The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has expressed his determination to partner stakeholders to evolve modern housing plan in Ile-Ife and other Yoruba towns and cities in the South-West.
TqaThe first class monarch spoke at the induction ceremony held at his palace, on Friday, saying he would join forces to drive the initiative.
Oba Ogunwusi, who decried poor planning in building construction across Yoruba land, said time was ripe to rise against the ugly trend.
The Ooni, who was honoured as lifetime chairman of BSTAN Group; an Abuja based housing firm, urged concerned stakeholders in the housing sector to work hard at ensuring proper housing plan in the country.
While receiving the organisation’s stakeholders, led by its Group Managing Director, Dr Becky Olubukola, the Ooni said, “When you look at some parts of the country, you’ll realise that most houses are built without proper planning which made adequate spacing needed for peaceful coexistence difficult.
“With this organisation, I am confident that houses will be built in a proper way as it is being done globally. I am aware of the company’s ability to perform optimally and I can assure everyone that the group will bring about an outstanding development in our dear state and country at large.”
In her speech, Olubukola, urged members of the public to collaborate with the group in its efforts to contribute to the growth of the housing sector in the country.
She said, “Our target is to build 500,000 modern and well planned houses across the South-West. We are starting with Osun State, precisely from Ile-Ife. The project will serve as a signpost to what the group has achieved and also provide housing for the people in the South-West.”
She said in the last 12 years, the group built over 25,000 houses in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and other cities adding that it is currently building about 12,000 units of houses across the country.
“Leaving everything to the Federal Government alone may not work. We believe every state government and the private sector are in the business of nation building. Housing development is a stimulant to nation building.
“As an affordable housing advocate, if we provide a home for a family, we have solved 50 per cent of the problems of that family.”
Nollywood actors, Funsho Adeolu, Jaiye Kuti, Ayo Adesanya and Muyideen Oladapo, who are ambassadors of the group, expressed confidence that Ooni’s involvement would impact development in the housing sector.
