Abuja International Housing Show (AIHS), the largest housing event in Africa will be participating at the 10th World Urban Forum billed to hold between 8th – 13th February, 2020 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
The 10th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF 10) in Abu Dhabi has as its theme: “Cities of Opportunities: Connecting Culture and Innovation” and will be the first time that an Arab country will host the world’s most important conference on cities and human settlements.
In a chat with Africahousingnews.com, the Chief Executive Officer of International Housing and Construction Show Limited, organizers of the AIHS, Festus Adebayo, said the need for the Show to be at this year’s World Urban Forum cannot be over emphasized as the Show is scheduled to have meetings with various ministers of housing from African countries and other parts of the world.
Adebayo added that meetings have also been scheduled with several International Organizations with the aim of fostering collaborations that will benefit the housing and construction industry in Africa and Nigeria in particular.
He said the 5-day Forum, a programme of the United Nations is the largest gathering of stakeholders in the housing and urban development sector as it brings together participants from not less than 168 countries to deliberate on issues relating to Urban and City development, housing finance and many other critical issues affecting the sector.
Organized and convened by UN-Habitat, the World Urban Forum (WUF) has become the foremost international gathering for exchanging views and experiences on sustainable urbanization in all its ramifications. The inclusive nature of the Forum, combined with high-level participation, makes it a unique United Nations conference and the premier international gathering on urban issues.
WUF was established in 2001 by the United Nations to address one of the most pressing issues facing the world today: “rapid urbanization and its impact on communities, cities, economies, climate change and policies.’’
The World Urban Forum has the following objectives; raising awareness of sustainable urbanization among stakeholders and constituencies, including the general public; Improving collective knowledge on sustainable urban development through open and inclusive debate, exchange of best practices and policies, and sharing of lessons learnt.
It also promotes collaboration and cooperation between different stakeholders and constituencies engaged in the advancement and implementation of sustainable urbanization.
The 10th edition will feature cutting edge presentations by countries, cities, private sector & international organizations.
It is expected to attract at least 25,000 participants from 168 countries, 450 Speakers, 470 events and 133 exhibitors.