NUJ, NAWOJ Begin Construction of High-profile Estate for Journalists

The groundbreaking ceremony of Journalists Estate, Abaren, Ogun State

Bennett Oghifo

Promoters of estates in the country often talk about delivering decent and affordable housing but hardly walk the talk. Regardless, one project that promises to give value for money is the ultra-modern housing estate being developed by the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) and the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos State Council.

An impressive groundbreaking ceremony of the exquisite estate took place at project site located at Abaren Community, a low-density suburb in Mowe, off the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
A total of 800 homes will be built in the estate, complete with modern facilities including renewable energy for lighting and heating.

This technology would not come cheap, but it is achievable, said Prince Adetunji Ogunwusi, the Chairman of Primewaterview Holdings, the development company entrusted with the job.

Ogunwusi said the plan was to provide the estate with 24 hours uninterrupted power supply which residents of the community would also benefit from but at a premium price that would not disturb their livelihood.

He said the greatest beneficiaries of the project would be the people of Abaren. Electricity will be brought into this community by the special grace of God and the kind of electricity will be renewable energy. Of course, it comes a little bit expensive but at the end of the day we will amortise it. It is not going to come cheap and it is not going to be expensive either. Each home will have its meter and it will be on pay-as-you go basis. We will get all the necessary approval to do this.”

Earlier, the Group Managing Director, Primewaterview Holding, Mrs. Morinola Babalola promised to engage youths and artisans in the community in the construction work. “We are going to create jobs for youths and artisans in this community.”
Babalola, who distributed educational materials to school children in the community on behalf of her organisation, said the gesture was to show real love to the community for accepting the project.

A visibly elated President of NAWOJ, Mrs. Ifeyinwa Omowole said the project would not have seen the light of day but for the role played by the Lagos State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, led by Mr. Deji Elumoye.
“I had a dream but we didn’t have money. I kept looking for who will give us land for free; federal and state governments but nobody listened then I went to Mr. Deji Elumoye,” she said.

As part of their contribution to the development of the host community, she said some renovation work would be done in the community school, adding, “We are going to use this opportunity to teach Nigerians, Corporate organisations, the political class and the world how to do CSR that benefits host communities directly.”
She explained that in the course of the project, the community primary school would be roofed and electricity and road networks would be extended to the Abaren community.
Omowole said the estate in Abaren was a pilot scheme and that land has been acquired in Taraba and Abuja for journalists housing.

According to the Chairman of the Lagos Council of NUJ, Mr. Deji Elumoye, the NAWOJ/NUJ Pen Jewel Estate is designed to have 800 housing units and that 200 units would be built in the first phase. All are 3 bedroom ensuite with car park that can conveniently take four cars, space for garden and for BQ.
The estate, he said would have connecting streets that would be named after journalists, particularly senior ones, including those actively involved in the activities of the NUJ.

There will be standard school, hospital, police post, shopping mall, recreational area, motorized water system and every facility that should be in a modern estate, Elumoye said. “It is a town within a town and by the time we finish the first 200 units, all access roads would have been completed.

You will not recognize the place in December.” That is when the development company promised to deliver the first phase, comprising 200 homes.
Elumoye said the 200 houses would be delivered to beneficiaries on or before December and that the remaining 600 would be completed within 36 months.

The Traditional ruler of Abaren Kingdom, Chief Solomon Akinyemi, commended the initiative and thanked the unions for bringing development to the area.

“We built the schools here through community efforts and we started bring electricity poles but we are amazed at the offer to use modern roofing sheets for our schools and give us uninterrupted power supply.
“We thank the journalists and developer and pray that they keep their promises,” he said.

Abuja Housing Show Begins

The 10th Abuja Housing show began yesterday with an impressive opening ceremony at the International Conference Center.
The 10th edition of the Abuja Housing Show is set to introduce a new dimension to the quest for affordable housing delivery, by dedicating quality time to promoting rent-to-own scheme in collaboration with Natanel Florens in Nigeria.

The coordinator of the annual epoch making event, Festus Adebayo, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of FESADEB Communications Limited, commended the efforts of Mr. Babatunde Fashola, Minister for Power, Works and Housing for his determination to work with credible individuals who can help in promoting housing development.

Adebayo stated that the Abuja Housing Show that has become a reliable solution hub for both government and stakeholders in the built environment, is poised to introducing innovations meant to bolster efforts of government towards developing policies that will ensure sustainable housing delivery.

He also said that the housing show, being an effort of the organised private sector, with commitment to creating synergy for the urgent solution needed to close the over 18 million housing deficit in Nigeria, has received the endorsement of the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola who has promised to attend the programme to address issues that can move the sector forward.

Speaking further, he noted that the event would provide an opportunity for both policy makers and stakeholders to interact, and proffer solution to the plethora of problems that have bedeviled the sector over the years‎.
He added that the private sector will have a rare privilege of telling the government exactly what the sector lacks, as well as sharing ideas that have helped housing delivery in other climes.

On the backdrop of similar programmes that have been organized for the development of the housing sector , without achieving the desired results, he said that Abuja housing show stands out as not just an ordinary talk show, but a one stop shop for novel ideas, innovations and pragmatic platform that synchronizes ‎the position of government and stakeholders.

The major areas of focus during the event include; the modalities for accessing funds for affordable housing delivery, the practicability of financing low cost housing for the low cadre and average income earners in Nigeria.
Other issues of concern, which the event is poised to address, include how to evolve a mechanism for creating a building technology system that is suitable for the nation’s economy and heterogeneous society‎.

Abuja housing show is also said to be prepared to address the challenges encountered by developers who are made to pass through many needless ‎ processes to get land titles and other documents that will be tenable in law for business transactions.
According to the organising secretariat, over 10 countries have already registered for the show, while about 200 exhibitors are already jostling for spaces to showcase their goods and services.

The event which is set to attract over 40 members of the National Assembly as well as other dignitaries is said to provide a forum for unifying purposes towards articulating a formidable force needed to sponsor a legislative bill that will seek to create more enabling ground for affordable housing in Nigeria.

Taking a further step to prove that the show is not just a jamboree, the organizer has disclosed that experts are expected from the United States of America, South Africa, the Netherland and other countries whose expertise shall provide Nigeria developers a ground and experience to leverage on.

Another unique innovation apart from the green house revolution which the events is set address, is‎ the rent to home programme which the organizer have invited a foreign group that will discuss the model and the operational possibility in Nigeria.
One other side attractions that is said to inject a sense of enthusiasm on the participants of the events, is the modalities worked out by the organizer to give up to 5 percent discount to all transactions during the show.

Nigerite Set to Storm Abuja Exhibition

As preparations for the forthcoming 10th Abuja Housing Show gathers steam, Nigerite Limited, Nigeria’s leading building components solution provider in areas of roofing, ceiling, flooring and partitioning has concluded plans to storm the exhibition as one of the major participants at the exhibition which holds at the International Conference Centre, Abuja from 18- 20th of July, 2016. The exhibition is the largest Home Expo in West Africa.

As one of the major sponsors of the exhibition, Nigerite plans to use the opportunity to engage and connect with a huge crowd of diverse consumers within Nigeria and other nations around the world. The company will be showcasing some of its innovative products like the Kalsi building board (used in dry construction) which has been causing excitements in the built industry in recent times.

The 3 day international event will feature alternative building technology for affordable mass housing and housing finance conference, and Nigerite, a market leader in the built industry, will be making a presentation on the second day of the show. The presentation will serve as a platform to showcase some of its products and demonstrate them to visitors.

Some of the products that the company intends to showcase at the Abuja Housing Show under its major product divisions include Kalsi building board series comprising KalsiCeiling, KalsiPlank, KalsiClad, Kalsiwall, KalsiFloor while under the roofing category, premium and colourful roof coverings like CrownTile and Alurr Shingles and other innovative products will equally be on display.

Among the large crowd of visitors expected at the event include home buyers, architects, engineers, builders, surveyors and property Investors, government officials from related ministries & agencies, financial institutions& financial agencies, equipment leasing organisation, among others.

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