Funding to shape discussion at Real Estate Unite confab

When stakeholders gather for the second edition of the annual Real Estate Unite Conference, funding which has remained the albatross of the real estate sector growth in Nigeria would shape and dictate the tone of discussion at the conference scheduled for this Thursday and Friday in Lagos.

Also, how to advance the sector for economic growth, harness World Bank’s estimated N160 trillion trapped in Nigeria’s housing sector and reduce the 17 million housing deficit will also feature prominently at the event which anticipates Africa’s influential real estate professionals and investors. Real Estate Unite Conference, organized by 3Invest Limited, is fast becoming one of Africa’s largest and strategic real estate event which focus on the rapidly maturing real estate sector as one of Nigeria’s major economic drivers.

The theme of this year’s edition is “Advancing Nigeria’s Real Estate for Economic Growth” and has an award an awards platform designed to elevate the standard of practice within the real estate industry by identifying, recognising and rewarding best practice within the industry.

Speaking on this year’s event, at a recent press gathering, Ruth Obih, Chief Executive Officer of 3Invest Limited, stressed that this year’s event is focused on mechanism of funding and accessing finance by gathering the most influential perspectives on solutions to the foundation issues which are policy-driven, adding that the conference would examine the issues in other sectors of the industry and how to integrate them into an economic force that would guarantee national prosperity.

In her view, Jumoke Akinwumi, a member of the Real Estate Unite Advisory Board and Special Adviser to Ogun State Governor on Housing Development, “Real Estate Unite is, perhaps, the only platform available in West Africa that has established the opportunity for dialogue, cross-learning and co-operation between the largest group of players and stakeholders in the real estate industry”.

 On the awards, Akinwumi opined that successful collaborations amongst the sectors would be birthed on this platform, saying, “when this happens, one of the cardinal purposes for this initiative would have been achieved”.

Obih explained further that “Real Estate Unite 2013 is not just all about housing; from the design of the event at conception, it is aimed to integrate the entire industry as a system that can deliver and play an integral role in national prosperity.

“However, infrastructure and urban development is topping this year’s edition because of its social and economic benefits to the people and the nation. Our passion at 3Invest is to be part of a sector that can cater for the enormous shelter needs of Nigeria’s ever-growing population and at the same time contribute significantly to economic growth through Foreign Direct Investment, strengthening of small scale businesses, and sustained growth through capacity building, employment and wealth creation.”

According to her, the Real Estate Unite Awards is another side to the holistic view of the event, adding that we see identifying and rewarding performance as an important element in industry’s growth. That is why we have put more effort in building prestige into the awards by partnering with Boston