AHS ups the scale with 10 countries, 200 companies ready for show

Organisers of the Abuja Housing  Show (AHS), an annual gathering of  stakeholders in the housing industry, have raised the scale as the show will be hosting 10 countries  and 200 companies in this year’s edition.

Festus Adebayo, MD/CEO of FESADEB Communications Limited, organizers of the show, named Turkey, China, Netherlands, UK, USA, Ghana, South Africa, Ireland, Kenya and Brazil as the countries expected at the show, stressing that  20 organisations and 200  indigenous companies have indicated interest to participate in the show.

ABS, according to Adebayo, would be showcasing top building materials producers and housing finance companies, disclosing that the event with ‘Expanding Access to Affordable Housing in Africa’ as theme would be declared open by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo while eminent speakers from Spain, South Africa, USA, Gambia and Nigeria have been carefully selected to deliver lectures on diverse topics.

“Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, will be the Chief Host while the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Muhammad Bello, will be the Guest of Honour”, Adebayo disclosed further, listing the guest speakers as the MD of Hydraform from South Africa, Robert Plattner, and the  MD of Global Green Built from Spain, Alejandro Pons.

Others include Mustapha Njie,  MD/CEO , TAF Africa Homes from The Gambia; Hakeem Ogunniran, MD of UPDC;  Loren Zanin, CEO,  Lafarge Aggregates and Concretes;  Mustapha Zubairu of  FUT,  Minna and Charles Inyangete, MD, Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC).

“Other eminent speakers include Richard Esin, Acting MD, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Kunle Faleti, Mortgage Consultant, NHFP, Abiodun Oki, Special Adviser on housing to the minister of Power, Works and Housing,  Ugochukwu Chime, President, Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN),  Mohammed Al- min, MD, Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Sa’adiya Aminu, COO of Urban Shelter,  Chii Akporji, Executive Director at NMRC and  Osita Izunazo, Chairman, Sungold Group”, he added.

Partners in this year’s show include AFP Furniture, a subsidiary of Julius Berger Plc; Dangote Group; Lafarge Africa, wood preservative producer, Solignum; West Africa Ceramics; Haven Homes; UPDC; Platinum Mortgage Bank; NMRC; Rock of Ages Properties Limited; and REDAN.

ABS  is the biggest housing event for housing stakeholders in Africa and, according to the organizers, the show  provides opportunity for mortgage banks, developers, building material producers and professionals in the building industry to showcase their products and services as well as exchange ideas and share innovations in the industry.

Adebayo, in a statement at the weekend, disclosed that there would  be lottery and award dinner to mark the 10th anniversary of the show and also to appreciate stakeholders for their efforts in the industry, adding that star prize for the lottery was a vast piece of land to be won through a raffle draw.

“The ABS which is similar to the American Builders Show has contributed immensely to housing development in Nigeria and has been instrumental to the creation of stand-alone Ministry of Housing in Jigawa, Rivers and Bayelsa states”, he enthused