Speaking at a recently held workshop themed; “Financing Green Building Solutions: Access Bank’s Role in Promoting Sustainable Construction for the Future,” Akintunde emphasized the long-term economic benefits of green buildings despite the perceived high initial costs.

“The reality is that sustainable buildings may require higher upfront costs, but when you look at operational savings over time, the numbers speak for themselves. With the right design and value engineering, we can drive costs down significantly, making green buildings more accessible and financially viable,” he stated.

Akintunde further urged stakeholders in the real estate sector to deepen their understanding of green construction and affordable housing, noting that the industry must evolve to remain relevant.

“We have to commit to learning more about affordable housing and sustainable building because this is the future. This is how we can unlock the full potential of our built environment or preserve it for future generations,” he said.

Speaking on financing challenges, Akintunde underscored the importance of access to funding, stating that “for green building to gain real momentum, the availability, accessibility, and affordability of finance are absolutely essential. Without these, progress will be slow, and we can’t afford that delay.”

He also acknowledged the risks associated with real estate investments but reassured financial institutions and investors that working with credible developers minimizes these risks. “Yes, real estate comes with its risks, but when you partner with developers who have a strong track record, you’re not just mitigating those risks—you’re positioning yourself for solid returns,” he explained. He further encouraged developers to be proactive in structuring financial solutions that support sustainability, emphasizing that expertise in sourcing finance is key to managing investment risks.

Referring to a recent statement by Ola Olukoyede, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), regarding the anti-graft agency’s significant recoveries—including an unprecedented 700-units estate in Abuja, Akintunde emphasized the importance of financial transparency in business operations.

“You must ensure that when you’re doing your business and raising your capital, the sources are legitimate. It shouldn’t be some people depositing money with you to build capital as a means of cleaning it up for them,” he cautioned.

He further explained that financial authorities scrutinize projects where cash equity appears disproportionately large, which may lead to inquiries. However, he reassured that if the source of funds is clean and verifiable, there is no cause for concern.

“The authorities are not there to make trouble for you, but you must be sure the money you say is your equity is truly your equity and it’s been gotten through legitimate sources,” he stated.

Highlighting Alpha Mead’s innovation in construction, Akintunde revealed that the company’s cutting-edge technology enables them to build homes in just 10 to 15 days. He pointed out that in a volatile economy, speed translates directly to cost savings.

“In an environment of rising costs and high inflation, every single day saved on-site means more money saved. Efficiency is no longer optional, it’s a necessity,” he noted.

Additionally, Akintunde reinforced the idea that sustainable construction is not just a passing trend but an inevitable shift the industry must embrace.

“Green building is here to stay, and the sooner we align with this reality, the better positioned we will be to create long-term value—for businesses, investors, and society as a whole,” he said.

His presentation served as a call to action for developers, financial institutions, and policymakers to work together in making sustainable housing more accessible.

By leveraging innovative construction techniques and ensuring adequate financing, the transition to greener, more cost-effective building solutions in Nigeria and Africa can be accelerated.

Akintunde disclosed this while citing the immense contributions of the Real Estate industry to the Nigerian economy, pointing out that the sector witnessed a 46.52 percent expansion, 16.5 percent quarter-on-quarter growth rate, and 5.43 percent contribution to real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Q3 of 2024.

He stated that if properly harnessed, the real estate sector will play a significant role in driving the achievement of Nigeria’s N1 trillion economy ambition through extensive job creation, urban and rural landscape renewal, and robust tax and fee contributions.

In his words: “The sector leaped above oil and gas, telecommunications and agriculture which were traditional leading contributors to the economy, and facility management also played a part in this development.

“Trends in sustainability, cybersecurity, automation, workplace and home well-being, smart building and Artificial intelligence have expanded the operations of facility management consultants beyond the usual traditional roles, making engaging their services a necessity if the growth trajectory of the real estate sector will be maintained.”

He, therefore, cautioned developers, stakeholders, and other professionals in the Real Estate industry to maximise the roles of facility managers to hasten growth in the Nigerian economy.

The Alpha Mead MD also stressed that developers and owners should engage the services of a facility management firm or consultant in keeping tab with the growth trajectory of the real estate sector.

He said:

“It is most likely that it will be overwhelming to keep up with the growth trajectory of the real estate sector and cope with trends in facility management. An attempt to self-play both roles will yield poor facility management which snowballs into an unsatisfactory tenant experience, complaints, court cases, unrealised utility projection, threat to human health and safety, structure deterioration, expensive repairs, facility failure, abandonment, and low investment yield.”

Akintunde further outlines numerous benefits that developers and owners of properties stand to gain by utilizing Alpha Mead’s expertise in facility management.

He said:

“At Alpha Mead Group, we keep scaling our operations to support the growth of the real estate sector – not just in Nigeria, but across the key locations within the African region. Our services are designed to help investors in the real estate sector achieve their objectives.”

He further noted that concerted efforts are being made by Alpha Mead towards improving the performance of the Real Estate industry.

The company aims to help both the government and private investors scale returns, even as users scale experience; noting that the role of facility management in boosting growth in the Real Estate sector and the Nigerian economy cannot be over-emphasized.

Currently, Alpha Mead Group is one of Africa’s leading Facilities Management Companies.  The company is certified to ISO 9001:2015 international standards by United Kingdom Accreditation Services, UKAS, providing Integrated Facilities Management operations and Consultancy services to large-scope, complex, and multi-serviced facilities across Africa.

For over a decade, they have provided quality facility management services to some of the Fortune 100 companies operating in Africa and the Middle East markets.