Abuja, July 24 (Viewpoint Housing News) - The 17th edition of the Africa International Housing Show (AIHS) got underway on Monday at the International Conference Center, Abuja, the Nigerian capital. The three day housing event, tagged ‘Beyond Rhetoric To Homes: Making Housing Happen, is aimed at providing solutions for affordable housing provision in Nigeria and Africa.
The shows promises to be a platform that will provide ‘ample opportunities for colleagues, stakeholders, professionals in the African real estate and construction market to network, according to Convener of the Show, Festus Adebayo.
“We have exciting discussions to look forward to. There will be ample opportunities the Africa real estate and construction market offers. We have dedicated, main conference sessions for CEOs, political leaders, leading organisations and financial institutions”, Adebayo said.
Managing Director, Shelter Afrique, Thierno-Habib Hann said the AIHS had come at a time when there is an urgent need to bridge Nigeria’s housing deficit. Also, while describing Mr. Adebayo as “a good friend of Shelter Afrique”, Hann appreciated his passion in organising the show for these number of years.
“To have held such a show for 17 years, demonstrates Mr. Festus’ commitment to housing development in Nigeria and it is something we have to emulate from. So, congratulations to him and his team, Mr. Hann said.
Hann said housing is a fundamental human right that must not be ignored and stated that Shelter Afrique maintains a zero tolerance to lack of access to decent and affordable homes in the African continent.
He said this year’s theme of the show proves that it is time for African governments to move beyond promises for housing provision to fulfilling their pledges in reality.
President of the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko in his commendation of what he described as the dexterity and zeal exhibited by Adebayo in convening the show, called for improved collaboration and synergy amongst stakeholders in the housing industry in surmounting the existing housing deficit in the country.
Day 1 of the event titled ‘Creating and Maintaining Data Platforms for the Nigerian Housing Market will have the former Statistician General of the Federation, Dr. Yemi Kale as the lead speaker, present Statistician General of the Federation and CEO, Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, Mr. Semiu Adeyemi Adeniran as the Lead Speaker 2.
Others include the Executive Director and Founder of the Centre for Affordable Housing Finance in Africa, the Managing Director, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Madu Hamman, Managing Director, Shelter Afrique, Thierno-Habib Hann, Managing Director of the Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Company, Kehinde Ogundimu, Dr. Michael Mba of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Director Housing Census, NPC, Olanipekun Evelyn Arinola, amongst others.
Day 2 of the show will contain lead speakers like Ian Shapiro, the Managing Director of REALL and Naa Ayeleysa Quaynor-Mettle.
The AIHS is expected to run from the Monday 24th to Wednesday 26th July, 2023.
