The President, International Real Estate Federation, FIABCI-Africa and Near East Region, Mr Adele Adeniji, has disclosed that the association will drive Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Nigeria’s real estate sector through the arrays of international and local players that will participate at its world congress holding in a June.

He said the congress entitled: ‘Real Estate Renaissance,” which is about the future, change, smart cities, artificial intelligence and technology as well as the need for partnership will further expound on how real estate brokers, developers can build sustainable cities and bring together over 200 international players, 700 local players across the real estate sector, finance and other sectors in Lagos, in June.

Speaking to journalists in Lagos, Adeniji said the 75th congress hosting right, which is the first-ever FIABCI World Congress on the African continent, was granted to Nigeria not on the platter of gold but because Nigeria deserve it, adding that the forum holding in Lagos, will showcase to the world what Africa stands for, especially Nigeria in terms of real estate investment, infrastructure development, and tourism potential.

He explained that the forum will drive discussions on innovation, transformation, sustainability development, where all stakeholders will come together and share experience on the way forward to ascertain the benefits to the entire continent.

“We will look at real estate sustainability in terms of investment, bringing new investments on board, look at innovations where participants will share their knowledge and afford opportunities of meeting global partners across the globe and its 73 chapters in the world. We have international experts coming like President-elect of the National Association of Realtors, chief executive officer of UPDC PLC, Odunayo Ojo, Eximia Realty CEO, Hakeem Ogunniran and Commissioner for Tourism in Lagos, Mrs. Toke-Benson, Minister of housing and urban development, Ahmed Dangiwa and other professionals in the housing sector and others” he said The Vice president, FIABCI-Nigeria, Ayodele Odeleye, pointed out that series of exclusive study/learning tours to provide delegates foresight into Nigeria’s rapidly evolving landscape, Lagos urban renewal projects and innovative housing developments and infrastructure advancement like the Eko-Atlantic City project, Lekki Free Trade Zone, visit to museum and have been put together.

The study tour, he explained, will offer practical lessons on investment in real estate, implementation and urban planning. He said such a tour will help to disabuse the minds of investors from seeing Africa and Nigeria as a backward place, create opportunities for delegates to network with industry leaders, developers and government officials thereby fostering strategic collaboration.

A board member of FIABCI-Nigeria, Niyi Tinubu, explained that the VISA on arrival scheme has been arranged for visitors, developers, delegates and experts coming from abroad. He added that the transportation system has been well arranged to transport participants to and from the venue in Eko Hotel.

Vice president Young Professional Council of FIABCI-International, Rei Obaigbo, urged young professionals to take advantage of the opportunity the forum will offer to network with other young professionals from other climes.

“The congress will help to fix the brand Nigeria and correct many of the misconceptions about the country’s image,” Obaigbo said.

Former President of FIABCI-Nigeria, Gladstone Opera, said the international association has provided Nigerians with what is happening in the other parts of the world in the past but stressed that Nigeria hosting the 75th congress was a special opportunity for pay back from the local domain. He appealed to the media to assist Nigeria’s chapter to propagate the congress and activities already scheduled.

Also speaking, members of the organising committee of the congress, Mr Rogba Orimalade and Ivie Dike, highlighted that a major programme to feature at the congress is the award presentation for outstanding projects at prestigious awards ceremony, which will celebrate excellence in global real estate, offering an evening of recognition and networking

Specifically, Orimalade, said the forum will offer great impacts in the real estate sector and the economy at large stressing that the FDI inflows into the economy will be more than what was recorded in the last Detty December.