The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has called on Nigerian universities and research institutions to develop innovative, locally driven solutions to address the country’s housing deficit and reduce dependence on imported building materials.
The appeal was made by the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny Echono, during a courtesy visit by the leadership of the Female Architects of Nigeria (FAN) to the Fund’s headquarters in Abuja.
Echono Wants Research to Drive Affordable Housing
Echono said Nigeria’s housing challenges require practical research that can lower construction costs, improve housing affordability and accelerate housing delivery.
He urged researchers, architects and tertiary institutions to move beyond academic studies by producing market-ready innovations that can be adopted by government, developers and private investors.
According to him, universities have a vital role to play in developing alternative building materials, affordable construction technologies and modern housing designs suited to Nigeria’s climate and economic realities.
Reduce Dependence on Imported Materials
The TETFund Executive Secretary expressed concern over Nigeria’s continued reliance on imported building materials despite the country’s abundant natural resources.
He stressed that investing in locally sourced materials and indigenous technologies would help reduce construction costs while boosting local industries and making housing more affordable.
Female Architects Seek Partnership
The leadership of the Female Architects of Nigeria used the visit to seek stronger collaboration with TETFund to promote research and innovation in architecture.
The association advocated increased support for research into affordable housing, sustainable building designs and climate-resilient infrastructure capable of meeting the needs of Nigeria’s growing urban population.
FAN also reaffirmed its commitment to mentoring young architects, promoting professional development and increasing women’s participation in the built environment.
Innovation Key to Housing Reform
The renewed emphasis on research comes as the Federal Government intensifies reforms aimed at improving housing delivery, expanding mortgage access and strengthening regulation in the housing sector.
Industry stakeholders have consistently maintained that reducing construction costs will depend on greater investment in innovation, improved building technologies and the wider use of locally manufactured building materials.
