The African Housing Show, organised by the Property Express (PE) Group, has quickly become a leading forum for addressing Africa’s housing challenges. Described as setting a new benchmark for the continent’s real estate sector, the event convenes government leaders, industry experts, financiers, and developers under one roof.
By spotlighting affordable and sustainable housing solutions, the show is widely seen as a catalyst for innovation and change. It has evolved into more than just an exhibition—it’s a movement toward sustainable, quality housing across Africa.
Uniting Stakeholders and Forging Partnerships
One of the show’s greatest strengths is its ability to bring together diverse stakeholders. Its organizers explicitly target an audience of real estate developers, investors, construction firms, housing ministries, and policymakers.
Trade literature lists government officials and policymakers alongside financial institutions and industry professionals as key attendees. In the exhibition hall and conference rooms, developers showcase projects while attendees connect with professionals and establish partnerships that lead to real housing projects.
The event serves as a hub for networking, giving developers, investors, and policymakers a chance to forge alliances on large-scale projects. Government housing officials can directly meet private builders and financiers under one roof.
By facilitating such public–private dialogue, the show fosters the very collaborations needed to close Africa’s housing gap.
Influencing Policy and Regulatory Reform
A major goal of the Housing Show is to shape housing policy. Sessions and panels explicitly address regulatory and financing issues. The event is an excellent venue for discussing policy changes that can support the sector’s growth, from new building codes and subsidies to innovative mortgage schemes. In 2025, the program will include a Trading Green Conference focused on sustainable building methods and green financing. Industry leaders there will examine emerging regulations and standards under Africa’s future cities agenda. In short, the show generates conversations that influence national and regional housing strategies. Policymakers from multiple countries attend, take note of best practices, and often return home with new ideas to pilot in their own markets.
Catalysing Investment and Public–Private Partnerships
The African Housing Show is explicitly designed to drive investment into housing. Organizers highlight investment opportunities in the African housing market and bring developers and financiers together. In practice, this means arranging meetings between developers with shovel-ready projects and both local and international funders. The African Development Bank is a key partner of the show, reflecting the emphasis on mobilizing development finance.
Mortgage banks and private equity groups also participate – for example, Nigeria’s AG Mortgage Bank has partnered with the event alongside that country’s Federal Ministry of Housing.
Participating developers gain visibility with global investors. Exhibitors connect with global investors, policymakers, and industry professionals, and showcase their eco-friendly products and sustainable solutions to a worldwide audience. In effect, the event shines a spotlight on housing projects that might otherwise struggle to reach international capital.
These goals underscore the show’s role in bridging sectors. By drawing in both banks and housing ministers, it promotes new public–private partnership (PPP) models. Ghana and other countries have launched PPP affordable-housing schemes where governments supply infrastructure while private builders deliver units. The show’s networking environment helps share these models across borders.
Showcasing Innovation and Affordable Housing Solutions
Innovation in construction and design is front-and-center at the Housing Show. The event highlights cutting-edge, affordable housing technologies – from modular and 3D-printed building methods to smart home applications. Exhibitors present cutting-edge technologies, modern construction techniques, and eco-friendly building practices that are transforming the way homes are built. These include green building materials, solar power systems, and efficient water use – all aimed at reducing costs and environmental impact.
The show’s awards and conference categories reflect this focus. In 2024 there were 54 award categories – including Building Green Developers in Africa and Innovative Proptech Solutions – that recognize companies using eco-friendly construction and housing technology. Nominees have included firms from across Africa such as Kigali Heights of Rwanda and Centum Real Estate of Kenya, noted for sustainable projects. A dedicated Green Exhibition space showcases the newest sustainable building products and designs. All told, the show pushes forward affordable-housing innovation by putting it in the continental spotlight.
By providing a shared platform, the show helps align these players toward common goals. Government agencies can announce new housing policies directly to private developers, while banks can promote new mortgage products to policymakers. This cross-sector mix – from finance ministers to community housing advocates – is part of what makes the event a game-changer: it breaks down silos so that diverse voices contribute to solutions.
Strategic Impact on Regional Development
Beyond individual deals or projects, the African Housing Show aims for systemic impact. Planners emphasize links between housing and wider development. Sessions on Africa’s future cities connect housing with climate resilience and urban infrastructure planning. Organizers explicitly say that by attending, stakeholders contribute to a movement aimed at addressing climate change, alleviating poverty, and curbing migration through sustainable development in Africa. In other words, the show ties housing to Agenda 2030 goals on safe cities and sustainable communities.
On a practical level, hosting the expo in London helps channel global capital and expertise back to Africa’s booming cities. The UK venue attracts African diasporans and international investors who might not travel to local trade fairs. Many African real estate leaders use the show to learn finance and design ideas from around the world, then implement them at home. Over time, this cross-pollination can raise construction standards continent-wide and speed up the creation of affordable housing at scale.
Conclusion
Africa’s housing deficit is vast, but the African Housing Show represents a new model for tackling it. By uniting governments, investors, builders, and advocates, the event transforms fragmented efforts into coordinated action. It spotlights the latest construction innovations, influences policy debates, and mobilizes capital toward housing projects that benefit millions. The Show generates discussions that can influence national and regional strategies. In this way, the African Housing Show has emerged as a game-changer – a platform not only for showcasing homes, but for forging the partnerships and ideas that will build them.
Source : Jouycelyn Marigold – African Housing ShowUK 2025
