Nigerian Architect Pioneers Blockchain Solution to Combat Land Fraud

By Ugo Aliogo

The real estate sector has long grappled with a persistent challenge: fraudulent land transactions that drain billions from economies worldwide and leave countless property buyers in legal limbo. In Nigeria alone, where land disputes account for a significant portion of court cases, the problem has reached crisis proportions. But Oluwatoyin Lawal, a doctoral researcher at the University of Florida’s School of Architecture, believes he has found an answer that could revolutionize how we think about property ownership.
“Land is finite, and every point on Earth has unique geographical coordinates,” Lawal explains. “If we can harness that fundamental truth and combine it with blockchain technology, we can create a system where land ownership becomes transparent, immutable, and fraud-proof.”

His invention, a Blockchain-GIS Framework for Land Registration, has earned him a utility patent filing and represents a bold reimagining of property systems that have remained largely unchanged for centuries. The framework leverages blockchain—the technology behind cryptocurrency—to record geospatial information from Geographical Information Systems (GIS), creating an unalterable record of land ownership that doesn’t require traditional intermediaries.

The implications are profound. In many developing nations, unclear land titles and duplicate ownership claims create barriers to development and fuel corruption. Lawal’s system would allow land corners, beacons, and boundaries to be described according to their unique geospatial features, making it virtually impossible to duplicate or falsify ownership records.

“What makes blockchain revolutionary for land registration is that transactions become unchangeable and cannot be undone through a codified consensus from the network,” Lawal notes. “No single party can manipulate the records, which fundamentally changes the trust dynamics in real estate transactions.”

Lawal’s journey to this breakthrough has been anything but linear. Before pursuing his doctorate in the United States, he spent eight years as an architect in Nigeria, where he managed major commercial projects including a $11.4 million office facility for Dover Engineering in Victoria Island, Lagos, and a $12 million conversion project for Cummins West Africa. Those experiences on the ground gave him firsthand insight into the inefficiencies and vulnerabilities of traditional land registration systems.

“Working on large-scale projects in Lagos, I saw how land disputes could delay or derail entire developments,” he recalls. “The lack of a reliable, transparent system affected everyone—from small property owners to major corporations.”

At the University of Florida, Lawal has emerged as a leading voice in the intersection of architecture, blockchain, and urban technology. Beyond his patent work, he has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals, including research on blockchain-enabled city information modeling and urban asset management. His work has taken him to scientific conferences across multiple countries, where he has presented his vision for more transparent, efficient urban systems.

This past summer, while working with engineering teams at a Miami-based firm on a vehicle maintenance facility in Hialeah, Lawal continued refining his blockchain frameworks. He also serves as Vice President of the Gator Blockchain Club and has taught courses on Building Information Modelling and blockchain technology to undergraduate students.

His achievements haven’t gone unnoticed. Earlier this year, Lawal received a $6,000 Grinter Fellowship Award and placed third in the University of Florida/Miami NFT Contest. In 2022, he won first place in the structural design category of the DCP Witters Competition.
As Lawal looks toward completing his doctorate in 2025, he envisions a future where blockchain-based land registration becomes standard practice, particularly in regions where property fraud remains endemic. “Technology should serve people,” he says. “If we can use blockchain to give people confidence in their property rights, we’re not just changing real estate—we’re changing lives.”