Ekiti State And UN Collaborate To Improve Urban Development And Housing

Ekiti State And UN Collaborate To Improve Urban Development And Housing....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The United Nations Habitat’s Technical Support to Ekiti State, Akintobi Olusanmi, has announced a collaboration with the Ekiti State Government aimed at enhancing urban development and housing, while also linking housing initiatives with tourism in the state……CONTINUE READING 

Olusanmi, who is also the Special Adviser to the Governor on Land Matters, made this statement in Ado-Ekiti during an Institutional Capacity Support Workshop on Public-Private Participation in Urban Development, organized by the state government in partnership with UN-Habitat.

He explained that the urban development initiative seeks to establish a state-of-the-art urban observatory to monitor development progress, implement a landmass project to address housing shortages, introduce a waste management system to mitigate environmental impacts, and foster public-private partnerships to enhance infrastructure.

Reiterating the importance of private sector involvement, Olusanmi noted that the Ekiti government has initiated a public-private partnership to leverage private expertise and resources for urban development and to connect housing with tourism.

He affirmed the commitment of Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s administration to sustainable urban development, emphasizing collaboration with private organizations to achieve these goals.

UN-Habitat’s Human Settlements Officer, Mrs. Rosemary Odunbaku, praised the Oyebanji administration for its proactive approach to urban and housing development. She highlighted the urgency for stakeholders to address housing needs, citing that the population in Sub-Saharan Africa is expected to double by 2030. “If we don’t act now, the situation could become critical. There is increasing pressure on governments for sustainable development that does not compromise future generations,” she warned.

Dr. Gboyega Oloniyo, the Special Adviser on Housing and Mortgage Development, expressed optimism about the partnership with the UN, noting that significant progress has been made, including earmarking 150 hectares for development and initiating the construction of 1,000 houses for residents.

He stressed the necessity of creating a geographical map to guide sustainable development in the state, stating, “Without proper geography, sustainable development will remain elusive. We are working on developing a map for Ekiti State to inform decisions on school, factory, and housing locations.”

Prof. James Olaleye, Special Adviser on Land, eGIS, and Survey, underscored the importance of meticulous planning in land management. “We need to map the land to ensure adequate space for both people and wildlife. The government aims to improve planning based on previous efforts,” he said.