By Akanimo Sampson
Organisers of Abuja International Housing Show (AIHS), the flagship promoters of housing development on AIT and TVC, literally swept real estate women off their feet on Monday, and added two feet more to their heights.
The group is so passionate about women and feels that they should be celebrated at every turn.
It was a cocktail of high praise for women in the real estate sector in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, as AIHS rolled out the drums to celebrate them in a virtual event with the theme: Role of Women on the Promotion of Affordable Housing in Nigeria.
Women all over the world on Monday came together to celebrate the international Women’s Day (IWD). They were generously celebrated, appreciated and honored for being a huge part of the society’s success.
Spurred by its theme, AIHS chief, Festus Adebayo, hosted women to an online conversation on how they can promote affordable housing in Nigeria.
Dr. Chi Akporji, CEO Alphacities Africa and non executive board director at Shelter Afrique Kenya, set the tone as the first speaker talking about the need to look into the issue of difficulties women face in the easy access to housing in Nigeria, which includes the need for the release of all data concerning women’s access to housing.
She harped on the disturbing issue of gender discrimination/segregation and inequality in women’s access to housing in Nigeria, and hinted on the sad reality women face on the issue of housing problems such as unsafe conditions, risk of homelessness, violence, and forced evictions.
Next was the former Head, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing’s PPP, Eucharia Alozie, who emphasized on the discrimination of women’s right to own lands, housing, property, and the need for women to advocate against them.
Continuing, she said the male dominated/patriarchal cultural practice, which has affected the easy, safe, secure, and standard access to affordable housing in Nigeria, and also the cultural, economic and political barriers women experience in the country.
Founder of Alitheia Capital Real Estate Limited, Olajumoke Akinwunmi, who also founded Africa’s first SME fund targeted at women owned businesses, spoke on the need for women to be given the opportunity to address the issue of the entire value for women in the society.
She emphasized on the need for women to come together in collaboration and plan on how to tackle the issue of women’s segregation in social and economic issues, instead of working alone as it would be difficult to achieve anything once not united.
Taking her turn, Executive Director of Hydraform Nigeria Limited, Medina Huthman, dwelt on the lack of women in the built industry, which she believes is part of the reason for women not having access to affordable housing.
She called on, and encouraged women to go out and fix themselves in the built industry, by becoming builders, architects, engineers, and artisans. She pin pointed the need for women to take action and do these things instead of doing nothing and constantly complaining.
For QS Aderonke Oyelami, FNIQS, FRICS, is the Secretary Marketing and Corporate Affairs of the NIQS (Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors) and the immediate past Chairperson of WAQSN (Women Association of Quantity Surveyors in Nigeria) , said there is need for women to speak out against the gender inequality not just for housing, but in other important sectors of the society. She believes that women have a lot of potentials in them to create and nurture things in ways that would be beneficial to the society.
Executive Chairman, Edo Development and Property Authority, Isoken Omo, spoke on how masculine the built industry is, and she commended the women that have fixed themselves in the industry. She went forward to say that these women have done a lot to push the need for affordable housing to be made available for women in Nigeria.
AIHS is however, the biggest housing development promoters in Africa. It is a market place of ideas for stakeholders and prospective house owners meet.
Due to the COVID-19 protocol, last year’s event was staged virtually. That provided some global brands that have not been able to participate in the physically because of travel issues to key into the virtual show.
‘’So our partners and brands will be interacting this time with more audience, and a richer one at that. And all this for a cheaper rate compared to the physical event”, says Adebayo, AIHS Convener.
Meanwhile, its Monday event for real estate women will be beamed and zoomed on television radio networks from Wednesday around the world.
