When Maxwell Onyebuchi Chimremeze walked into the Housing Matters Meet & Greet 1.0, owning land was the last thing on his mind.
The chef had no property anywhere—not in Abuja, not in any other part of the country. But by the end of the night, his reality changed in a way he still struggles to put into words.
“I’m speechless,” Maxwell said, his voice breaking into a mix of disbelief and joy. “I never expected it. I didn’t believe it would happen, but I’m so surprised seeing it happen. I was almost going home when they told me to wait.”
That wait turned into a life-changing moment when his name was called as the winner of a raffle draw—a plot of land valued at ₦2 million, located in Abuja.
For Maxwell, who spends his days crafting meals in the kitchen, the unexpected gift was more than just land—it was the first tangible step toward a dream he never thought was within reach.
“My heart is filled with joy,” he said. “Somebody bringing out land worth ₦2 million to give to someone who didn’t even ask for it… God will bless them. They are doing well, and I pray God will continue to bless them.”
The land raffle draw was one of the highlights of the maiden edition of Housing Matters Meet & Greet, organised by 208 Media through its flagship platform, Housing Matters. The event, held on Friday night, brought together developers, agents, clients, policy influencers, investors, mortgage providers, building material suppliers, and other key players in the real estate value chain.
More than just a networking event, the programme sought to address one of Nigeria’s most pressing challenges: rebuilding trust in the property market as a pathway to closing the country’s estimated 25 million housing deficit. Co-founders Engineer Elizabeth Ebere Obioma and Adamu Deco Suleman stressed the importance of due diligence, transparency, and collaboration between the private sector and government in solving the housing crisis.
For Maxwell, however, the night’s message went beyond industry reforms—it was a personal turning point. What began as an ordinary evening ended with him stepping out of the event as a proud landowner, his hands empty but his future a little fuller.
Awards were also presented to different stakeholders and developers who have distinguished themselves in the housing sector.
