Fashola to unveil blueprint on housing at AUHF

As part of efforts to address the challenges in the housing sector, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) has concluded plans to unveil Nigeria’s blueprint on the way forward for the sector.

The Minister, who be delivering a keynote address at the 32nd African Union of Housing Finance (AUHF), conference slated for Wednesday, September 14 to 16 in Abuja would be presenting a detailed plan of how the housing would thrive under the current administration to the international audience.

AUHF is a member-based organisation of mortgage banks, building societies, housing corporations and other organisations involved in the mobilisation of funds for shelter and housing on the African continent.

With Nigeria as host community, under the auspices of Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Corporation (NMRC), the conference is expected to gather housing finance experts across the continent to deliberate on issues affecting the sector and how to unlock the potentials embedded in it as part of efforts to improve the African economy.

Speaking ahead of the conference, Executive Director, Corporate Strategy and Partnership, NMRC, Dr. Chika Akporji, said the theme for this year’s conference is titled, ‘Housing and Africa’s Growth Agenda’.

“The conference would seek to address the challenges of funding mortgage portfolio, the opportunities to be found in rental housing and housing microfinance, and the strategies to address the challenge of affordability”.

Akporji said, “NMRC is highly honoured to have been selected to host this year’s conference. It is a prestige for the country as the benefits are bigger and esoteric which can not be quantified in monetary terms.

“We are relatively a small organization but with the little impact we have made so far, it is enough recognition that the corporation is worth working with.”

She said that the Minister is the keynote speaker who will seize the opportunity of the conference to present a detailed plan of how the housing would thrive under the current administration to the international audience.

In terms of the overall collective responsibilities of African nations, the event is an opportunity for the economies to come out with a way forward on how to better provide housing for the increasing population of Africa.

“The whole idea at the end of the conference is to come out with a declaration with setout action plans and timelines with key actionable indicators to determine where the deliverable would be achieved, she said.