The rise of Dr. Austin and Jayne Onwumere to the pinnacle of Nigeria’s entrepreneurship is a classical model of starting business small and growing big. It is also a story of how adversity and the will to survive can be translated into life-changing opportunities. For the couple, it all started in 2012 in Lagos when they were booted out of their residential apartment for inability to pay rent. After squatting with strangers in 13 different locations over two and a half years, their experience of homelessness compelled and inspired them to conjure what they believed to be a viable business concept. Armed with just N25,000 as startup capital, the couple set up their first office—a simple table and chair in the corner of a friend’s restaurant. While Dr. Onwumere distributed flyers around Lekki and Lagos Island, his wife handled calls from interested prospects.
That was how PWAN HOMES (PWAN for Property World Africa Network), the first real estate network marketing company in the world, was co-founded, with Dr. Austin Ozioma Onwumere becoming the Chairman and his wife, Dr. Jayne Obioma Onwumere, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of what is now the PWAN Group. In the course of just over a decade, with the enthusiastic leadership and dynamic practical display of unbridled passion for getting things done the right way, the company has spread its presence all over Nigeria and beyond with offices in the United States and several other countries in Africa.
PWAN HOMES Limited, the parent company, began to open other companies in partnership with Independent Consultants which today forms the PWAN Group. The Group consists of twelve member companies known as PWAN Edge, PWAN Plus, PWAN Premium, PWAN Heritage, PWAN Haven, PWAN Prime, PWAN Legend, PWAN Stars, PWAN Lekki, PWAN Royale, PWAN Assurance and PWAN Precious. Also in the Group is PHPAC, the company charged with the responsibility of raising and equipping ordinary people to achieve extraordinary feats in the real estate industry. Together, they have created direct jobs for over 150 young Nigerians, excluding the over 30,000 independent real estate professionals generally called Consultants working with PWAN.
The business model operated by PWAN, with its headquarters in Ajah, Lekki, Lagos, has an in-built mechanism for people empowerment. Under this system, every participant in a property transaction is guaranteed a seamless payout through a well-structured compensation plan. This ground-breaking approach eliminates conflicts over commissions, creates an atmosphere of collaboration, and provides a clear path for individuals to thrive in the industry.
This model, now widely imitated by competitors, has been the driving force behind a new class of real estate professionals—known as Independent Business Development Executives (IBDEs), now widely recognized as PWAN Consultants and Partners. Today, through the PWAN Business Owners (PBO) system, individuals are not just selling real estate but also securing long-term wealth for themselves and future generations.
Unlike conventional real estate business models, which focus solely on profit, PWAN was built on the principle of helping others succeed. Driven by this philosophy, the Onwumeres and their team developed a revolutionary platform that allows anyone—regardless of background, education, or experience—to achieve financial independence through real estate.
The PBO system resolves long-standing commission-sharing issues by organizing independent property agents within a structured business framework. This system allows agents to retain their independence while benefiting from PWAN’s resources, training and mentorship. Unlike the traditional real estate model, which often left marketers struggling to earn commissions, PBOs now enjoy a seamless and transparent earnings process, ensuring they get paid without hassle.
One of the hallmarks of the PBO system is its commitment to continuous education and skill-building. Every week, PWAN organizes free seminars and training sessions across its centers nationwide, equipping PBOs with the latest property sales strategies, negotiation techniques, and digital marketing skills. These sessions, held three times a week, empower thousands of individuals to maximize their potential in real estate—without the burden of costly training fees.
Dr. Augustine Onwumere, indigene of Imo state and a Biochemistry graduate of the University of Lagos, believes that Nigeria can become better if entrepreneurship remains the pursuit of every individual. This belief has led him to reach out to millions of Nigerians through a live Empowerment programme on 93.7 Inspiration F.M Radio station known as “Mr. Empowerment”. He runs this programme weekly on air where he talks about empowerment, and no doubt, inspires a lot of Nigerian youths to become real estate consultants which is the first step towards making their home ownership dream a reality.
Beyond the in-built empowerment programmes of their business and entrepreneurial education, Dr. Augustine and Jayne Onwumere are also deeply into personal philanthropy and people empowerment. In 2017, being a staunch advocate for women empowerment, “Mama Africa” as Jayne is fondly called, initiated the “Empowerment for all Women” programme, providing financial support to 50 women to start or enhance their businesses. Her empowerment of women has been strengthened through partnerships with sponsors who are equally dogged and determined to liberate the female gender from hardship to having a decent life. She has since continued to expand this programme, offering monthly pay of N100,000 each to a new set of twelve women each year since 2020.
Her philanthropic endeavors across Nigeria is unparalleled and extend beyond economic empowerment. This was evidenced in September 2022, through her contribution to renovating and equipping two unmaintained primary schools in Nsukwa, Aniocha South LGA of Delta State Nigeria. Believing in the transformative power of education, provision for furniture, new uniforms and books were not left out in her agenda as Dr Jayne remains dedicated to securing a brighter future for children nationwide.
Together with her husband, she pays school fees for so many children, pays house rent for many and keeps a completely open-door policy that has made many refer to her as “Mummy; Mama Africa; Global Mummy;” etc. All these eventually birthed the launch of the Jayne Onwumere Foundation in March 2014, an organization that aims at providing aid, resources, and advocacy to those in need, advancing education, and contributing to the overall well-being of the society.
In recognition of their outstanding contributions, the couple have been accorded numerous recognitions by different organizations. Dr. Jayne Onwumere was awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree by the European-American University, Commonwealth of Dominica. She was also honoured as one of the “Top 100 Most Influential Women” by the Lagos State Government for her innovative strategies and impactful empowerment programmes in real estate network marketing, and the prestigious Investor of the Year 2023 award from the SUN Newspaper in Nigeria.
Her husband has also received personal and honorary awards from different institutions and led the Group to receive awards such as African Quality Achievement Award, Global Quality Excellence Award, African Quality Achievement Award, Global Quality Excellence Award, etc.
The choice of Dr. Augustine and Jayne Onwumere for the Top10 Magazine’s 10 Most Impactful Power Couples in Nigeria is in recognition of their outstanding contributions to Nigeria’s economic development as they serve as inspiration to upcoming couples.
