Nigeria’s leading affordable housing institution, Family Homes Funds Limited (FHFL) will convene a session at this year’s Africa International Housing Show (AIHS) to deliberate on alternative building options for affordable housing development in Nigeria.
During the event which will hold from 24th to 27th July 2023 at the International Conference Centre in Abuja, the institution will convoke a ‘’learning session’’ comprising panelists from academia, research institutes, sustainable building, planning, among others.
The session is inspired by the need to seek alternative and sustainable ways of addressing Nigeria’s mounting housing deficit. While efforts are ongoing to tackle this challenge, especially with traditional methods, there is an opportunity to explore faster and efficient methods that would support the housing needs of low-income families across Nigeria.
Through this session, FHFL and other stakeholders would lend their voice to a global conversation about housing , environment and climate change
The goal of the session is to explore some unique, eco-friendly alternative housing ideas that are also affordable to deliver for low- to middle- income beneficiaries. Family Homes Funds hopes for an outcome that does not only lead to the supply of more homes but will promote the use of renewable resources and renewable energy.
Other objectives of the session would be to provide authoritative insight on the reality of low-income families in Nigeria in relation to home ownership; discuss financing options including how to ensure long term funding for affordable housing development; actively encourage new technologies that will ensure energy, water and other efficient use of resources that are necessary for long term affordability, and to advocate for the development of a public policy framework for action.
In support of the session, the Convener of the Africa International Housing Show, Festus Adebayo commends FHFL for what he believes is a timely and important session.
He said, ‘’It is time to engage our brightest minds on issues that would revolutionize whatever we are doing now in the housing sector. We need to understand how we can leverage on research and development for alternative buildings. It is difficult to deliver affordable homes if its delivery components are all imported. So, we hope to reach these solutions and empower local research and development for alternative building delivery. We hope to also hear from the prospective beneficiaries, to understand their exact wants in terms of housing types.
‘’So, we need to have a way of bringing both experience and knowledge to the table. We would through this session engage scholars from our universities because their studies are a huge factor in the production of alternative materials in Nigeria. We would also hear from other important stakeholders like the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI) and NASENI, who are already partners with FHFL on affordable housing delivery.
“Given the current state of things in the country – the removal of fuel subsidy, the increase in prices of building materials, it is time to think outside the box on how we can still meet the demands of affordable housing in Nigeria. So, this will be very useful for participants as it presents an opportunity for learning and partnership.’’
On its part, Family Homes Funds is already making progress along this line. A couple of its projects are now due for IFC Edge certification – an effective instrument for sustainable progress based on objective, measurable evidence of an organization’s status and progress.
Living up to its mandate, the institution has so far delivered over 15,000 homes across Nigeria for low-income families, with over 84,000 direct and indirect jobs created in the process.
They are therefore better placed to host a conversation like this that will possibly open opportunities for sustainable housing development in Nigeria.
