Abia State Governor Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu says his administration will be prepared to support any initiative that will make life better for the people of Abia State, especially in the area of the providing affordable housing for the people.
Ikpeazu was speaking when he received a delegation from the Nigerian Institute for Nigerian Languages Aba Agro Allied Investment Multipurpose Cooperative Society (NAAIMPCSL) on a courtesy call on him at the Governor’s Lodge, Aba.
According to the Governor, affordable housing remains a critical need of the citizenry as no responsible government will ignore any opportunities for partnership with any individual or organization for that purpose.
He assured the leadership of the Multipurpose Society of his readiness to work with them and ensure that their dream project, the 1000 housing units is achieved, and directed the Managing Director of the Abia State Housing and Property Development Corporation to work closely with them on the project.
He commended the members of the Society for their decision to come together to seek mutual benefits, recalling his days as a University Teacher when he served as Secretary of a similar association at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology.
The Governor also lauded the management of the Nigerian Institute for Nigerian Languages Aba for making the institution become more relevant in the national life, especially in the area of professionalizing the teaching and study of our indigenous languages.
He made it clear that until the nation accord a pride of place to our indigenous languages and work towards teaching and learning of sciences in vernacular, it will continue to grapple with developmental challenges.
He thanked the Federal Government for its continued support to the institute and for ensuring that they are using their permanent site located along the Opobo – Azumini Road in Obingwa LGA.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation and Executive Director of the Nigerian Institute for Nigerian Languages (NINLAN), Aba, Professor Obiajulu Emejulu told the Governor that they came to seek his intervention in the provision of land for the proposed 1000 Housing Units Project of the NINLAN Aba Agro Allied Investment Multipurpose Cooperative Society.
Professor Emejulu explained that the society, which is made up of staff of the Institute was set up to help members cultivate the habit of savings as well as achieve other feats ranging from housing projects, loan facilities and other necessities of life.
The Executive Director told the Governor that their Cooperative Society has keyed into the National Housing programme of the Federal Government under the Cooperative Housing Scheme through the Cooperative Mortgage Bank noting that one of the pre-conditions that will enable them enjoy the full benefits of the scheme is the provision of land through the State Government.
The proposed 1000 Housing Units will have one, two and three bedroom units to be built by the Bank and sold by way of a loan to the members with a repayment plan of between 10-25 years.
He also told the Governor that over 400 of their members have indicated interest in the scheme and that they were open to receive other cooperative societies, especially from the State Civil Service while indigenes of their host community can also be accommodated in the scheme through their cooperative society.
The project, he said, will create more opportunities for the community where it will be sited with an avalanche of economic activities and so many other openings.
The Executive Director also informed the Governor that the National Institute for Nigerian Languages Aba has become even more poised to play key roles in the promotion of national unity through the teaching and learning of key Nigerian languages revealing that they now offer programmes up to 9 Nigerian languages.
Speaking also, the Managing Director of the Abia State Housing and Property Development Corporation, Arc. Alozie Nwankwo assured the cooperative society that the agency will work closely with them and provide them every necessary technical support to realize the project.
The President of the Abia State Cooperative Federation, Mr. Lucky Nwaononiwu and other leaders of the Cooperative Society were part of the event.