One of those places where ‘facts are no longer sacred’ today is the Nigerian Real Estate Sector. Proshare reported early into the year that “There are untapped opportunities in Nigeria’s Real Estate”; one of my revered Real Estate editors, Chuka Uroko, in his opening article this year, also lends his voice on how global economic indices favours our market; and I furthermore submitted in my 2014 analysis of the sector that every Tom agrees that Real Estate will be one of Nigeria’s most bankable assets this year.

So we’ve reviewed seven events at 3Investonline and I will be walking you through them in a jiffy. Are they free? Not absolutely! “There’s no free lunch in Freetown”, they say. Nonetheless, I can stake my $10 that any of these events you choose would be worth every kobo and time you put in.

1.    The Retail Development and Management Forum: February 4, 2014 | Lagos

The bull eye of this event is the free private consultancy session designed for retail real estate developers and managers in Nigeria. The event is organised by Alphamead Facilities and Management Services Company, AMF, on behalf Cluttons LLP, its global technical partner. At the end of the meeting designed as a strategic entry into Africa through Nigeria’s 200bn retail sector, Clutton LLP team of experts will be on hand to assist attendees through different levels of project management, FoC. The forum which is billed for February 4 at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos, is an invitation-only event.

2.    PBF+ Social Media Week 2014 : February 18 | Lagos

If you can find your way to Four Points by Sheraton on February 18, you’ll leave this event having been part of three significant things for your business. One, as an exhibitor, you will access a pool of ready-made homebuyers and investors that have been personally profiled by 3Invest as “willing to buy”. Two, you will be part of a process that seeks to connect Real Estate consumers, sellers and operators through the social media hub – just imagine how much you need social media for your business.  PBF is designed by 3INVEST to connect home sellers and buyers. This year’s edition themed “Building your property ladder through Social Media” was deliberately scheduled to coincide with the Social Media week; a move that reinforces 3INVEST’s belief in the potency of Social Media. SMW is a leading media platform and worldwide event with local presence and global reach aimed at providing the best information, ideas and inspiration to help people achieve more in a hyper-connected world.

 3.    MIPIM – The World’s Property Market: March 11-14, 2014 | Cannes, France

If you agree that foreign investments are looking into Africa through Nigeria and your business development personnel have not place a MIPIM proposal on your table, I recommend you redeploy them to marketing and sales. Or how will they explain missing out on the business opportunities possible on a 25 year old platform that wields an unprecedented 2,000 exhibitors, 20, 000 individuals, 3, 000 CEOs, 4,300 investors and 460 journalists from across 80 countries of the world? MIPIM holds at Cannes, France from March 11 – 14 and it’s a paid event.

4.    The 3^rd Asset Management Summit, Africa: march 31- April 1, 2014 | Lagos

It is no news that Africa suffers from a huge infrastructure deficit. It is also not a sacred fact that infrastructure plays very significant role in the value of Real Estate assets. The need for Africa to manage its infrastructure effectively midwifed the first two edition of this summit in London. In order to feel the pulse of the market AMF and Codub Consulting Limited has collaborated to bring the 3^rd edition to Nigeria from March 31 – April 1. Attending this event will offer you B2B relationship with local and international companies and help you increase profitability through Asset Management. This is an exclusive 150-seat, paid event supported by UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), part of the British High Commission as well as the Nigerian High Commission, London, UK.

5.    World Facility Management Roundtable: June 2014 | Lagos

In the past three years, the Facility Management Industry has significantly received a boost. This is solely a function of the entry of global brands into Nigeria’s retail sector and existing multinational clients who view the FM services as essential. One thing that can’t be missing in the FM equation today is best practice which actually led to the birth of FM Benchmarking tool for Africa administered by Alphamead Facilities. The take-away from this event is the drive to interact with other professionals on how to keep the industry floating. Another memento for your business for attending the World FM roundtable is the opportunities to network with a pool of professionals and vested interests. This is a closed annual event that holds every June.

 6.    Real Estate Unite Conference and Awards Lagos 2014: October 9-10, 2014 | Lagos

This event enters its 3^rd edition this year, with the first two significantly contributing technical strategies to the current dimension of the industry. One thing difficult to subtract from this event is the fact that it features the best minds and brands in the industry, and it is a blanket event that brings all aspects of Real Estate under one roof. So whatever you do in the sector, Real Estate Unite comes highly recommended, especially for sponsorship, exhibition and networking. This is a paid event.   

7.    MAPIC – The International Retail Property Market: November 13-15, 2014 | Cannes, France

If the core of your business lurks around Facility Management, development, marketing, construction or design; and you want to increase your balance sheet; this event comes with a strong recommendation. MAPIC is the key meeting point for retailers looking for partners, and property developers and owners looking for retailers to enhance their sites. To expand your portfolio this year, consider joining over 685 exhibiting companies across 67 countries at Cannes, France in November. MAPIC is a paid event.

On the whole, one thing is clear, you can’t “sit put” within the four walls of your cozy office and expect “’grace to abound’; God forbid?” Opportunities abound but you’ve got to look for them or be in the right place in case opportunities are looking for you.

What event did I miss? Do you know of any event that could help our sector this year? Leave your thoughts below.

Written by Olusesan Ogunyooye

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2014-02-02