Former Minister of State for Solid Minerals, Alhaji Abubakar Bawa Bwari has charged the housing industry on the need to maintain ethics and standard in their efforts to provide affordable housing for all.
Bwari who spoke on Thursday night at the 4th Edition of the Nigeria Housing Award Dinner 2020 organised by Housing Development Advocacy Network (HDAN) said, “I charge the housing industry in its entirety to remain committed to hard work and excellence. We shall not rest until the last person owns a decent home in Nigeria. As we make that dream come through, we should also be mindful of achieving excellence in our urban planning; standard of housing and other ethical issues pertaining to housing delivery.”
Speaking on the award, Bwari said it is meant to encourage and sustain hard work in the industry.
The former minister who also doubled as the Chiarman of the occassion, said “significance of an award ceremony like this is not just in the raising of award plaques or in clinking of wine glasses, but it is in its ability to establish and sustain a culture of hard work and excellence. He who rewards excellence, makes room for healthy competition. The kind of competition that will enable real change.”
He further added, “The Nigeria Housing Awards is now synonymous with excellence and we expect nothing short tonight.
He commended the organiser of the Nigeria Housing Awards, for their commitment and vision for the country’s housing and construction sectors.
He also commended the board of the Abuja International Housing Show who were also the organizers of this event.
He said “They stand out for their unparalleled advocacy in the area of housing in Nigeria, and I encourage them to do more.
“I join many Nigerians in appreciating their remarkable efforts and for thinking it worthwhile to recognize those whose performance are worthy of recognition
“In a year like this that has been regrettably marked by a lot of unfortunate circumstances, it gives me joy that we finally have a reason to be together and celebrate something meaningful.”
On the awardees, he said “I am convinced that the organizers of Nigeria Housing Awards have done a thorough job in nominating all the awardees. For me, I believe that anyone that is nominated by this special platform is already a winner. However, the public has voted and we shall abide by their decision in celebration and love for one another.”
In his opening remark, the Chief Executive Officer of Housing Development Advocacy Network (HDAN), Barr. Festus Adebayo said convening of the occassion shows the resilence of Nigerians.
He added that in spite of this great challenge, the idea of sticking together and ensuring that progress happens is what the Nigeria Housing Awards stands for.
He added, “Convening this event today is a testament to how much we can manage to thrive even in the face of strong challenges.
2020 has been a very unique year. Unique in the sense of the challenges it has thrown at us. The sudden break in transmission caused by the fatal COVID-19 meant that we had to put everything on pause, and focus on the collective task of rescuing mankind from that novel virus.”
Personally, he said the 2020 event was very important because it represent the peoples “collective ambition, resolve and patience. As known to many, the Nigeria Housing Awards is all about the recognition and promotion of excellence, hard-work and determination. We always look out for these traits and appreciate them.
“By doing so, we create a viable environment for healthy competition among stakeholders. At the end of the day, the goal is to encourage and support the production of mass affordable housing for Nigerians who need them the most.”
He further adeed, “In the past years, we have recognized state executives like governors that have contributed credibly in housing through policy making or execution. Public and private sector professionals have been honoured for their creativity and innovations in this sector.
“Today is no different. We are here to honour those who have distinguished themselves in the past year, in spite of the challenges that could have stopped them.
“But the Nigeria Housing Awards is not just about celebration. It is also a call to action. The essence is to charge stakeholders to always ensure due diligence, maintain standards and be ethical. To be recognized here you must not have a history of short changing subscribers or developing properties with questionable standards. Government cannot enforce these rules alone. So here is a call for responsibility and healthy competiveness.”
He charged the awardees to see their “victory as a call to do more because others are not so far behind. In fact, everyone that has been nominated represents the kind of future we are keen to see.”
He also commended those who have always identifying with the Nigeria Housing Awards.
