Ambode, Fashola to lead discussion as REU confab seeks solution to gaps in economy

Akinwumi Ambode, governor of Lagos State, and Babatunde Fashola, Minister of Power, Works and Housing, will be leading discussion when professionals, stakeholders and diverse interests in the  real estate sector gather for this year’s Real Estate Unite (REU)Conference in Lagos in the next couple of weeks.

REU Conference is an annual real estate event organised by 3Invest Limited—a young but dynamic company that offers marketing and consultancy services alongside the REU conference which is a knowledge sharing forum committed to providing information on opportunities in real estate and also proffering solutions to identified problems in the sector.

This year’s edition of the conference, the fifth in the series, is seeking solution to identified gaps in the Nigerian economy as they relate to real estate sector hence the theme of the conference,’Feeling the GAPS’.

Ruth Obih, the company’s  CEO, explained in a statement obtained at the weekend that GAPS is an acronym for ‘Government-Access-Private Sector-Strategy’. “In all of this, we are looking at enhancing government performance through effective leadership, education and technology; enabling access through regulatory reforms; real estate market in a recessive economy, local solutions to finding cheaper money by the private sector, and rethinking local strategies for financing real estate in a recessive economy”, Obih explained.

This year’s edition  hopes to be bigger, in terms of scope, than the previous editions and the CEO disclosed that it will feature new programmes as it comes with the new 3INVEST biennial recognition lists  which is a variant of the awards the company had been giving in the past. The awards will now be holding  every two years.

“Having invested resources in promoting the real estate industry in Nigeria to the global market over the years, we can appreciate the strides of various players in the industry and this award presentation will be to acknowledge them and encourage others”, the CEO, explained.

The conference is not unmindful of the present challenges in Nigeria as the country deals with the difficulties presented by falling oil prices, reduced emerging market demands and tightening global financial conditions that have led to sharp lower export earnings and government revenues.

But the company believes that now is the time to blow the whistle to challenge the country and its people to begin to look inwards at its huge potential and possibilities. “We must act fast and begin to exploit the potential these critical areas bring, especially the housing sector. Not only will it help to significantly increase employment, but will also impact multiple sectors of the economy”, she said.

REU is a three-fold event comprising a conference, exhibition and awards as well as exclusive meeting sessions such as the African Women in Real Estate Meeting and Real Estate Leader Meeting and Obih explained that the new ‘3invest Biennial List’ will feature individuals and companies inspiring change in the real estate industry.

“These are people who, by their actions, have brought in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to the sector, influenced decisions and provided innovative solutions driving growth in the industry and they are categorized as change agents top influencers, grand achievers, next wave, and special heroes”, she said.

Over 20 seasoned speakers and panelists are expected at this conference and they include Hakeem Ogunniran of UPDC;  Ronald Chagoury Jnr of South Energyx Nigeria; Charles Inyangete of NMRC; Nidi Adeleye of  Stanbic IBTC;  Paul Onwuanibe of Landmark, Kunlé Adeyemi of NLE Architecture, etc.