This dogged advocate does not consider himself to be a celebrity, a soloist, or a frontman. But, through a public-spirited determination, and unabashed interest for low-income earners, Adebayo is assiduously pushing for a better affordable, and accessible housing deal for all. This undying quest has made him serve as a pillar of support to the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Family Homes Fund Ltd., Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Company, Mortgage Banking Association of Nigeria, and many other professional bodies in Nigeria.
He is an honorary member of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners and has been honored by numerous professional bodies such as the Nigeria Institute of Architects, Nigeria Institute of Building, Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, and Nigeria Institute of Estate Surveyors and Valuers for his unparalleled contributions to housing development in Nigeria.
He was also declared by the Association of Housing Corporation of Nigeria and Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria as Housing Personality of the Year in 2020. He has been featured among the 60 leading CEO's in Nigeria in the special report packaged by the Guardian Newspapers.
His unparalleled, passionate advocacy for housing development has seen him bring housing awareness and consciousness to a different level where it has now become a subject of discussion even with the police.
The Titanic Adebayo is the Convener of the largest housing event in Africa that has featured Nigeria’s Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, many governors, and international participants. Unarguably, he has made a remarkable impact on the ethos of accessibility and affordability of housing for all, a struggle that has become an integral part of enigmatic life.
While he is currently part of the Federal Government’s Sustainability Committee on Housing charged with the delivery of two million houses across the 36 states of the Federation, Adebayo is a member of the Nigeria Institute of Management and a leading promoter of housing development in Nigeria. He has received numerous awards for his unparalleled contributions to housing development.
Early life
He spent his early life in Ilesha, Osun State where he had his primary and secondary school education, and he was involved in menial jobs to support his mother having lost his father at the age of two. He attended Holy Trinity Primary School, Ilesha, where he was a time keeper. ‘’He was among the school prefects from where he entered Biladu Grammar School, Ilesha, through the free education programme of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria. There he was a senior prefect from year one to the fifth year. He had the best result in his first attempt at the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) which enabled him to proceed to OAU, ile-ife for his first degree in political science, then Law, and then to UNILAG for his MBA. He was a member of the Boys Scouts then at Ilesa.
Career
Adebayo flagged off his career with the Nigerian Industrial Development Bank, now Bank of Industry as a Youth Corper serving his country in one year of compulsory national youth service from 1991 to 1992 from where he moved to the then Amicable Bank Limited as a Banking Officer. After three years of service, He resigned. From there He was later appointed Executive Secretary of the newly established S.O. Fadahunsi Housing Foundation by the Buba Marwa military administration in Lagos State. That is how he started his journey into Nigeria’s housing industry.
Accomplishments
Adebayo’s landmark achievements are many. He established the first Housing television, Housing TV Africa, to promote co-ownership and affordable housing delivery in Nigeria. He is the midwife of the largest international housing exhibition and conference, a flagship in Africa, popularly known as the Africa International Housing Show (AIHS). He is also the promoter of Housing Time on RayPower, the first radio programme devoted to educating Nigerians on how to own the home of their dream. He has impacted the lives of more than 5000 Nigerians who have through his assistance, programmes, and mentoring become homeowners. He served in a Federal Government Task Force on Affordable Housing from 2016 to 2019. He is a member of the Federal Government Committee on Housing (Clay & Bricks).
Personal life & Philantrophy
His children are: Ifeoluwapo, oluwatobiloba, oluwasemilore and oluwadarasimi. He established the Festus Adebayo Foundation in his hometown to support elderly people who need help, and an annual scholarship for the best WAEC student in Ilesha West Local Government Area of Osun State. He is involved in the free training of artisans in the area of empowerment for youth development in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. He has been involved in various community support projects. He has sponsored many artisan training and empowerment programs.
International Conferences Attended
Festus Adebayo has attended many international conferences in Canada, the U.S., and the UK, such as the UK Construction Week organized by the Chartered Institute of Housing, among many housing and construction events where he has received honorary certificates. He has participated in numerous conferences and has been invited by the World Bank to participate in land and housing finance conferences. Additionally, he has been invited by the World Bank for discussions on affordable housing. Adebayo has been a partner to the African Union of Housing Finance (AUHF) and Shelta Afrique, the only pan-African finance institution that exclusively supports the development of the housing and real estate sector in Africa, based in Kenya.
Works/Publications
Issues, Challenges, and Prospects in the Housing Sector: Operator's Perspective. Adebayo, Festus. SECTION I. Deputy Governor, Economic Policy, Central Bank of Nigeria Publication.
Awards/Honours
Icon of Housing Development in Nigeria by Nigerian institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), Merit Award from Association of Professional Women Builders, Award of Excellence by Lifestyle Asset Hub Ltd, Institute of Town Planners Award of Excellence
