The Executive Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, the President Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola are among others to be honoured at the forthcoming Housing Parley scheduled to hold in New York and hosted by foremost housing journal, Housing Circuit Magazine.
Stakeholders in the housing industry, drawn from Nigeria and US among several other high profile global players in the housing sector are gearing up for a 5-Day International Conference on ‘Real Estate Investment and Mortgage Finance in Nigeria (REIMFIN, 2018) at the Residence Inn by Marriot, Manhattan, New York from October 22nd to 27th, 2018.
Seun Jegede, the Organiser of the Conference and Publisher of Housing Circuit Magazine disclosed this during an interactive session with newsmen in Abuja on Thursday.
He said experience gleaned from a previous International Conference, which held at the Cumberland Hotel, Oxford Street, London, in September 2014, informed the need to do this on a grand scale to sell and advertise the unique Nigerian brand to the outside world.
“The primary objective of the 5-day Conference is to create investment opportunities for Real Estate and Mortgage Finance Companies and Organisations in Nigeria and in the US.” He said.
Jegede further explained that the event would also provide an avenue where participants can network and exchange ideas; enable participants understand the realities of mortgage financing in Nigeria and how they can take advantage of the scheme; provide a niche-networking platform for participants who have been carefully selected based on their strategic and leadership positions in their respective areas of business; learn where the opportunities are and have direct contact with potential partners as well as gain expert insight in to new market trends in the real estate sector of the US and Nigeria while sharing practical experiences regarding global trends in real estate and mortgage financing.
There will be paper presentations from experts and professionals in the industry as well as top government functionaries from Nigeria and the US. Among those presenting from Nigeria are the Managing Director of Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, the President of the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria, (REDAN), Surv. Ugochukwu Chime, Executive Secretary,
Federal Government Staff Loans Housing Board (FGSLHB), Dr Hannatu Fika and Distinguished Senator, Gbenga Ashafa.
From the United States of America (USA) are Senior United States Senator/Senate Minority Leader Charles Ellis Schumer, New York Assemblyman Michael Alexander Blake, Mortgage Loan Officer, TD Banks (America Most Convenient Bank) Mr Joseph Siciliano, Comfort Isikumah of Comfort Homes and Property Management LLC., and many others.
The conference coordinator in New York Mr. Adeyemi LaCrown also in a telephone conversation spoke glowingly about preparations put in place to enable a seamless conference.
According to him, Nigerians in the US, particularly in New York are looking forward to this epoch making conference with great expectation. It offers a great opportunity to connect directly with the players in the industry and get to know at close contact about how mortgages work back home since this is the convenient operating mantra in this part of the world.
‘More importantly is the itch to interface with primary developers from home which will surely help in avoiding the recurring pitfalls of being duped by families and friends entrusted with such responsibilities.’
‘Above all, this conference offers a window for people coming from the government divide to sell the unique Nigeria brand and present a scorecard of measures being put in place by the present administration to ensure sustainable housing’ LaCrown concluded.
To present a robust blend and ensure that participants have an exciting time is the infusion of visit to tourist sites during the 5-day conference. This offers a relief and rich spice from the demanding classroom setting.
One of the highest points of the Conference is the awards ceremony designed to honour top-notch professionals who have done the housing industry proud. Slated for the last day of the summit, it is to appreciate their invaluable contributions to the Housing Sector and it is another avenue for socializing.
Lagos State Governor, His Excellency, Akinmuni Ambode would be honoured for his outstanding performance in the area of Housing and Urban Development in Lagos state, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, for being the flagship in the Housing Sector and his uncommon humanity and Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN for revolutionizing the Housing Ministry.
The occasion will also mark the Investiture of Distinguished Senator Gbanga Ashafa as the Grand Patron of Housing Circuit Magazine.
Mr Babatude Raji Fashola, SAN, is expected to declare the Conference open, Mr. Bill de Blasio, Mayor of the New York City is the Keynote Speaker, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, is to Chair the event while Benaoyagha Bernard Mese Okoyen, the Consular General (New York) is the Chief Host.
Mrs. Winfred Ekanem Oyo-Ita, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation is the Guest of Honour and she will speak on the Federal Integrated Staff Housing (FISH) Program of the FEDERAL Government of Nigeria which was launched in 2016.

By Ijeoma Nwachukwu