The Oba of Lagos, His Royal Majesty, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, has endorsed the Africa International Housing Show during a courtesy visit by the AIHS delegation, where the monarch reaffirmed the importance of decent housing for every Nigerian.
Warmly receiving the team at his palace, the Oba charged Nigerian leaders to prioritize housing as a critical pillar of national development, commended the spirit behind the Africa International Housing Show, and assured the delegation of his full support.
During the visit, Oba Akiolu emphasized that housing is not merely about shelter but about dignity, security, and the foundation for a prosperous society. He called on leaders at all levels to prioritize housing as a national agenda, noting that if every Nigerian had access to decent homes, national stability and economic growth would be significantly enhanced.
The Oba warned that one of the greatest obstacles to achieving progress in the housing sector and indeed across Nigeria is corruption. He lamented that corruption had deeply eroded governance and service delivery, including in housing development.
“If we do things rightly and avoid corruption,” the Oba said, “the hope of every Nigerian to own a decent home will become a reality.”
He charged the AIHS team to use the 2025 edition of the show to attract serious and financially viable investors who can deliver affordable housing solutions. He further pledged his support by offering to help facilitate access to land for the development of affordable housing projects.
Leading the AIHS delegation, Tpl. Toyin Ayinde, former Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, updated His Royal Majesty on preparations for the Africa International Housing Show 2025, scheduled to take place at the Transcorp Hilton Abuja from July 27 to August 1, 2025.
Ayinde explained that AIHS 2025 aims to promote homegrown ideas that will help reduce the cost of building materials and ultimately improve housing affordability. He emphasized that AIHS is not a contract-seeking organization but a committed platform advocating for sustainable housing development across Nigeria, particularly for low- and middle-income earners. He further appealed for the monarch’s continued support for the Africa International Housing Show in driving awareness and collaboration around the housing agenda.
The Coordinator of AIHS, Festus Adebayo, expressed deep appreciation to His Royal Majesty for granting the audience and for his wise counsel. Adebayo noted that the Oba’s words reflect the urgent need to prioritize affordable housing as a national pillar of economic and social development.
“His Majesty’s emphasis on housing as dignity and security captures the true spirit of why AIHS was created. His support strengthens our drive to connect investors, policymakers, and developers around one common goal, making homeownership a reality for all Nigerians,” Adebayo stated.
Adding his voice, Mr. Niyi Akinlusi, Managing Director/CEO of Lekki Worldwide Investments Limited, informed the Oba of the growing collaboration between Lekki Investments and AIHS aimed at strengthening housing development in Lagos and beyond.
Akinlusi praised the monarch’s frank call for integrity, saying such leadership inspires greater seriousness among investors and developers committed to advancing affordable housing solutions.
Also present was Mrs. Jumoke Akinwunmi, Managing Director and Co-Founder of Alitheia Capital, who commended the Oba’s recognition of the evolving role of traditional institutions in promoting national development. She noted that having traditional leaders champion initiatives like affordable housing lends greater credibility and mobilizes broader public and private sector participation.
The visit emphasized a strong, shared sense of purpose building a future where every Nigerian has access to decent, affordable, and sustainable housing echoing the vision so powerfully articulated by His Royal Majesty, Oba Rilwan Akiolu.
