Gowon Urges African Leaders to Prioritize Affordable Housing for Sustainable Development

Former Nigerian Head of State General Yakubu Gowon has urged African leaders to place affordable housing at the forefront of their development agendas, stressing its critical role in improving public health, education, and overall economic growth.

Gowon made the remarks on Tuesday during the opening of the 19th Africa International Housing Show (AIHS) in Abuja. He was represented by Prof. Suleiman Bogoro, former Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

Organized by Festus Adebayo, CEO of AIHS, this year’s event was themed: “Re-imagining Housing Through Innovation, Collaboration, and Policy.”

In his remarks, Gowon noted that inadequate housing remains one of Africa’s most urgent challenges, calling it a barrier not only to personal dignity but also to national progress.

“Access to affordable housing is directly linked to better health outcomes, improved educational performance, and higher economic productivity,” Gowon said through Prof. Bogoro.

He urged African governments to champion inclusive policies that prioritize sustainable urban development, noting that the housing crisis is deeply intertwined with issues of poverty, displacement, and infrastructure decay.

Gowon emphasized the importance of regional cooperation, pointing out that solutions must be tailored yet shared across borders.

“African governments must work together to ensure housing initiatives are efficient, inclusive, and equitable,” he noted.

He called for bold investments, modern construction innovations, and decisive policy implementation to meet the housing demands of the continent’s rapidly growing population.