By Akanimo Sampson
Managing Director of Fesadeb Communications Ltd, Festus Adebayo, has been nominated by the Unity Chapter of Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, for an award as the Icon of Housing Development in Nigeria.
Chairman of the chapter, Otaru Omokhagbo, a Fellow of the Institute who made this known in a letter dated March 15, 2021 said the Senate of the professional body has endorsed Adebayo’s nomination.
According to him, the media guru’s nomination was largely influenced by his ‘’outstanding contribution to the construction industry and support to the social housing scheme in Konouga, Borno State.’’
The award ceremony will be holding at the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Conference Centre, Kado Estate, Abuja, on Saturday, March 27, at 4.30pm.
The event is part of the high marks of the investiture of the 12th Chairman, and inauguration of the Senate members of NIQS.
Adebayo is also a banker, and a lawyer. He is the master mind behind the production of the weekly Housing for All on AIT. He is a graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, holds a Masters degree in Business Administration from University of Lagos.
Adebayo is Nigeria’s foremost advocate of affordable housing, and Executive Director, Housing Development Advocacy Network (HDAN) and advocacy partner of Africa Union of Housing Finance, South Africa. He has through his programmes, successfully raised advocacy for affordable housing to an enviable height.
This dogged advocate does not consider himself to be a celebrity, a soloist or a front man. But, through a public-spirited determination, and unabashed interests for low income earners, Adebayo is assiduously pushing for a better affordable and accessible housing deal for all.
This undying quest has seen him working with Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) as a Media Adviser. He is also playing the same role to Family Homes Funds, Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria, a loud confirmation of his determination to ensure affordable housing for all irrespective of background and socio-economic status.
The titanic Adebayo is the Convener of the largest housing event in Africa that has featured Nigeria’s Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, many governors and international participants. Unarguably, he has made a remarkable impact on the ethos of accessibility and affordability of housing for all, a struggle that has become an integral part of enigmatic life.
While he is currently part of the Federal Government’s Sustainability Committee on Housing charged with delivery of two million houses across the 36 states of the federation, Adebayo is a member of the Nigeria Institute of Management and a leading promoter of housing development in Nigeria. He has received numerous awards for his unparalleled contributions to housing development.
NIQS says it reviewed this icon’s contribution to the social housing development in the North-East for persons displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency, the vulnerable in society, and support to the construction industry in the country.
‘’Adebayo’s nomination passed through a rigorous selection process and he was found worthy of the award’’, the Institute.
