Lagos: The President, Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), Oba Akintoye Adeoye, has called for stronger blended financing structures to unlock investments in Nigeria’s housing and infrastructure sectors. This is contained in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja by Mr John Saka, Executive Secretary and Business Development Specialist at the national secretariat of REDAN.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Adeoye at the 2026 Africa Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Conference and Exhibition in Lagos, said the scale of Nigeria’s housing and infrastructure needs could not be met through conventional financing alone. The conference, themed ‘ESG as a Competitive Advantage: Blended Finance, Green Innovation, and Governance for Nigeria’s Real Estate Future’, was jointly organised by REDAN and Mortgage Banking Association of Nigeria (MBAN), in partnership with the Nigeria Mega Project Expo 2026.
Blended finance is a structuring approach that mixes public or philanthropic funds with private investment and also uses non-commercial capital to absorb extra risk or accept lower returns. Adeoye urged stronger collaboration among government, developers, mortgage institutions, commercial banks, development finance institutions, and institutional investors. He emphasized that blended finance can combine public, private, and development-oriented capital to de-risk investments and improve housing affordability.
Adeoye also urged real estate developers to embrace green innovation to improve efficiency, resilience, and long-term value in the sector. He noted that energy-efficient buildings, renewable energy, sustainable construction materials, water efficiency, waste management, and smart technologies offered opportunities for innovation. Such solutions could reduce operating costs, improve building quality, and enhance the wellbeing of occupants.
The REDAN president also stressed the need to strengthen governance in the real estate sector, with an emphasis on transparency, accountability, ethical business practices, and responsible leadership. He stated that good governance would build confidence, protect consumers, strengthen investor trust, improve access to finance, and enhance the credibility and sustainability of the real estate industry.
Adeoye concluded by saying that the conference provided an opportunity for stakeholders to move from discussions on ESG principles to practical implementation. He urged participants to identify practical solutions and opportunities for collaboration that would contribute to a more sustainable, inclusive, innovative, and resilient Nigerian real estate sector.