Kingsley U.N. Chikwendu
The Managing Director of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria [FMBN], Arch. Ahmed Dangiwa has called on stakeholders in the housing sector to emulate the legacies of the first president of the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria [REDAN], Alh. Lateef Jakande by energizing their creative facilities to confront the country’s housing challenges.
Dangiwa during the 2nd Lateef Jakande Housing Lectures Series organized by REDAN and held last month in Lagos, described Jakande as a leading icon who revolutionized public housing in the Nigerian real estate sector. He stated this while appreciating REDAN for organizing such event and its continued drive to engage government at all levels, policy makers and professionals in the private sector, working towards the advancement of the Nigerian building environment and the entire economy, he said these efforts cannot be quantified.
“Lateef Jakande revolutionized the public housing provision in Lagos during the second republic with the construction of over 30,000 housing units, referred to as low cost estates that changed the state’s landscape today, Dangiwa began.
“We are happy that that this platform is instituted not only to honor LKJ but, to generate robust discusses as regards our housing challenges and to uphold the development of housing finance and construction sector in Nigeria. So, the contributions that this gathering can generate, cannot be quantified. The fact that we are having this event also demonstrates the resilience and commitment of the organizers, REDAN and we must congratulate and thank them for it.
“Platforms like this are needed to engage government at all levels, policy makers, professionals and the private sector players on ideas on the advancement of Nigeria’s building environment and the entire economy. What I want participants to imbibe in this year’s event is the readiness of all of us stakeholders to emulate Jakande by energizing our creative facilities and begin to confront our housing challenges and implement ideas to resolve them.
“This is what Jakande did to be able to deliver numerous projects that set Lagos firmly on the path of development that gave him the affiliation as an action governor.
Dangiwa further urged housing stakeholders to continue to think out of the box towards addressing the country’s huge housing deficit. He said that the critical element addressing mortgage finance in the subsector and which the FMBN is playing a leading role, notwithstanding the challenges, FMBN is doing its best to meet the yearnings of the Nigerian masses.
He also assured all stakeholders in the housing sector of the continued support and cooperation of the FMBN towards the advancement of affordable home ownership for Nigerians, particularly, the low and medium income earners.
