By Mohammed Abubakar<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHousing and infrastructure are two sides of the same coin and Effective housing cannot exist without adequate infrastructure such as roads, electricity, water supply and waste management systems.\u201d Prof. Aremu Olanrewaju Sulyman said, while delivering the 125th Inaugural Lecture of the Federal University of Technology, Minna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The lecture titled: \u201cHousing and Infrastructure: Two Sides of the Same Coin,\u201d was held on Thursday, 30th April, 2026 at the University Auditorium, Main Campus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Professor of Urban and Regional Planning described housing and infrastructure as inseparable components of sustainable development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He noted that housing occupies over 50 per cent of urban land use and remains central to the planning and functionality of cities and rural settlements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to him, infrastructure not only supports housing but also drives economic growth, improves living standards, and enhances property values.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHousing demand stimulates infrastructure expansion, while infrastructure in turn makes housing more functional and desirable,\u201d he explained, adding that both sectors collectively shape urban growth and national development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The inaugural lecturer presented findings from his extensive research on informal settlements in Nigeria\u2019s North-Central region, identifying poverty, rural, urban migration, and affordability challenges as major drivers. He revealed that residents of such settlements often face serious health risks, including high incidences of malaria and typhoid, largely due to poor housing conditions and inadequate infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Don also highlighted his contributions to studies on housing markets, urban densification, rural infrastructure development, and public housing quality, noting disparities in infrastructure distribution across settlements. He called for urgent reforms, including amendments to the Land Use Act, expansion of affordable housing finance, adoption of green building practices, and improved use of technology such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in planning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Describing the lecture as both inaugural and valedictory, Prof. Sulyman disclosed that he would be retiring at the end of May after attaining the mandatory retirement age, marking the presentation as a culmination of his academic career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Faruk Adamu Kuta, commended the lecturer for his scholarly depth and practical insights, noting that the lecture addressed pressing national challenges. He described the topic as timely, particularly in the face of rapid urbanisation and infrastructure deficits in Nigeria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Photo Credit Elijah Yisa<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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