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| Cecelia Atohengbe, Architect consultant and CEO of Neighbourhood Turnkey Project Limited. |
With the recurring housing problem and homelessness in Nigeria, architect consultant and CEO of Neighbourhood Turnkey Project Limited, Cecelia Atohengbe, has advised architects to work together to solve the housing deficit in Nigeria.
She said this during a press briefing on Tuesday ahead of the Planned Shelter Conference, which will hold in Edo State on September 20, 2023.
She said housing delivery is a complex professional and highly capital-intensive process that needs efficient collaboration between key players in the industry and the end user population because of "the overwhelming challenges in the industry".
In her words, a collaborative approach will bring "better practical solutions that are realistic for Nigerians".
She emphasised the need for specialist consultants to relate more with the developers as consortiums that simplify the process and time taken to deliver the large number of housing units that stand as a challenge.
Speaking on the value chain in the sector, she said, "The scope of its value chain, from land acquisition, planning, architectural and engineering designs, to complete construction, is a huge economic asset that should be explored and mined strategically for the sustainable economic wealth of the country and its citizens.
Atohengbe added that accuracy in statistics creates room for improved planning and gives a defined lead on what resources can be utilised in finding solutions.
"Collecting the data also guides the growth of the sector and gives room to predict the outcome of the future. Understanding the lack of accurate data has a great power to stall or derail the growth of a sector," She said.
The Shelter Conference was born out of the idea of getting stakeholders to interact more critically with regards to delivering affordable homes, and it will proffer critical, practical solutions to housing problems.