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ONDO PARTNERS UNITED NATIONS TOWARDS ACCELERATING OVERALL DEVELOPMENT
…Initiates Master Plan Development Across Senatorial Districts, Youth Centre Establishment In Akure, Others
The Ondo State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Habitat towards complimenting the ongoing efforts of the Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa administration to accelerate overall development of the various sectors of the state’s economy.
The signing of the MoU being propelled under the United Nations Settlement Programme held in Nairobi the capital of Kenya is expected to impact positively on physical planning, culture and tourism, environmental protection, waste management, investment promotion, infrastructural development, as well as commerce and industry.
The Ondo State team was led by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Taiwo Fasoranti and Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Hon. Sunday Olajide. They were accompanied by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development; Chief Oluwagbenga Akingbasote mni, Director of Master Plan, Town Planner Abimbola Tofowomo, Director of Finance and Administration in the Ministry, Mr. Obafemi Ehinmero, as well as representative of the Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Funmilayo Adejumo.
With the signing of the MoU, Ondo State is in partnership with the UN- Habitat for a number of Physical Planning projects which include; preparation of Regional Development Master Plans for the three senatorial districts of the State, the Establishment of a One-Stop Youth Centre in each of the three senatorial districts of the State.
Others are preparation of Master Plans for three major cities of Akure, Owo and Ore; capacity building for officials of the State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development in the area of GIS, Data Analysis, Plan preparation, among others.
The delegation also sought other areas of collaboration with the UN body, in Waste Management, Agriculture, Transportation, and Blue Economy.
Speaking during the MoU signing ceremony, the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Taiwo Fasoranti informed the gathering that Ondo State under the leadership of Mr. Governor, Hon. (Dr.) Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa upon assumption of office had embarked upon various urban renewal projects to change the face of the entire State, by providing critical infrastructures in all the three senatorial districts of the State. He further told the gathering that the presence of the delegation at the UN-Habitat office in Nairobi, Kenya is a testament of the commitment of the Governor to develop the people and the land in line with his ‘’OUR EASE’’ policy thrust and agenda.
Speaking further, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) said efforts are already being put in place by the Governor to commission the preparation of a comprehensive Tourism/ Physical Development Plan of Araromi Seaside, a coastal community in the Southern part of the State with promising economic and tourism potentials.
He said partnering with UN- Habitat by signing the MoU speaks of the interest the Governor have in developing the State both physically and economically, urging UN-Habitat to direct and influence resource mobilization to the State in the areas expressed in the MoU.
The SSG then stated that the governance system in the State under Hon. (Dr.) Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa is productive, prudent, pragmatic, focused and devoid of any form of maladministration, noting that these virtues have made the State to witness tremendous progress within the short stay of the Governor in power.
In his remark, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Hon. (Dr.) Sunday Olajide said the State will welcome partnerships, collaborations, and investments from development partners and donor bodies in the areas outlined in the MoU. He emphasized that Governor Aiyedatiwa is committed to the overall development of the State, hence, he had secured the approval of the Federal Government for the establishment of a deep seaport in the Southern part of the State.
Hon. Olajide said the Governor gave his Ministry the marching order to carry out a Reconnaissance Survey of Araromi Seaside with a view to developing the place into a world class Tourism Hub, which has also been projected to attract other ancillary economic activities in Real Estate, Trade, ICT, Hotel businesses and other investments. He said the Governor in his quest to develop Araromi Seaside, has promised to incorporate and involve the local communities in the area into the development agenda. The Governor has promised a well-laid-out world class Tourism area, properly planned to accommodate various land uses, such that will adequately consider various interests and put investors minds at ease.
Hon. Olajide then called for support from the UN-Habitat, development partners, and other funding agencies to provide both technical and financial support for the realization of the projects.
In his comment, the UN-Habitat Director, Regional Office for Africa (ROAf), Oumar Sylla thanked the Government of Ondo State for her commitment to the development of the State going by all the various interventions the Governor had been able to put in place within his short stay in office.
He said the fact that the Secretary to the State Government, Hon. Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development and other top government functionaries from the State Ministry are the ones representing the State at the MoU Signing Ceremony is enough reason for him to believe that the Governor of Ondo State is a man committed to developing the State. He then promised the full co-operation of the UN body to Ondo State.
The Director assured that UN-Habitat will do all within its power to assist Ondo State in making all the projects contained in the Memorandum of Understanding a reality.
He therefore assured that the UN- Habitat will visit the State for a Scoping Mission where the projects stated in the MoU will be properly evaluated, while a financeable plan could then be drawn for partners to support and fund.
There were also various sessions with the key players in the United Nations Habitat office including Chief Policy, Legislation and Governance Section Urban Practices – Remy Sietchiping; Programme Manager, Waste Management Unit, Urban Basic Service – Jinno Shiho; Programme Manager, Urban Planning, City Extension and Design Unit – Salvatore Fundaro; Go Blue Project Manager, UN-Habitat & UNEP – Florian Lux; UN Habitat GIS Consultant – Olusanmi Akintobi; Head of Data & Analytics Unit – Robert Ndugwa, among others.
The stakeholders all pledged to play their part in ensuring that the dreams of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for overall development of the state are realised with support of all the required resources and capacity.
Moving the vote of thanks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Chief Oluwagbenga Akingbasote, mni thanked the UN Habitat Regional Director, Mr. Oumar Sylla for his warm reception right from the airport as the State delegation touched down in Nairobi.
He said the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development has dedicated and highly skilled officers that are ready for whatever training and knowledge transfer the UN Habitat will be bringing to the State in the course of executing the programmes outlined in the MoU.
He then used the occasion to thank the Governor, Hon. (Dr.) Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa for bringing into reality, the dreams of the Ministry by approving the signing of the MoU and also his commitment to the preparation of the Tourism/Physical Development Plan for Araromi Seaside.
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