Cosgrove’s Umar Abdullahi gifts $2.7M properties to staff

Nigerian real estate mogul Umar Abdullahi, owner of Cosgrove Investment Limited, closed the year with a surprise for his workforce, approving ₦4 billion ($2.7 million) worth of company properties as gifts to staff members, a move the firm described as recognition for loyalty and performance.

The announcement came during Cosgrove’s 2025 retreat in Abuja, where management and key team members gathered for strategy sessions and internal reviews, according to the company statement published by THISDAY.

Abdullahi, who owns the real estate development company, presented the property awards as more than a bonus. The initiative was framed as a way to reward excellence, build long-term security for employees and deepen what the company called a sense of shared ownership inside the organisation.

In the statement, Abdullahi said the decision reflected Cosgrove’s wider commitment to empowering its workforce and building sustainable prosperity for what he described as the Cosgrove family, as the company expands across Nigeria’s real estate market.

The gesture drew attention in business circles as an unusually tangible form of employee recognition in a country where many firms lean on plaques, speeches and end-of-year parties, not title documents. Another published account described it as a gift to staff tied to dedication and contributions to company growth.

Company executives used the retreat to look ahead. The meetings focused on operations, organisational structure and performance, with repeated emphasis on quicker project delivery, stronger customer service and maintaining what Cosgrove calls its standard for home development.

Teams reviewed what the company described as operational gaps and agreed on execution priorities for 2026, including clearer accountability and faster decision-making across departments.

Cosgrove Investment Limited is a privately held real estate developer based in Abuja. It develops and sells residential properties, often marketed as premium or luxury homes, and also positions itself as a builder of commercial real estate.

A big part of its branding is smart homes and home automation, meaning houses designed with integrated tech systems for security, energy use, and remote controls. The company describes its approach as combining technology and sustainability in its developments

Cosgrove said it is expanding its footprint in multiple states, naming Jigawa, Kano, Lagos and Ondo, and it signaled that its plans cover both residential projects and road infrastructure work.