In a bold push to tackle Nigeria’s staggering housing deficit, the Minority Leader of Nigeria’s Youth Parliament Hon. Osawemwenhio Uwagboe has engaged with Dr. Michal Mlynár, Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Executive Director of UN-Habitat, in a strategic conversation aimed at finding scalable, sustainable, and innovative solutions to the country’s over 20 million housing shortfall.
The dialogue centered on embracing modern technologies such as 3D-printed homes and the use of Cassava Peel Ash (CPA) as a substitute for traditional cement-both offering cost-effective, environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional construction methods.
Hon. Uwagboe, widely believed to be a passionate youth advocate stated that Nigeria cannot bridge its housing gap with outdated construction methods.
“3D printing in construction allows rapid creation of durable and disaster-resilient structures, reducing labour dependency, cost, and time,” he noted.
He also stated the need to leverage Nigeria’s position as a major cassava producer by turning agricultural waste into eco-friendly building materials, thereby reducing carbon emissions and construction expenses.
He said the advocacy aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Cities and estates initiative, which aims to expand affordable housing, create jobs, and regenerate urban areas.
