The Africa Housing Awards 2024 is set to celebrate a legacy of excellence in the housing sector with the induction of three distinguished individuals into the Affordable Housing Hall of Fame.
Professors Samuel Babatunde Agbola and Olumide Olusanya, alongside Arc. (Mrs.) Jumoke Akinwunmi, will be honored for their transformative contributions to affordable housing development in Africa.
The prestigious ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, December 14, 2024, at the Musa Yar’Adua Event Centre in Abuja.
Festus Adebayo, coordinator of the Africa Housing Awards, announced the honorees in a press statement released in Abuja.
“These individuals have made significant impacts on housing development, financing, and delivery. Their dedication to solving housing challenges in Nigeria and beyond sets them apart as pioneers and innovators in the sector,” Adebayo remarked.
Professor Samuel Babatunde Agbola, a Professor of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Ibadan, has been recognized for his groundbreaking research and practical solutions addressing affordable housing challenges. His work has improved the quality of life for urban dwellers and contributed to sustainable human settlement development.
Professor Olumide Olusanya, a Professor of Architecture at the University of Lagos, is celebrated for his dedication to affordable building technology and innovative housing solutions. His research and academic contributions have advanced the development of sustainable and accessible housing for low-income households.
Arc. (Mrs.) Jumoke Akinwunmi, Partner and Managing Director at Alitheia Real Estate, is being honored for her visionary leadership in affordable housing. Her tenure as the pioneer Managing Director of Family Homes Fund and her previous role as Managing Director of Ogun Housing Corporation saw the delivery of thousands of homes across Nigeria. Akinwunmi’s innovative approach to real estate has solidified her position as a trailblazer in the industry.
The Africa Housing Awards, organized by Housing TV Africa in collaboration with the Housing Development Advocacy Network (HDAN), will also feature posthumous and living tributes to notable contributors in the sector. Past inductees include former Vice President Alex Ekwueme, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, Professor Akin Mabogunje, and Engineer S.O. Fadahunsi, as well as living legends such as Ibrahim Aliyu, Rev. Ugochukwu Chime, Seyi Lufadeju, and Arc. Ahmed Dangiwa.
The event will host a diverse gathering of dignitaries, including the Governors of Sokoto and Nasarawa states, Minister of Housing and Urban Development Arc. Ahmed Dangiwa, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike, Senator Philip Aduda, members of the National Assembly, and industry leaders. Engr. Emeka Eze, OFR, former President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, will chair the occasion.
In addition to celebrating the Hall of Fame inductees, the awards will recognize excellence across various categories, including real estate development, mortgage products, housing finance solutions, and social housing initiatives. The ceremony aims to inspire innovation and foster sustainable development within the housing ecosystem.
“The Affordable Housing Hall of Fame is not just an award; it is a recognition of enduring contributions that have shaped the housing sector,” Adebayo emphasized. “Through their work, these individuals have demonstrated that accessible and sustainable housing is not just a goal but a responsibility.”
The induction ceremony at the Africa Housing Awards 2024 promises to be a night of glamour, excellence, and recognition, spotlighting those who continue to redefine the possibilities within Africa’s housing landscape.
