The Association of Housing Corporations of Nigeria (AHCN) has appointed Chime Obiora as the new Chairman of its Board of Trustees. His appointment follows the death of the former chairman, Gabriel Aduku, who passed away last year after a brief illness.
Obiora’s appointment was announced after the association’s 112th Council Meeting held in Abuja. In a statement, AHCN described him as a seasoned expert in Nigeria’s housing and real estate sector with years of experience and deep involvement in policy and institutional development. The association said his leadership would help drive forward its mission of providing affordable housing to Nigerians.
“Chime brings a wealth of experience and strategic insight into the visionary mission of the Association to drive affordable mass housing provision to all Nigerians,” the statement noted.
Born on October 1, 1961, in Enugu State, Obiora is currently the Group Managing Director of Copen Group, a well-known real estate and construction company. He is also the Chairman of the Presidential Task Team on Land Reform, which was set up by the Federal Government to address key issues around land accessibility, titling, and registration.
He has previously served as Chairman of the Board of Directors at the Enugu State Housing Development Corporation from 2003 to 2007. Between 2000 and 2006, he was also the Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Surveyors. Over the years, Obiora has contributed to key reforms in land administration, mortgage development, and construction industry regulation.
Beyond these roles, he holds various leadership positions in both public and private institutions. He is Chairman of the Board of Directors of CSTEMP GTE and Bethel Microfinance Bank Limited. He also sits on the boards of AG Mortgage Bank Plc and the Africa International Housing Show (AIHS). In addition, he is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA), and the Irede Foundation, a non-governmental organisation that supports physically challenged children.
Obiora is also a former President of the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), where he played a major role in promoting collaboration between the private sector and government to drive large-scale housing projects across the country.
With his new role at AHCN, many industry watchers believe Obiora is well-positioned to help reposition the organisation and the wider housing sector. His deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities within the Nigerian real estate space is seen as a major advantage.
AHCN serves as the umbrella body for all federal and state housing agencies, housing research institutions, mortgage finance institutions, and select private property developers in Nigeria. It plays a central role in housing policy formulation, public-private partnership development, and efforts to address Nigeria’s housing deficit.
The association is known for advocating reforms in land management, encouraging local production of building materials, and pushing for funding models that support low- and middle-income earners.
With Obiora now leading its Board of Trustees, AHCN is expected to strengthen its advocacy and implementation role, especially in areas like urban planning, land titling, housing finance, and partnerships that support affordable home delivery.
Industry insiders say that Obiora’s leadership is likely to further promote collaborations between government agencies, professional bodies, and developers. His involvement in both technical and policy levels gives him a unique edge in championing practical solutions to Nigeria’s housing challenges.
His appointment is also seen as a step toward ensuring continuity in the association’s ongoing initiatives and reforms, especially in light of the recent push to simplify land processes and boost access to affordable homes.
