective security, digital connectivity, financial administration and responsive facility management all influence residents' experiences and the attractiveness of an estate.
For developers, integrating these services into project planning could help distinguish their developments in an increasingly competitive housing market. For investors and property managers, more efficient estate operations could support occupancy, resident retention and the preservation of property values.
However, the effectiveness of these technology-driven solutions will depend on affordability, reliable service delivery, resident adoption and the ability of estate managers to sustain the systems over time.
REMA 2026 therefore placed greater attention on the operational side of residential real estate, reinforcing the need for developers, technology providers, financial institutions and service operators to work together to deliver communities that remain functional long after construction ends.
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