The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has expressed its support for the Renewed Hope National Homeownership and Housing Development Campaign, an initiative of the KnowThis Nigeria Network (KTNN) aimed at deepening citizens’ participation in Nigeria’s housing reforms.
According to a statement by Badamasi S. Haiba, director of Press and Public Relations, the endorsement followed a strategic meeting between officials of the Ministry and the KTNN team led by Robert Ahen Chenge, its project director, to discuss collaboration on the nationwide campaign.
The KnowThis Nigeria Network (KTNN) is a civic organisation focused on bridging knowledge gaps and promoting citizen engagement in national development. Its new campaign seeks to strengthen the connection between citizens, state governments, and housing institutions by organising six regional housing advisory sessions for Governors, Commissioners for Housing, CEOs of State Housing Corporations, legislators, and private sector players.
Speaking during the meeting, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, minister of Housing and Urban Development, commended KTNN for translating government housing reforms into a citizen-centered movement that connects policy with people. He emphasised the importance of making housing reforms accessible, especially to citizens at the grassroots.
“Many States are still not fully aware of the federal and international housing windows available to them, and many citizens still don’t know how to access affordable housing opportunities,” Dangiwa said.
He expressed satisfaction with the objectives of the campaign, describing them as consistent with the Ministry’s priorities under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“The goals of deepening citizen awareness, strengthening state–federal collaboration, and institutionalising continuity in housing reforms align perfectly with our Ministry’s mission,” he added.
The Minister noted that the initiative complements ongoing efforts under the Renewed Hope Housing Programme, the Renewed Hope Social Housing Programme, and the Land 4Growth Reforms, which are designed to make housing delivery more coordinated, transparent, and inclusive.
Dangiwa also welcomed KTNN’s proposal to establish State Housing Reform Offices (SHROs) and a National Housing Reform Office (NHRO) to institutionalise housing knowledge and sustain reforms across political transitions.
He, however, directed that the specifics be reviewed to ensure alignment with the Ministry’s existing structures, particularly the Department of Reform Coordination and Service Improvement.
“What I see here is not duplication, but an opportunity for complementarity, where private sector-driven support structures like the NHRO and SHROs can work alongside our frameworks to deepen reform implementation and accelerate results,” the Minister said.
He further commended KTNN’s effort to partner with Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) such as the World Bank, Shelter Afrique Development Bank, IFC EDGE, and UN-Habitat, describing the proposal for co-funding as consistent with the Ministry’s blended-finance approach to sustainable housing.
The minister directed the Permanent Secretary to set up a technical review team comprising representatives from key agencies including the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Family Homes Funds Limited (FHFL), Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC), and the Reform Coordination Department, to work with KTNN in finalising partnership modalities.
He assured the KTNN team of the Ministry’s openness to partnerships and innovations that promote shared goals. “The Renewed Hope vision is not just a government slogan; it is a national call to action. It belongs to every Nigerian who believes that change is possible when citizens and institutions work together,” Dangiwa said.
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In his presentation, Robert Ahen Chenge, KTNN project director, described the campaign as a nationwide movement designed to close critical gaps in the housing sector, including limited understanding of federal housing reforms, underutilisation of federal support institutions, and low citizen awareness.
He explained that the campaign will include State-by-State Homeownership Seminars, both physical and virtual to educate civil servants, artisans, entrepreneurs, professionals, and youth groups on accessing affordable housing through agencies such as FMHUD, FMBN, FHA, FHFL, NMRC, MREIF, and InfraCredit.
Chenge added that the campaign will also train and deploy Homeownership Specialists across all states to guide citizens through mortgage applications and homeownership processes, supported through partnerships between government, DFIs, and the private sector to ensure sustainability.
He further noted that KTNN plans to produce educational tools, including a State Homeownership and Housing Development Advisory Booklet, the Renewed Hope Homeownership Guide, video infomercials, and an interactive digital platform to simplify communication and enhance public understanding of housing opportunities.
