Bola Olawuyi, Esq., is a Nigerian-qualified lawyer, registered Estate Surveyor and Valuer, and the founder of The Diaspora Property Desk, an educational and property advisory initiative connecting Nigerians at home and abroad with the information and professional guidance needed to make more informed property decisions. With more than two decades of experience in real estate valuation, consultancy, property management, and transactions in Nigeria, she has built her career on professional diligence, independent judgment, and service. Olawuyi is a Fellow of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) and is registered with the Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria (ESVARBON). Her professional journey includes work with established property firms and leadership of Bola Olawuyi Consulting, an estate surveying and valuation practice, alongside her legal practice, Bola Olawuyi Associates (Otolorin Chambers). She belongs to NBA Tiger Branch Ikeja, Lagos. Her academic and professional background bridges property and law. She studied Estate Management at Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, and pursued postgraduate studies in Estate Management at the Federal University of Technology, Akure. She subsequently earned an LL.B. from Adeleke University, Ede, completed the Nigerian Law School programme, and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2023. After relocating to the United States, she completed an LL.M. in Immigration Law at Brooklyn Law School in New York.
Beyond private practice, she has participated in professional committees, mentoring, and community development. Her work has included encouraging younger estate professionals, supporting women’s professional participation, and contributing to community initiatives. These experiences strengthened her conviction that professional knowledge is most valuable when it helps people avoid preventable mistakes. That conviction inspired The Diaspora Property Desk. Through accessible social media education and practical advisory services, the initiative addresses concerns that arise when people acquire, inherit, manage, or develop property in Nigeria from overseas: unclear ownership, defective documentation, conflicting family claims, unreliable intermediaries, unrealistic pricing, and insufficient independent verification. Its guiding message is simple: “Know before you commit. Verify before you pay.” Drawing on her Nigerian real estate and legal background and her experience of living abroad, Olawuyi aims to make property decisions less intimidating and more transparent for diaspora families, while promoting professionalism, accountability, and informed investment across borders.
Bola Olawuyi sheds light on why she created The Diaspora Property Desk
Excerpts:
You had a thriving real estate firm in Nigeria before moving to the USA. Why are many Nigerians in the diaspora skeptical about acquiring property at home?
Their skepticism is understandable. For many Nigerians abroad, acquiring property at home represents years of hard work, personal sacrifice, and a desire to retain a connection with Nigeria. Yet distance creates a vital information gap. Buyers may be unable to inspect the land themselves, visit the registry, verify the seller’s authority, or supervise a transaction as it unfolds. They often depend on relatives, friends, agents, or developers whose interests may not always align with theirs. Over the years, we have heard of double sales, misleading advertisements, disputed family land, forged or incomplete documents, unexpected development charges and properties that do not match what was promised. Not every seller or developer is dishonest, and Nigeria has genuine opportunities. The problem is that trust is too often substituted for independent verification. Having practiced in Nigeria and now living in the United States, I understand both sides. I do not want Nigerians abroad to abandon the dream of owning property at home. I want them to approach it with the same discipline they would apply to any major investment: ask questions, demand evidence, and engage independent professionals before committing funds.
As a lawyer and registered Estate Surveyor, what precautions should Nigerians in the diaspora take before paying for property in Nigeria?
My first advice is straightforward: do not pay merely because you have seen attractive photographs, received a survey plan or been told that a deal is urgent. Establish exactly what is being sold, who owns it and whether the seller has legal authority to transfer it. Engage an independent Nigerian lawyer to investigate title and relevant records, review the proposed contract, check encumbrances and litigation risks, and advise on the documentation and perfection requirements applicable in that state. A surveyor should confirm the land’s location, boundaries, and survey information, including any planning or acquisition concerns that can be checked with the appropriate authorities. A registered Estate Surveyor and Valuer should assess the property and whether the asking price is commercially reasonable. For developed property, obtain a physical inspection and, where necessary, technical assessments. Where family or inherited land is involved, establish who has authority to consent and execute documents; a single relative’s assurance may be insufficient. Verify the identities and credentials of the seller, agent and professionals involved. Make payments through traceable channels, in stages where appropriate, against properly documented milestones and after professional advice. Keep copies of every receipt, agreement, search result, and correspondence. Above all, remember that a Certificate of Occupancy, deed, or survey plan is not by itself a substitute for full due diligence. Requirements and risks differ across Nigerian states and individual transactions. The cost of verification is usually far less than the cost of a dispute.
Why did you create The Diaspora Property Desk and what should Nigerians at home and abroad expect from it?
I created The Diaspora Property Desk because I saw a gap between the desire to invest in Nigeria and access to reliable, understandable professional guidance. After more than twenty years in real estate practice and subsequent legal training, I felt a responsibility to use that combined experience to educate people, especially those making decisions from thousands of miles away. The Desk is built around prevention, transparency, and empowerment. Our message is “Know before you commit. Verify before you pay.” We want people to understand title documents, valuations, survey issues, land acquisition risks, inheritance and family-property concerns, and the questions they should ask before transferring money. Readers can expect practical articles, short videos, checklists, and discussions that explain complex property matters in plain language. The initiative also envisages tailored advisory support, document review, verification coordination, valuation guidance, and referrals to appropriately qualified professionals when specialist work is required. Because diaspora life involves more than property alone, our educational content also addresses relevant cross-border family and U.S. immigration issues, while distinguishing general information from individualized legal advice. This is not a platform promising risk-free investments or endorsing every advertised development. It is a platform encouraging people to make decisions based on verified facts rather than pressure, sentiment, or assumptions.
Where would you like to see The Diaspora Property Desk in the next five years?
In five years, I would like The Diaspora Property Desk to be recognised as a trusted international point of reference for Nigerians seeking clear, independent, and practical information about property in Nigeria. I envision a platform that reaches communities across the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Europe and beyond, while remaining relevant to Nigerians at home. My ambition is to develop a strong library of educational resources, regular digital programmes, and accessible consultation pathways. I also hope to build a dependable network of vetted professionals in Nigeria, including lawyers, registered valuers, surveyors, and other specialists who can support appropriate verification and transaction work within their professional mandates. Most importantly, I would measure success not simply by followers or visibility, but by impact: a family that avoids fraudulent purchase, a widow who asks the right questions about inherited property, a buyer who obtains an independent valuation, or a young professional who learns the importance of ethics. If we can help normalize due diligence before payment, we will have made a meaningful contribution.
What is your message to Nigerians in the diaspora?
Nigeria remains home for many of us, and investing there can be an important way to build a legacy for ourselves and our families. But love for home should never replace careful judgment. Do not allow distance, emotional pressure or promises of extraordinary returns to rush you into a transaction. Be proud of your aspirations but protect what you have worked hard to earn. Ask who owns the property. Verify the documents. Confirm the location and value. Use independent, qualified professionals. Insist on written agreements and traceable payments. If the answers are unclear, be prepared to walk away. My message is one of hope coupled with responsibility: you can maintain your roots and pursue opportunities in Nigeria without closing your eyes to risk. Knowledge is your first protection. The Diaspora Property Desk is here to help make that knowledge accessible. Know before you commit. Verify before you pay
Contact: Brookl70yn, NY |+1 (929) 326-8528 | bolaolawuyiesq@gmail.com | LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bola-olawuyi81107136
