Afriland Properties Plc has appointed Agatha Obiekwugo as the new Chairman of its Board of Directors, marking a leadership transition at the Nigerian real estate company following the retirement of Emmanuel Nnorom after more than a decade in the role.
The company announced the appointment in a statement on Monday, August 31, 2026, describing the transition as part of its efforts to strengthen board leadership as it continues to expand its property portfolio and deepen its position in Nigeria’s real estate market.
Obiekwugo joined the board of Afriland Properties in October 2018 as a Non-Executive Director and has since played an active role in the company’s governance and oversight functions.
During her tenure, she served on the Finance, Risk and General-Purpose Committee, as well as the Nomination, Audit and Governance Committee.
Her experience across the board’s key committees is expected to provide continuity as she assumes responsibility for leading the board and overseeing its strategic direction.
Nnorom, meanwhile, joined the Afriland Properties board in 2014 and subsequently served as chairman for more than 10 years.
The Board and Management expressed appreciation for his contribution, leadership and stewardship during his tenure.
Commenting on the leadership change, Afriland Properties Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Azubike Emodi, praised the outgoing chairman for his service while expressing confidence in Obiekwugo’s ability to lead the board.
“We are grateful to Emmanuel Nnorom for his dedicated service, leadership and invaluable contribution to the Company over the years. His experience and stewardship have made a lasting contribution to the Board and the Company.
“We are equally pleased to welcome Agatha Obiekwugo as Chairman. Having served on the board for several years, she brings a strong understanding of the company alongside broad business experience and an entrepreneurial perspective. We look forward to her leadership as we continue to execute our strategy and create long-term value for our stakeholders.”
Obiekwugo Brings Three Decades of Experience
The new chairman brings more than 30 years of professional experience spanning banking, commerce, information technology, consulting and the oil and gas industry.
She is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Adassa Energy Limited, an oil and gas company with interests across the upstream and downstream segments.
Obiekwugo also serves on the boards of Heirs Insurance Brokers and Houce Limited.
She is a founding member of the Women in Energy Network and a member of the Institute of Directors Nigeria.
Her academic and professional background includes a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Edo State University and an MBA in Marketing from ESUT Business School.
She has also completed the Strategy Execution Programme at Harvard Business School, in addition to participating in other executive development programmes and professional courses.
Her appointment comes at a challenging period for Nigeria’s property industry, with developers and investors contending with high construction costs, elevated financing expenses and shifting patterns of demand.
Against this backdrop, the company’s board leadership will be expected to balance expansion ambitions with prudent financial management and changing market conditions.
With her years of experience on the Afriland Properties board and exposure to multiple sectors, Obiekwugo is expected to provide both institutional continuity and fresh leadership as the company pursues its growth strategy.
The transition brings to an end Nnorom’s more than decade-long tenure as chairman and begins a new phase of board leadership under Obiekwugo.