From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Majescity Real Estate and Investment, Okwuchukwu Okonkwo, has identified road construction across the hinterlands by Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, as a major boost aiding the growth of the real estate business in the state.
Okonkwo, who made this disclosure in Awka yesterday during a conference on sustainable real estate, said access roads were part of the things that drive development in any community, noting that because of road projects in various communities by Soludo, prices of properties in such places have gone up, thereby causing a boom in business for people in real estate.
He said that the time is right to shape the future of real estate through sustainability, innovation, and responsible development.
He added that as the world navigates an era defined by climate change, urbanisation, and evolving market demands, the real estate sector holds a crucial responsibility to build not just for today but for generations to come.
He said, “This conference is mainly about how to sustain Mother Earth. We do real estate, we do agriculture, and we needed to start the campaign to sensitise people to understand the need for us to save our planet Earth. Our focus is on the intersection of real estate, agriculture, environmental sustainability, and economic growth.
“Sustainability is no longer an option; it is the foundation of resilient and future-proof developments. From eco-friendly building materials to smart energy solutions, from green financing to policies that drive environmental stewardship, we must embrace strategies that balance profitability with planet-conscious practices.”
He described the conference as a call to action, a space for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and bold ideas that will drive sustainable real estate forward.
“I encourage each of you to engage, challenge assumptions, and explore innovative solutions that redefine how we develop, invest, and live in our environments. Together, let’s build a future where real estate is not just an industry but a force for positive environmental and social impact.
“Real estate in Anambra is untapped; investors are still coming in. The good road network done by the governor has made people take an interest. Many more companies are coming, and the real estate business is booming because many places are being opened up with roads by the governor.”
Earlier, the keynote speaker at the conference, multilingual journalist Mr Kelechi Deca, while speaking on the topic “Building for tomorrow: the role of real estate in sustainable human development,” called for concerted efforts for development in the South East.
He said: “We must keep hosting conferences like this in the South East for the development of the region. You cannot take such conferences to other regions where people pay for flights and book hotels to attend and expect that your society will grow.
“People say the Southeast has less land mass, but for me, the challenge we have is the inability to plan. The South East is many times the size of metropolitan New York City, but there are far more people and buildings there. So, we need to plan.
“A society starts dying when its best brains start leaving. We must prioritise this zone and go back to the old times when our leaders created a system that attracted talents. We must create an opportunity where talent will be able to unleash itself.”
The conference was attended by several real estate practitioners, including the Commissioners for Agriculture in Anambra and Enugu States, Foster Ihejiofor and Patrick Nwabueze Ubru, the latter represented by his Special Adviser, Charles Maduka.
The conference featured the award of scholarships to 10 students and free landed properties to two lucky winners, while bestselling realtors were awarded land, a refrigerator, a washing machine, and other items.