Poor living conditions are among the myriad challenges that comfront most persons displaced by war or conflict.
Overcrowding, shortage of accommodation, poor sanitation, lack of access to medical facilities and potable water are common problems in resettlement camps where displaced persons are provided temporary shelter by government.
In the North-East, the North East Children’s Trust (NECT) in partnership with Design Union are celebrating the fifth anniversary of resettlement model for displaced children in the North East of Nigeria, tagged “The Sanctuary”.
The Sanctuary targets 3,000 displaced children, and it is a novel solution to solving accommodation need of displaced children.
Design Union is a development company with a heart for the growth of African continent and betterment of the world at large with a commitment to solving housing and development challenges in Nigeria, and indeed across the continent, with what it called ‘‘brave innovations.’’
Design Union’s landmark footprints cut across infrastructure, real estate, educational institutions, corporate buildings spaces, oil and gas as well as residential. It is solving living space challenges in Africa by implementing solutions and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives that address shortage of liveable houses for people and communities.
Managing Director/ CEO, Design Union, Anthony Aihie, said “Design Union solves and implements projects in a sustainable way in the built environment by applying first principles, and using locally available expertise and resources. The company believes that Africans should solve African problems. By applying persistently rigorous thinking to problems, Design Union innovates sustainable projects worth studying closely.”
Aihie added that the company, in line with this vision, recently designed a model housing project fondly called ‘The Sanctuary’’ for the resettlement of 3,000 displaced children in the North East. The facility, designed for the North East Children’s Trust – an initiative of the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo – in 2017, will be formally handed over on Monday (March 21, 2022).
‘‘A recent project that is being celebrated for the novel way we are solving a difficult housing need is one fondly called ‘The Orphan Sanctuary.’ This is a resettlement development model for 3,500 displaced children by Design Union. It is a not-for-profit project designed for the North East Children’s Trust, an initiative of the Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in 2017, by Design Union Ltd.
“This facility resolves the problem of educating, housing and nurturing displaced children of primary and secondary school age. The NECT is celebrating the fifth year resounding success of this facility on Monday, March 21, 2022,’’ Aihie stated.
Design Union’s approach to problems-solving is business unusual, and it seeks to solve housing and development challenges in Nigeria and Africa with audacious gait – brave innovations.
The Managing Director/CEO noted: “We see and deliver possibilities where others see difficulties. Our heart over profit is manifestly evident in all that we do.”
The Sanctuary project is a model resettlement solution aligned with the International Union of Architects and Rehabilitation International’s call for a 21st century symbol of accessibility to represent the core values of rights and inclusion, independence, physical and virtual accessibility for all, including people with disabilities.
