By Kingsley Adegboye

The Africa International Housing Show (AIHS), has called on Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), multilateral development banks, sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, private equity firms, impact investors and international financial institutions to significantly increase investments in Africa’s real estate sector.

The housing show described it as one of the world’s most compelling opportunities for sustainable economic growth, long-term wealth creation and social transformation.

Speaking ahead of the 20th Anniversary Edition of the Africa International Housing Show (AIHS @20 – Legacy Edition), scheduled to hold from 13th to 18th July, 2026, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, Nigeria, the Chief Executive Officer of AIHS, Festus Adebayo, said Africa has reached a defining moment where strategic investments in housing and real estate can deliver exceptional financial returns in transforming millions of lives.

According to Adebayo, no continent currently offers the scale of untapped housing demand that Africa presents, pointing out that with a rapidly growing population, accelerated urbanisation, rising household formation and increasing demand for quality housing, the continent represents one of the largest real estate investment frontiers in the world.

He noted that Africa requires tens of millions of additional housing units, representing an investment opportunity worth hundreds of billions of dollars over the coming decades.

“The question is no longer whether Africa needs housing. The question is who will seize the enormous investment opportunity that this housing demand presents. Those who invest today will become partners in shaping Africa’s future while securing long-term, sustainable returns,” Adebayo stated.

He added that unlike many mature global markets where growth has slowed and returns have become increasingly constrained, Africa continues to offer substantial opportunities for capital appreciation, expanding property values, increasing rental demand and sustained market growth.

He explained that real estate remains one of the few investment classes capable of delivering multiple layers of value by preserving wealth, generating stable income, creating employment, stimulating industrial production and supporting national development simultaneously.

He further observed that every investment in housing stimulates economic activities across more than forty sectors, including cement, steel, manufacturing, construction, banking, mortgage finance, insurance, transportation, logistics, technology, telecommunications and professional services.

According to him, housing should no longer be viewed merely as a social programme but as critical economic infrastructure capable of accelerating industrialisation, increasing productivity and expanding national prosperity.

The AIHS Chief Executive stressed that affordable housing presents one of the greatest impact investment opportunities available globally because it simultaneously delivers measurable financial returns, social inclusion and environmental sustainability.

He called on development finance institutions to expand long-term financing facilities, local currency funding mechanisms, credit guarantees and blended finance models that will enable developers to deliver quality housing at scale, particularly for low-income and informal sector workers.

Adebayo also urged sovereign wealth funds and pension funds to allocate a greater proportion of their portfolios to residential housing, rental housing, student accommodation, healthcare facilities, logistics parks, industrial estates and mixed-use developments across Africa.

He noted that governments across the continent are implementing policy reforms aimed at improving land administration, strengthening mortgage systems, digitising property registration, enhancing transparency and creating more investor-friendly regulatory environments.

He further encouraged international investors to move beyond conventional financing models by partnering with African developers through joint ventures, Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), infrastructure funds, affordable housing funds and public-private partnerships.

According to him, AIHS remains committed to creating a trusted platform where governments, investors, developers and financial institutions can negotiate partnerships, structure investments and conclude transactions capable of accelerating housing delivery across Africa.

The AIHS @20 Legacy Edition will feature dedicated investment forums, housing finance roundtables, ministerial dialogues, CEOs’ forums, project showcases, business-to-business meetings, business-to-government engagements and investment matchmaking sessions specifically designed to connect global capital with bankable housing opportunities across Africa.

Adebayo further appealed to international investors to recognise that investing in African real estate extends beyond financial returns.

“It is an investment in human dignity, economic resilience, job creation, urban transformation and sustainable development. Every affordable home financed creates opportunities for families, strengthens communities, supports businesses and contributes to national economic growth,” he averred.

He reiterated that Africa’s youthful population, expanding middle class, increasing urban migration and rising demand for quality housing provide a strong foundation for sustained long-term investment growth.

“The future of global real estate investment is increasingly being shaped by emerging markets, and Africa is central to that future. Investors who commit today will not only generate sustainable returns but will also help unlock one of the greatest economic transformations of the twenty-first century,” he disclosed.

The Africa International Housing Show therefore calls on development finance institutions, multilateral development banks, sovereign wealth funds, institutional investors, pension fund administrators, export credit agencies, private equity firms, impact investors and international development partners to work with African governments and the private sector to unlock the capital required to bridge the continent’s housing gap.

The 20th Anniversary Edition of the Africa International Housing Show will provide an unparalleled platform for building partnerships, mobilising investment, showcasing innovation and advancing practical solutions that will shape the future of housing and real estate development across Africa.