The United Nations Habitat Technical Support to Ekiti State, Akintobi Olusanmi, has announced that the organisation is collaborating with the Ekiti State Government to enhance urban development and housing, as well as link housing with tourism in the state.
Olusanmi, who also serves as Special Adviser to the Ekiti State Governor on Land Matters, spoke in Ado-Ekiti on Monday during an Institutional Capacity Support Workshop on Public-Private Participation in Urban Development, organised by the government in collaboration with UN-Habitat.
“The urban development initiative, a collaboration between the Ekiti State Government and UN-Habitat, aims to develop a state-of-the-art urban observatory to monitor development progress, implement a landmass development project to address housing shortages, introduce a waste management system to mitigate environmental impact, and foster public-private partnerships to boost infrastructure development,” he said.
Olusanmi, who reiterated the need for private sector engagement in the state’s urbanisation and housing development drive, said the Ekiti government had launched a public-private partnership initiative to “harness private sector expertise and resources to enhance urban development and housing, and link housing with tourism in the state.”
He reaffirmed the commitment of Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s administration to sustainable urban development, adding that the government would collaborate with private organisations to achieve the desired outcomes.
The Human Settlements Officer at UN-Habitat, Mrs Rosemary Odunbaku, commended the Oyebanji administration for its deliberate efforts in urban and housing development.
She highlighted the urgency for stakeholders to address housing needs, stating, “The population of Sub-Saharan Africa will double by 2030, which is just six years from now.
If we don’t act now, the situation could become critical. There is growing pressure on governments for sustainable development, where we plan for today without compromising tomorrow.”
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing and Mortgage Development, Dr Gboyega Oloniyo, expressed optimism about the UN partnership with the Ekiti State Government on the urbanisation agenda.
“The government is making significant strides in this sector, with 150 hectares of land earmarked for development and partnerships with private organisations. The construction of 1,000 houses for citizens is already underway,” said Oloniyo
He, however, emphasised the need for a geographical map to guide sustainable development in the state, stating,
“Without proper geography, sustainable development will remain elusive. We are working on creating a map for Ekiti State to guide decision-making on school, factory, and housing locations.”
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Land, eGIS and Survey, Prof. James Olaleye, underscored the importance of proper planning in land management, saying, “We need to map the land to provide adequate space for both humans and animals. The government is working to ensure better planning, building on the previous administration’s efforts.”