The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has stated that the only way out of the housing deficit plaguing the country is for the Nigerians to purchase products and materials produced in the country.

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While disclosing this in Akure, Ondo State capital, during the dedication of the Ojaja Park in Akure, Ondo State capital by former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, and Bishop Mathew Kukah, Ooni said he well all out to ensure that Nigerian products were used for the project.

According to the Ooni, “We won’t continue to cry over spilt milk. We know that we have housing deficits in the country, but we need to make do with what we have to get results. We need to buy Nigeria; we need to produce in Nigeria, including our housing needs.

“Our project here is a city on its own. It is 100,000 square meters, and we are trying to showcase what is possible in Nigeria. Practically, everything you see here, we know where it came from in Nigeria.

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“So, our own mantra is that at least 90% of things that are made in Nigeria will be used, because a lot of people probably think we do things that are of inferior quality. No, it’s not true, and today is the official showcasing of Ojaja City to the world.

“And the official showcasing is to actually let everybody that matters in this country know that whenever there is a will, there is a way.

“A lot of good things can happen in our country, and if we believe in ourselves, like this typical project, if we believe that Nigeria and Nigerians can do it, then our deficit of housing will continue to reduce gradually.

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“Here is an integrated city that you don’t even need to go out. We have everything here; we have a five-star hotel here, a game centre, a children’s park, a shopping mall here, a park, a school, and residential estates.

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He further stated that “So for us, it’s just to model something that has never been done in Nigeria. A lot of people are always very sceptical of our products, that homemade goods and Nigerian-made products aren’t good, but we are not skeptical. We went all the way. Everything you are seeing here, we know the manufacturer.

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“So, going forward, we will now display it at the mall. We have a mall here that basically lets us be very proud of our home. This is the only way we can grow the economy.

“We don’t need to leave government to do everything, and this is why I invited General Abdusalam Abubakar and Bishop Mathew Kukah to come and bless this place, because they believe in peace, and they believe in youth engagement, because for us here, it’s all about youth engagement, and I believe Nigeria will be a better place.”

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