The Centre for Housing and Sustainable Development (CHSD) at the University of Lagos was established to provide learning and research support for evidence-based policy and practice for the housing sector in Africa. Since inception in December 2013, the Centre has made several achievements in its core areas of research, capacity building in the housing sector, advocacy, regeneration and consultancy.

It is the ARUA Centre for Excellence in Urbanization and Habitable cities, thus coordinating multidisciplinary research activities and capacity building across various urbanization and built environment thematic areas. In partnership with the thirteen ARUA member universities, CHSD provides opportunities for in-depth engagement and solution finding to Africa’s most critical urban issues.

CHSD engages in active collaborations – research and practice – with Federal and State Government Agencies, Non-Governmental Organizations, Real Estate Developers’ Association and Slum community groups. 

Our Vision:

To be Africa’s foremost Centre of Excellence for housing education, professionalization and research.

Our Mission:

In the advancement of housing professionalism, to stimulate a culture of learning and development in the sector through formal training, research and education.

CENTRE MANAGEMENT TEAM

Prof. Timothy Gbenga Nubi

Timothy Nubi leads the Centre for Housing and Sustainable Development at the University of Lagos, focusing on housing and real estate development. He is a renowned expert in housing finance and urban regeneration with a strong commitment to addressing housing and urban development challenges. He has held key roles in academia and housing organizations, including the Technical Board of Nigeria's Federal Housing Authority and the Real Estate Development Association of Nigeria. He played a role in the formation and development of REDAN and currently serves on its Board of Trustees. Under his leadership, the Centre secured recognition as a Centre of Excellence in Urbanization and Habitable Cities in Africa. His extensive experience in collaborating with various stakeholders has led to crucial housing and urban regeneration projects in Nigeria. He currently directs the Research and Management Office at the University of Lagos, leading funded research initiatives.

Prof. Taibat Lawanson

Professor of Urban Planning at the University of Lagos, Nigeria, where she leads the Pro-Poor Development Research Cluster and serves as Co-Director at the Centre for Housing and Sustainable Development. She holds a PhD in Urban and Regional Planning from the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria. Her research work is in the broad areas of urban informality, pro-poor development, governance and environmental justice. She is particularly interested in how formal and informal urban systems synthesize in emerging African contexts, especially Lagos.

Dr. Basirat Oyalowo

Basirat Oyalowo researches into contemporary issues in housing studies, informality and urban sustainability, with an interest in decolonization, comparative African studies and mixed methods research. She lectures in the Department of Estate Management and Valuation where she also obtained her PhD degree. She has a Masters degree in Housing Policy and Management from the University of Northumbria at Newcastle, UK. Basirat is also on the management team of the University of Lagos Centre for Housing and Sustainable Development, where she drives the Centre’s grants response, research, capacity building and post-graduate programmes, as well as housing advocacy activities.

Mrs. Adeniyi Oluwatoyin

Oluwatoyin Adeniyi is the Centre’s Secretary. She holds a Bachelor Degree with Honours in Economics from Madonna University, Okija, Anambra State and a Masters in Economics from the University of Lagos, Akoka Lagos. She provides administrative support to the different activities of the Centre and to a number of research projects that has been carried out by the Centre. She also provides secretariat support for the day to day running of the Centre. She has core competences in budget preparation for research projects and events. In addition, she is responsible for office management, Centre’s financial management and the Centre’s facility management. She is strongly motivated when faced with achieving impressive results; she has a ‘can do’ attitude. She is endowed with strong leadership and team development skills, interpersonal and analytical skills