The Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has bagged the Best Sustainable Housing Innovation Award at the maiden edition of the Kaduna International Housing Exhibition tagged KADIHE 1.0 organised by the Kaduna State Development and Property Company (KSDPC) .
The university emerged winners, beating Kaduna and Nuhu Bamali polytechnics, as well as the Kaduna State University (KASU), which came second, third and fourth respectively.
Daily Trust recalls that the managing director of the Kaduna State Development and Property Company (KSDPC), Abubakar Rabiu Abubakarat, an architect, at the opening of the exhibition, announced the launch of two social initiatives: the Arewa Construction Academy and the KSDPC Housing Cooperative Society, demonstrating the state’s commitment to social investment, skills development, and addressing the housing needs of low and middle-income families.
The seven flagship projects unveiled at the exhibition, he said, “Represent a bold vision for Kaduna State’s future, comprising the KSDPC Ultramodern Mechanic Village (Eastern Sector), which will revolutionise the automotive industry, while the 5-star hospital with doctors’ quarters will provide world-class health care services. The Private International University (ABSAAR) will offer quality education, and the Building Materials Village (Eastern Sector) will cater for the growing demand for construction materials.
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“Additionally, the Trucks and Heavy-duty Mechanistic Village will boost the state’s logistics and transportation sector, and the KSDPC Housing Co-operative Society will provide affordable housing options for citizens. The Kaduna Construction Academy will equip professionals with modern skills, ensuring a competent workforce for the state’s infrastructure development.”
The first batch of the Artisans of Arewa Constitution Academy, which is being established in partnership with the Kaduna Bureau for Substance Abuse, Prevention and Treatment Agency and the Nigerian Directorate of Employment were signed up at the exhibition.
However, announcing the winners of the competition, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Uba Sani on Student Matters, Hajiya Amina Sani Bello, said the schools put up a good fight with their exciting innovations, but there can be only one winner.
“You are all winners because there are prices for all categories. You all displayed very good and innovative projects, and I am proud to associate with all of you,” she said.
She noted that five students each were picked from the Department of Architecture in the participating institutions on sustainable mass housing.
A representative of ABU students who participated in the competition, Zainun Abiden Alhassan, said it was challenging coming up with the idea in three weeks, and expressed happiness that their effort paid off.
He said, “It was a very challenging period and we had little time to work on our project. We divided the challenges into three categories, comprising mass housing for all, mass housing for the middle class and retrofitting (improving already existing projects). It took us just three weeks to put everything together, and we are happy that our effort was not in vain.”
He hopes the government would take their proposal into consideration in the near future, saying, “We have included new innovations and proposed a very sustainable way of building, especially with regard to the materials and how to do away with cement in construction.”
Also, the president, National Association of Architecture Students, Kaduna Polytechnic, Musa Abdullahi, having come second in the competition, appreciated the organisers for giving them the opportunity to showcase their talents.
The maiden edition of the exhibition featured panel discussions on Governor Sani’s housing agenda, government’s subsidy initiatives, constitution, skills development, local content and modern technology in housing development in Nigeria, alternative building materials and innovative ownership schemes for housing, amongst others.
There were also paper presentations on land accessibility and housing production, establishment of an aqua agric-based community development export city programme for 2,500 families, aligning housing policy indices with future national development aspirations and climate resilience and adaptations.
The exhibition brought together real estate investors, property developers, top government officials, housing policy makers, industry professionals, sales agents, skilled artisans and high-net-worth clients who showcase cutting-edge housing and construction technologies, products and services, mortgage finance options and housing and construction projects from across the state and northern region.
Dignitaries at the event are Dr Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe; the deputy governor of Kaduna State, Ahmed Dangiwa, an architect; Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Aminu Abdullahi Shagali; Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development and other top officials within and outside the state.
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