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

CENTRE ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS

Prof. Oluwole Familoni

Professor Familoni obtained B. Sc. and Ph.D. in organic chemistry at the University of Lagos in 1981 and 1990 respectively. He is a member of the Institute of Public analyst of Nigeria, a Chartered Chemist and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, London, Fellow of the Chemical Society of Nigeria, Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria, He is a Fellow and Council member of the Nigerian Academy of Science FAS. His area of specialisation is synthesis of heterocyclic compounds with physiological activities and natural product chemistry. He has been publishing in these areas of research since 1987. He has received many awards and recognitions.

Prof. Tom Goodfellow

Tom Goodfellow is Professor of Urban Studies & International Development at the University of Sheffield.  His research focuses on the political economy of urban development and change in Africa, particularly the politics of urban land and transportation, conflicts around infrastructure and housing, and urban institutional change. He has conducted research in Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda, Nigeria, Tanzania and Kenya, with a range of institutional partners in Africa including Makerere University, Addis Ababa University, University of Lagos and University of the Witwatersrand. His current and recent research is mostly funded by the UK Economic and Social Research Council and Global Challenges Research Fund.

Prof. David Toll

David Toll is a Professor in the Department of Engineering and Co-Director of the Institute of Hazard, Risk and Resilience at Durham University, UK.  His research encompasses two highly relevant areas of civil engineering, the engineering behaviour of unsaturated and tropical soils and the application of information technology to geotechnical engineering. He is Director of the Sustainable Infrastructure Research Challenge for the Department of Engineering. He has been Director of Education, Design Coordinator, Accreditation Coordinator and International Coordinator for the School of Engineering and Computing Sciences. He teaches Geotechnical Engineering and Mechanics in the undergraduate MEng course in Engineering.

Hon. Moruf Akinderu-Fatai

Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, a former Special Assistant to the Governor of Lagos State. He holds a B.A (Hons.) in Archaeology from the University of Ibadan, Ibadan. He is also graduate of John Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies, Washington D.C, U.S.A., Akinderu-Fatai also studied Budget Strategies and Research Methodology at Management Development and Productivity Institute, Accra, Ghana. After a brief stint in the private sector, A graduate of executive leadership training from Cornell University, as well as Harvard Kennedy School in Implementing Public Policy. He is a highly rated philanthropist and a deep thinker, MAF, as he is popularly called, runs a Foundation for welfare of widows and also a vocational training programme for students on holidays among others.

Dr. Muhammad M. Gambo

Dr. Gambo is a Quantity Surveyor, Public Private Partnerships (PPP) transaction advisor and Sustainable Development advocate with expertise in consulting, lecturing, strategic and policy research. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy and Master’s in Real Estate and Facilities Management from Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia; And a bachelor’s degree in Quantity Surveying from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. His research and policy interests includes affordable housing delivery, innovative financing techniques for infrastructure projects, infrastructure reform and regulation, built environment research techniques & methodology and sustainable development.

Ms. Astrid R.N. Haas

Astrid is an independent urban economist working across research and practice, supporting cities in Africa, the Middle East and Asia with questions of strategy related to municipal financing and funding. She has affiliations as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Toronto, a Research Associate at the African Centre for Cities at the University of Cape Town and at ODI, as well as being an Extraordinary Lecturer at the African Tax Institute. She holds an MSc in Public Financial Management from SOAS, University of London and an MA in International Economics and International Development from Johns Hopkins University.

Mr. Madu Hamman

Madu Hamman is the Managing Director/Chief Executive Federal Mortgage Bank Nigeria. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography (1982) from University of Maiduguri. He is a Senior Honorary member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria and an alumnus of IMD Lausanne, Switzerland. He has had about 30 years’ experience in mortgage banking and 8 years in commercial and merchant banking with specific emphasis to credit analysis, banking operations, corporate finance, business support services and human resource management.

Mrs. Titilayo Oshodi

Titilayo Oshodi is a goal-oriented Nigerian with a vast array of experience in numerous industries. She has proven administrative qualities that span decades of hard work in the private sector, which eventually resulted in her recommendation to the public sector. She has a BSc in Economics from Olabisi Onabanjo University, professional certificates from the Metropolitan School of Business and Management, UK and the Harvard Kennedy School, US. Titilayo Oshodi is a member of the Corporate Ethics & compliance (SSCE), USA, Centre for Management Research & Development, Nigeria, Chartered Institute of Personnel Management, Nigeria & the Institute of Strategic Management, Nigeria.

Mrs. Ewuraba Addo

Mrs. Ewuraba Addo is the ARUA Project Coordinator of the ARUA-UKRI Partnership Programme. She is an Assistant Administrator at the Albert Essamuah Associates Ltd, University of Leicester, Ghana.