By Abba Hamisu Sani
Africa-Press – Nigeria. The 18th edition of the Mediterranean Building Exhibition (MEDIBAT), held in Tunisia from May 21 to 24, 2025, was a major international event for the construction and infrastructure industry. Organized by the Sfax Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the exhibition served as a platform for innovation, networking, and business development. It featured a wide range of exhibitors from various countries showcasing building and civil engineering products and services.
International Participation
Professional exhibitors and manufacturers came from China, France, Libya, Algeria, Italy, Turkey, Poland, and Egypt.
Special Forums
A dedicated forum themed “Building Sustainably, Building Smart” focused on sustainable technologies, ecological architecture, and smart home solutions.
The Tunisian–Algerian–Libyan Economic Forum was also part of the 18th edition, aimed at promoting trade and investment opportunities among the three nations.
To facilitate networking and partnerships, business meetings, B2B sessions, and other events were organized between exhibitors and visitors.
Strengthening Public–Private Partnership in Africa’s Building Sector
Chief Chidi Nkem-Aruoma, President of the Traders Association of Nigeria (Abia State Chapter) and regional partner of the African American Chamber of Commerce, spoke on strengthening public–private partnerships (PPPs) in Africa’s building and infrastructure sector. He described the event as a unique opportunity for manufacturers, distributors, developers, buyers, and researchers from across the continent.
“MEDIBAT has played a leading role for over 30 years in fostering the international development of companies in the construction sector,” he said.
The former President of the Umuahia Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture, Chidi Aruoma, also explored how public and private sectors can co-create mechanisms to expand financing—especially for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), green enterprises, and regional manufacturing initiatives.
He advised CEOs, general managers, and purchasing managers from Nigerian companies involved in importing and distributing building materials, as well as those active in architecture, construction, and real estate development, to prioritize attending such events to connect with new opportunities.
Housing Deficit in Africa
Engineer Kamal Abdullahi, a building expert, emphasized Africa’s pressing need for such exhibitions that provide venues for professionals to exchange ideas and identify new initiatives.
He noted that the continent faces an estimated shortfall of over 97 million housing units. This deficit is driven by rapid population growth, urbanization, and a lack of affordable housing options. Nigeria, Egypt, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Tanzania have the largest housing deficits.
Engineer Abdullahi said the rapid—and often unplanned—urban growth is placing a huge strain on Africa’s cities. Decent and affordable housing is in desperately short supply.
230 Million Africans Living in Slums
The United Nations estimates that 230 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa live in slum households—roughly half of the continent’s urban population.
Abdullahi urged African leaders to make housing a national priority in line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, especially the target of achieving universal access to adequate housing and upgrading slums by 2030. However, he noted that the idea of building hundreds of millions of decent homes in five years to meet that goal appears overly optimistic.
“Challenges come from both the supply and the demand side,” the expert stated.
Building Materials Market in Nigeria
As of 2025, Nigeria’s hardware and building materials market is valued at $29.95 billion USD. The market is projected to experience an annual growth rate of 3.76%.
Per capita revenue in this market is estimated at $127.68 in 2025.
Nigeria is undergoing rapid urbanization, which is increasing demand for housing and infrastructure, thus driving the need for building materials. Government initiatives focused on infrastructure—such as road construction—are further boosting demand.
The residential sector is a major growth driver, with the rise in high-rise buildings and improving living standards fueling market expansion.
Policies such as the National Development Plan (2021–2025) are actively supporting infrastructure and housing projects, thereby increasing demand for building materials.
Conclusion
The Mediterranean Building Exhibition, organized by the Sfax Chamber of Commerce and Industry, remains a vital platform for innovation, networking, and business development, featuring a broad range of exhibitors from around the world.
African countries must create more of such opportunities to benefit the construction and housing sectors, entrepreneurs, manufacturers, and professionals.
As the continent’s largest market, Nigeria stands to gain immensely from initiatives that enhance the value of Africa’s building materials industry.
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