As part of efforts by the present administration to deliver affordable homes to ordinary Nigerians, the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, in the company of her team, ‘The Family Home Fund’ paid a working visit to the corporate headquarters of the Millard Fuller Foundation (MFF).
Her entourage included CEOs of the following institutions: Nigerian Mortgage Refinancing Company (NMRC) Charles Inyangete, Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) Uche Orji, Debt Management Office (DMO) Abraham Nwankwo & Family Home Fund (FHF) Kola Ogunsulire. Also included was the Special Adviser on Housing to the Ogun State Governor, Jumoke Akinwunmi and deputy CEO of the National Pension Fund (NPF).
After the initial pleasantries and introductions, the CEO, MFF Housing, Sam Odia made a brief presentation on how truly affordable housing will not only give access to ordinary Nigerians to own their own homes, but will also empower the people economically by creating jobs and providing skills development opportunities.
Citing the MFF example, the CEO explained how over 4,149 temporary jobs had been created through Fuller’s GrandLuvu housing project, thereby giving them a source of livelihood. He noted that 38 people were engaged in the construction of each block that was built and that a total of 46 women had been empowered, including two female masons.
He thanked the Minister for the visit and also appreciated her efforts in ensuring that ordinary Nigerians have access to Affordable Houses. In his words: ‘We must appreciate you for coming down to Masaka. Your visit shows clearly the present administration’s commitment to meeting the real need of ordinary people particularly on the outskirts of our cities’.
This was then followed by a site visit to the GrandLuvu Estate, a 400-unit project, out of which 212 units have been completed. The Minister and her team inspected the Basic Shell (Studio and 1BR), the expanded and fully finished 1BR and 2BR and the finished studio and 1BR prototypes. She also interacted with two of the estate’s home owners: Mrs. Naomi Luka, a teacher by profession and Mrs. Damaris Aliyu, a housewife, who incidentally had given birth to her first child the previous day (The first child to be delivered by a home owner at the Estate).
Visibly impressed by what she saw, the minister lauded the efforts and commitment of MFF in delivering truly affordable homes to ordinary Nigerians for as little as N1,650,000, saying that it was time to begin to replicate the concept around the country.
The ‘Family Home Fund’ is a private sector, government-initiated economic empowerment initiative which is expected to deliver up to 100,000 houses in 2017. Approved by the National Economic Council, the Housing Fund will stimulate economic activities and return the economy to the path of growth. Through collaborative efforts with the private sector, the fund is expected to finance the delivery and off-take of up to 400,000 houses annually through the provision of mortgages. An initial sum of N500 billion has been earmarked to create mortgages for affordable houses for Nigerians.
The Millard Fuller Foundation (MFF) as a Christian housing organisation does not discriminate and works with people of all creeds & religions to provide on a sustainable basis, affordable housing for all in need by promoting collaborative and innovative partnerships with individuals & organizations.