The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) Federal Capital Territory FCT Correspondents Chapel has honoured the Executive Director of the Housing Development Advocacy Network (HDAN), Barrister Festus Adebayo with an award of recognition as a ‘Housing Icon’ for his exceptional contribution in the Nigeria Housing Sector.
The award which was presented by the NUJ FCT Correspondents Chapel during their one-day conference on housing was also to recognize Mr Adebayo’s efforts in championing decent and affordable homes for Nigerians.
The conference which was themed, “Housing For All, The Role of Corporative Societies and Financial Institutions” brought stakeholders in the housing and mortgage together to brain-stormed on one of the major issues facing the housing sector, finance.
Mr Adebayo in his short acceptance speech thanked the NUJ for the award while adding that it will spur him to do more in his continuous advocacy for affordable housing in Nigeria.
Earlier in the conference, the president of the NUJ FCT Correspondents Chapel, Mr Jide Oyekunle called on the federal government and private sector stakeholders to assist members of the union in their bid to own their personal homes.
He said that Nigerian journalists have served the country with dedication and patriotism, and therefore, deserve better living, saying the role of the media in affordable housing cannot be overemphasized, particularly as at the moment the country is facing a huge housing deficit.
He said the encumbrances and rigorous conditions attached to social housing loans have made it difficult for journalists to own a house in the Federal Capital Territory.
He urged professionals in the real estate and mortgage sectors to brainstorm in finding lasting solutions to the challenges in the housing industry in Nigeria.
His words, “We are using this occasion to call on the Nigerian government to come up with a special program of action exclusive for journalists that will lessen the stringent conditions associated with accessing loans to enable them to build houses of their own.”
Major partners at the event included Representative of the managing director, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Lawal Isa Kofar Sauri, managing director, TI’Bilon Construction Limited, Mr Toochukwu Nnamoko, Representative Family Homes Funds, Mr Funsho Gbodi and group company secretary, Domak Group International, Barr. Collins Mbeh Ojong.
“The bank took this decision considering the huge potentials in leveraging on cooperative societies to deliver on its mandate to contributors of the national housing fund and increasing the housing stock,” FMBN MD representative said.
At the end of the conference, the NUJ FCT chapter launched a corporative society that is aimed at pushing the goal for providing affordable housing for its member.
