I remember someone who couldn't afford a land at the city center but wanted to invest. He bought it at a rural area where he could buy over 1 acre. Not long after, the government decided to build a Federal university in that locality. Right now, a plot of land there can buy a plot of land in the city center that he couldn't afford, that is the power of investing.
Your friend is lucky, many people can do the same investment and there would be no government university build or anything that can give the land value, there are more people like you friend they made this investment and 10 years on they are living to regret it.
When trying to invest in land do so knowing that there are already things in place that will give the land value in the future.
Investment is for everyone but you need to see the opportunities, if you see that opportunity in you then you invest in yourself, build knowledge, if you see that opportunity in a trusted person then invest in them. Capital is a factor in investment fit where you capital will be suitable and invest.