AIHS facilitates over $10bn investment in 19 years

…Calls for skills development to bridge housing sector gaps

The Africa International Housing Show (AIHS) has attracted more than $10 billion in investments over the last 19 years, creating countless business opportunities and playing a pivotal role in advancing housing development in Nigeria and across Africa.

The AIHS Convener, Barrister Festus Adebayo disclosed this in Abuja during an exclusive interview with Tribune Online, emphasised that the platform has become a critical meeting point for investors, captains of Industry, policymakers and other stakeholders in the housing industry.

According to him, no fewer than 40,000 global stakeholders from 21 countries including foreign investors are expected to converge at the 19th edition of Africa International Housing Show (AIHS), with the theme: ‘Reimagining Housing Through Innovation, Collaboration and Policy’, scheduled to hold between 27th July to 1st August, 2025 at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

Barrister Adebayo who doubles as Managing Director/CEO of Fesadeb Media Group said: “We have created businesses. You can imagine the number of transactions that are taking place at IHS. Over $10 billion in the last 19 years. It is where the buyer meets the seller. It is where the dreams are fulfilled. It is where the journey to homeownership begins,” the expert said.

According to him, the benefits of the annual event have been massive, serving as a hub for networking, exposure, and opportunities for entrepreneurs, investors, and industry professionals.

“The benefit is heavy. That’s why you see everybody rushing there – getting the network, getting the opportunity, getting exposure, and getting the human resources,” he added.

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However, despite the remarkable achievements, the expert raised concerns about the growing deficit of skilled professionals and artisans in Nigeria’s housing sector.

He expressed optimism that with the right focus on vocational training, Nigeria can bridge the gap in skilled manpower while sustaining the multi-billion-dollar impact of the event.

“Debt of professionals is becoming unbearable. To even do POP, you need to bring in somebody from neighboring countries. While we have the teeming population, how do you think this can be addressed?” he asked rhetorically, pointing to the lack of practical training among graduates.

He attributed part of the challenge to a mismatch between academic training and practical skills, which has resulted in the influx of unqualified artisans and a rise in quackery in the sector.

Commending the Federal Government for recent initiatives to revive technical and vocational education, Barrister Adebayo said: “I must start by saying that commendation will be given to the Federal Government. Because there was a statement recently that the school of vocational education will be given serious attention. In fact, those who are going to technical schools will be given some pocket money. That is encouraging.”

The expert further called on professional bodies and the government to create incentives and make skilled jobs more attractive to Nigerian youths.

“The youths of the present day are not interested in acquiring skills. The housing industry has been bringing artisans from Togo to Cameroon. But when the economy of their country gets better, they leave. This has created a deficit of artisans to provide all the houses that we need,” he noted.

He urged that more measures be put in place to encourage skill acquisition and retention of trained artisans, including renaming some professions to give them more prestige.

“The government and the professional bodies must make it attractive. We can even change the name ‘bricklayer’ to a better name that will make them proud of the job. If they are engaged, they will not do Boko Haram, they will not do militancy. If they are engaged, their contribution to economic development will be there,” he noted.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE