By Etop Ekanem
LAGOS — THE Nigeria Mortgage Refinancing Company, NMRC, is set to host the 32nd edition of African Union for Housing Finance, AUHF, Conference and Annual General Meeting from September 14 to 16, 2016 in Abuja with the theme,  “Housing, an African growth agenda.”

Speaking with newsmen in Lagos, Executive Director, NMRC, Dr Chika Akporji, said AUHF is a member based organisation of housing finance experts under the framework of the African Union coming together to deliberate on issues of housing as a key sector in any national economy; deliberate on how housing sector is performing in their economies; how to unlock the potentialities of the sector so that it can contribute more meaningfully to job creation.

According to her, the main keynote speaker will be Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, who will use the opportunity of the conference to present his blueprint for the housing sector in Nigeria, presenting not only to a national audience but also to an international audience.

She said: “NMRC is really honoured to have been selected to host this year’s conference/AGM as we are relatively a young organisation. The conference will look at how housing is tied to the nexus between the housing sector and national economic growth to Nigeria and the whole of Africa. So we are expecting experts in housing finance from across the continent to deliver speeches.

On the potential benefits for Nigeria, Akporji said: “It is also an opportunity for various stakeholders within the Nigerian economy to present the various projects they are working on. It is an opportunity for key stakeholders to present what they are doing, seek feedback and input, then be able to better plan for execution of various housing programmes they have.

She urged those who are interested to participate in the conference to log into www.auhf.co.ca to register, saying participation is fee-based.