The 13th Session of the UN-Habitat World Urban Forum opened in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Monday, with global leaders, ministers, urban planners, and development experts calling for urgent action on affordable housing, climate resilience, and sustainable urban development.
The six-day forum, tagged WUF13, is being organised by UN-Habitat in collaboration with the Government of Azerbaijan under the theme, “Housing the World: Safe and Resilient Cities and Communities.”
The gathering comes amid growing global concerns over rising housing shortages, climate-related disasters, rapid urbanisation, and mounting pressure on infrastructure and public services, particularly in developing countries.
Nigeria is among the countries participating in the forum, with several urban development advocates, climate experts, and policy actors attending discussions expected to shape future global housing and urban resilience policies.
Among Nigerians participating at the event are climate and sustainability advocate, Olumide Idowu; environmental governance expert and urban development researcher, Arome Salifu; housing rights campaigner, Mariam Lawal; and environmental governance expert, Tunde Oladipo.
Speaking with The PUNCH, Idowu said African countries, particularly Nigeria, must move beyond policy discussions and prioritise practical investments in resilient housing and sustainable urban systems.
“Nigeria’s urban population is growing rapidly, but infrastructure and housing development are not keeping pace. Forums like this are important because they create opportunities for countries to share practical solutions around climate resilience, housing finance, and urban sustainability,” he said.
Salifu stressed the need for stronger political commitment to tackle the country’s housing deficit and urban planning challenges.
“Our cities are expanding faster than planning systems can manage. Informal settlements continue to grow because affordable housing remains inaccessible to millions of Nigerians. What is happening globally should push Nigeria towards more integrated urban development policies,” he said.
Lawal said climate change had worsened the vulnerability of low-income urban residents, especially those living in flood-prone communities.
“Flooding, poor drainage, and weak infrastructure continue to affect many urban communities in Nigeria. Housing should no longer be treated as a standalone issue because climate resilience, social protection, and urban planning are all connected,” she stated.
Oladipo also called for stronger collaboration between governments, development institutions, and the private sector to improve urban infrastructure financing across Africa.
“Many African cities are dealing with population growth without adequate investment in transportation, sanitation, housing, and disaster preparedness. The financing gap remains a major challenge,” he said.
Opening the ministerial session of the forum, Executive Director of UN-Habitat, Anacláudia Rossbach, thanked Azerbaijan for hosting the conference and described 2026 as a defining moment for global urban policy.
“I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the government of Azerbaijan for organising this important Ministerial Meeting on the New Urban Agenda at the opening day of World Urban Forum 13,” Rossbach said.
She added that the current moment was not only about reviewing past progress but also about shaping the future direction of urban development globally.
National Coordinator for WUF13, Anar Guliyev, announced the creation of a new “Baku Urban Award,” which will recognise innovation in urban planning at future editions of the forum.
“Starting from this year, a new award titled the ‘Baku Urban Award’ is being established,” he said.
Guliyev also emphasised the central role of housing in addressing global urban challenges.
“Housing is not merely a social issue, but also a climate, economic, and development issue, as well as a matter of human dignity,” he stated.
According to UN-Habitat, WUF13 is expected to deepen conversations around implementation of the New Urban Agenda, the United Nations framework adopted in 2016 to guide sustainable urbanisation worldwide.
Urban experts say the discussions are particularly important for African countries experiencing rapid urban population growth without corresponding investments in infrastructure and housing.
Nigeria currently faces an estimated housing deficit of over 28 million units, while cities such as Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt continue to experience growing pressure on transportation systems, drainage networks and social services.
Recent flooding incidents across Lagos, Bayelsa, Kogi and Anambra states have also heightened concerns about the vulnerability of urban settlements to climate-related disasters.
Stakeholders believe outcomes from the forum could influence future housing financing models, urban resilience strategies and international partnerships aimed at improving living conditions in developing countries.
The forum will run until May 22, with sessions focusing on affordable housing, climate adaptation, urban financing, mobility, digital transformation and resilient infrastructure.
