All is set for a dazzling evening of celebration and recognition as the Africa Housing Awards 2024 takes center stage tomorrow, Saturday, December 14, at the Musa Yar’Adua Event Centre in Abuja.
The event promises to be a night of glitz, glamour, and groundbreaking honors, celebrating the exceptional contributions of individuals and organizations driving innovation and sustainable development in the housing and construction sectors.
At the heart of the event is the recognition of Arc. Ahmed Dangiwa, Nigeria’s Honourable Minister of Housing and Urban Development, who will be awarded the prestigious Africa Housing Awards for Africa Housing Minister of the Year 2024. This accolade underscores his transformative leadership in tackling Nigeria’s housing and urban development challenges, earning him acclaim as a visionary force in the sector.
Festus Adebayo, coordinator of the Africa Housing Awards, announced the award during a media parley in Abuja, lauding the minister’s profound impact on the housing landscape. Arc. Dangiwa’s professional expertise and forward-thinking policies have redefined urban renewal and housing accessibility in Nigeria.
In just one year in office, the minister has spearheaded landmark initiatives, including the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Programme, which boasts 14 active construction sites delivering over 10,112 housing units nationwide. Notably, the Abuja Renewed Hope City, with approximately 1,000 units, is set for commissioning by December 2024. The program has also generated over 252,800 jobs, further emphasizing its socioeconomic impact.
Arc. Dangiwa has introduced innovative financing models, leveraging public-private partnerships and collaborations with Shelter Afrique to develop 5,000 housing units. He has championed a proposed increase in the annual housing budget to ₦500 billion for 2025, reinforcing his commitment to addressing the nation’s housing deficit.
Beyond housing projects, the minister’s regulatory reforms have been transformative. His efforts to modernize Nigeria’s land administration include reviewing the Land Use Act of 1978, initiating a National Land Registration and Titling Programme, and establishing frameworks for effective land governance through a proposed National Land Commission. He has also launched reforms to ensure fair compensation rates for individuals affected by government projects.
In the mortgage sector, Arc. Dangiwa is advancing affordable homeownership for low- and middle-income Nigerians. By advocating for innovative loan products, cross-subsidy programs, and regulatory adjustments, he is addressing the gap between commercial mortgage rates and more accessible options offered by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria.
The Minister also inaugurated a 13- member Steering Committee on the National Housing Data Centre in Nigeria to address the nation’s housing deficit stating that fixing Nigeria’s housing data problem is a top priority under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
All these and many other outstanding achievements led to the approval of his nomination as Africa Housing Minister of the Year 2024.
Other dignitaries to be honored include the Governors of Sokoto and Nasarawa states, both recognized for their exceptional contributions to housing and urban development. Governor Ahmad Aliyu of Sokoto State will receive the Urban Planning/Housing-Friendly Governor of the Year award, while Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State will also be celebrated for his strides in addressing housing needs in his state receiving the Housing Friendly Governor of the Year award.
The Africa Housing Awards will bring together a distinguished lineup of policymakers, industry leaders, and stakeholders from across Africa. Expected attendees include the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; Distinguished Senator Philip Aduda; CEOs and Heads of agencies from many countries across the continent and Engr. Emeka Eze, OFR, former President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, who will chair the occasion.
Organized by Housing TV Africa in collaboration with the Housing Development Advocacy Network, the awards ceremony will highlight categories such as real estate person of the year, innovative housing solutions, rural housing initiatives, and social housing development. The Affordable Housing Hall of Fame will celebrate trailblazers who have made indelible marks on the sector, honoring both living and posthumous contributors.
As the spotlight shines on Arc. Ahmed Dangiwa and other honorees, the Africa Housing Awards 2024 will make a bold statement for the continued development of the housing sector, inspiring innovation and excellence across the continent.
