Afrika Nå: Lagos! Mega City, Mega Opportunities, Mega Challenges

How can the population boom in African cities be harvested in sustainable growth and development? With an estimated current population of 21 million, Nigeria’s commercial capital Lagos is Africa’s premier megacity. Its population is expected to double by 2050 making it (by then) the world’s third largest city. The challenges of sustainable urbanization are brought to the fore in the context of a megacity such as Lagos. Prominent Nigerian representatives are coming to Afrika Nå to discuss what is needed from civil society, business and government in order to grow African mega cities such as Lagos in an inclusive manner. THE PANEL - Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri (Executive Director of the Lagos-based NGO Spaces for Change) She will talk about the ways urban infrastructure projects cause large-scale displacement of the urban poor. Victoria will further help us understand how engagement between civil society groups and planners in Nigerian cities can protect the interests of the poor in the context of urban infrastructure development. - Fabienne Hoelzel (Professor for Architecture and Urban Design, Stuttgart State Academy of Fine Arts) As the Founding-Director of Fabulous Urban (a design, research and planning practice for less developed regions) Ms Hoelzel has substantial experience in working with slum-upgrading programs in Lagos. Her most recent project involves a series of community empowering sanitation solutions, in collaboration with the Nigerian Slum/ Informal Settlement Federation and Justice & Empowerment Initiatives. Ms. Hoelzel is currently also working with the Makoko Regeneration Plan in Lagos, where they have piloted the "Makoko Neighborhood Hotspot", a multipurpose community center. ***We apologize for the poor sound quality of this recording***