By Teddy Nwanunobi
Africa Women in Housing and Construction, AWHC, has expressed disappointment that women remain underrepresented in decision-making roles and continue to face barriers despite their contributions to the sector.
Consequently, the AWHC has called for deliberate actions to create more opportunities for women in Africa’s housing and construction sector.
In a statement issued by its founder, Flora Anne, AWHC stated that greater inclusion is essential for the continent’s economic growth and sustainable urban development.
It particularly noted that although women are increasingly contributing to fields such as architecture, engineering, urban planning, real estate development, and housing finance, women have remained underrepresented in decision-making roles and continue to face barriers, including limited access to funding, land ownership challenges, and unequal professional opportunities.
Anne argued that empowering women within the built environment should be viewed as an economic priority rather than merely a gender issue.
“Women are not just participants in the housing and construction ecosystem; they are innovators, builders of communities, and drivers of economic growth. If Africa must close its housing deficit and build inclusive cities, women must be deliberately integrated into the entire value chain, from policy formulation and project financing to design, construction, and real estate investment”, she said.
Anne urged governments, policymakers, financial institutions, and private sector leaders to adopt policies that support women’s participation across the industry.
She identified key areas requiring urgent attention to include: the inclusion of women in national housing policies and urban development planning, improved access to finance and credit for women-led construction and real estate businesses, and reforms that guarantee women’s rights to own and develop land.
The AWHC founder also stressed the importance of technical training for women in construction trades, engineering, architecture, and project management to help bridge the gender gap in the sector.
She further called on governments and major developers to create procurement frameworks that allocate a portion of housing and infrastructure contracts to women-owned businesses.
According to her, mentorship and leadership programmes are also necessary to support the next generation of female professionals in the industry.
The discussions will feature prominently at the Africa Women in Housing and Construction Conference and Business Expo 2026, scheduled to hold on March 16 and 17 at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.
The event is expected to bring together architects, engineers, builders, real estate developers, investors, policymakers, and financial institutions from across the continent to discuss ways of strengthening women’s participation in the built environment.
Anne noted that the conference would also celebrate women already making significant contributions to housing development while encouraging a new generation of female leaders in the sector.
She added that empowering women to build, invest, and lead in housing development would help strengthen communities, expand economic opportunities, and accelerate Africa’s development.
Fresh Petrol Price Hike As Dangote Refinery Raises Fuel To N1,175/litre
Petrol prices may rise further across Nigeria after the Dangote Petroleum Refinery increased the gantry price of Premium Motor Spirit ,PMS, to N1,175 per litre.
The new rate, announced to marketers on Monday, represents a N180 increase from the N995 per litre price introduced on Friday, marking the third upward adjustment within a week.
The refinery also revised the gantry price of Automotive Gas Oil ,AGO, commonly known as diesel, to N1,620 per litre.
A senior refinery official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly, confirmed that the new pricing had already been communicated to marketers and depot operators.
“Yes, the gantry prices have been adjusted. PMS is now N1,175 per litre while Automotive Gas Oil is N1,620 per litre,” the official said.
According to the source, the latest adjustment reflects fluctuations in global market conditions and rising replacement costs.
“The market has been extremely volatile, and replacement costs have shifted significantly in recent days. These adjustments reflect prevailing market fundamentals and the cost environment we are currently operating inthe official added.
Industry checks on petroleumprice.ng indicated that the revised rates had already been updated on petroleum depot pricing platforms used by downstream marketers, signalling a new pricing benchmark within the sector.
The latest increase follows earlier adjustments within the past week that pushed gantry prices from N774 per litre to N995 before Monday’s hike to N1,175.
With the increase, retail pump prices in many parts of the country are expected to climb further, as higher depot prices typically translate into higher pump prices at filling stations.
In several states, petrol is already selling for over N1,000 per litre, with some stations reportedly dispensing the product at about N1,200 per litre.
Energy analysts warn that the development could trigger a fresh wave of increases in transportation fares, logistics costs and the prices of goods and services nationwide.
The adjustment comes amid ongoing efforts by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and the federal government to secure steady crude oil supply for the refinery through international traders.
The intervention is aimed at sustaining local refining operations at the $20 billion Lekki-based facility and ensuring consistent fuel supply in the domestic market.
However, industry stakeholders caution that while the move may support production stability, it may not immediately translate into lower petrol prices for consumers.
Nigeria has continued to grapple with rising fuel costs since the removal of petrol subsidies, and the latest increase by the refinery is expected to further strain household budgets and business operations across the country.
