Experts Advocate for Policy Reforms to Empower Women in Housing and Construction Industries
Prominent experts have issued a compelling call to political leaders across Africa, urging the implementation of robust policies and targeted programmes designed to empower women within the housing and construction sectors. They argue that such empowerment is not merely beneficial but absolutely critical for addressing the continent's persistent housing deficit and for fostering truly inclusive economic growth that benefits all segments of society.
Barriers Persist Despite Growing Participation
Speaking at the inaugural Africa Women in Housing and Construction Conference and Business Expo held in Abuja, these specialists highlighted a troubling paradox. While women are increasingly entering and excelling in professional fields such as architecture, engineering, construction management, urban planning, and real estate development, they continue to encounter significant systemic barriers that limit their full potential and economic contribution.
Mr. Shehu Osidi, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), delivered a keynote address emphasizing the urgent need for stronger, more deliberate policies and strategic partnerships. Represented by the Group Head of Corporate Communications, Jadesola Gbago, Osidi stressed that boosting women's active participation is fundamental for achieving sustainable national development goals.
He acknowledged the notable progress women have made in the workplace over the last ten years, particularly through increased representation in corporate leadership roles, entrepreneurship, and science-based professions. "Redefining the modern workplace requires a concerted effort to dismantle the entrenched barriers that unfairly limit women's access to opportunities within the real estate and construction industry," Osidi stated.
Women as Active Shapers of Communities
Osidi further observed that women are no longer peripheral figures but are increasingly central to shaping both urban and rural communities. This includes architects, engineers, artisans, property developers, policymakers, financiers, and community leaders. He noted a visible shift on construction sites, where women are now present not only as skilled artisans but also occupying key supervisory and technical professional roles.
The transition extends to investment and management, with more women moving from being passive investors to becoming active developers and hands-on property managers. Concurrently, a growing number of female-headed households are now making crucial decisions regarding housing purchases and long-term property investments.
Persistent Challenges and Collaborative Solutions
Despite these advances, Osidi pointed out that formidable challenges remain. Gender discrimination, limited political representation at decision-making levels, and severely restricted access to finance and credit continue to hinder women's full economic participation in the sector. He highlighted that innovative collaborative financing models, such as cooperative societies and group savings schemes, are proving effective in helping women overcome traditional barriers to homeownership and business capital.
Echoing these concerns, Flora Anne, the Founder of the Africa Women in Housing and Construction (AWHC) initiative, identified several core challenges. These include chronically limited access to finance, legal and cultural constraints surrounding land ownership, exclusion from policy-making processes, and unequal professional advancement opportunities compared to male counterparts.
"Women are not just participants in this ecosystem; they are innovators, community builders, and powerful drivers of economic growth," Anne asserted. She argued that for Africa to successfully close its massive housing deficit and build inclusive, sustainable cities, women must be deliberately and systematically integrated across the entire housing value chain.
Call for Comprehensive Action
This integration, according to Anne, must span from high-level policy formulation and project financing down to practical design, physical construction, and real estate investment. To achieve this, she advocated for a multi-pronged approach:
- Implementation of gender-responsive housing policies that specifically address women's needs.
- Dramatically improved access to capital, loans, and venture funding for women entrepreneurs in construction and real estate.
- Strengthened legal frameworks to secure women's land ownership and property rights.
- Expanded training and capacity-building opportunities in technical, managerial, and professional fields within the built environment.
The consensus from the conference is clear: empowering women in housing and construction is an economic imperative. It requires moving beyond rhetoric to enact concrete policies, foster equitable partnerships, and unlock financing that will enable women to fully contribute to solving one of Africa's most pressing development challenges.
