In this powerful episode of the Afropolitan Podcast, Olawale Ayilara—founder of Landwey and the visionary behind Isimi Lagos—shares the untold story behind one of Africa’s most remarkable real estate empires.

From walking away from a U.S. visa and marriage plan to betting everything on Lagos, Wale takes us behind the scenes of what it really takes to build wealth, legacy, and trust in Nigeria’s chaotic market.

🎯 In this episode, we explore:

– How he lost ₦14B and still chose to refund his clients

– Why land, not houses, is the smartest investment in Nigeria

– The truth about diaspora disillusionment, devaluation, and coming back home

– What the future of sustainable cities looks like on the continent

– And the mindset it takes to lead with integrity and long-term vision

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This isn’t just a real estate story—it’s a lesson in resilience, innovation, and what it means to build for Africa, from Africa.

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📍 Subscribe and turn on notifications for more transformative conversations with African visionaries.

🎧 Also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Chapters.

00:00 The Journey Begins: From Nigeria to Real Estate

05:59 Building a Business: The Birth of LandWave

11:50 Challenges in Real Estate: Setbacks and Solutions

18:06 Creating Communities: The Role of Developers

24:14 Wellness and Sustainability: The Future of Living

29:52 Reflections on Migration: Choosing Nigeria Over the US

33:24 Perceptions of Safety and Opportunity

34:50 The Illusion of Success Abroad

36:45 Creating Solutions in Nigeria

39:00 Challenges in Real Estate Development

49:21 Navigating Economic Challenges

53:12 Investment Sentiments and Realities

01:01:39 The Value of Land vs. Houses

01:04:35 The Value of Land Investment

01:11:16 Creating Homes and Communities

01:14:32 The Future of Real Estate in Lagos

01:20:13 Wellness and Sustainable Living

01:24:50 The Need for Innovation in Real Estate

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