Get Guardian on GoogleFounder and Executive Chairman, First World Communities Limited, Brig.-Gen. Tunde Reis (rtd), yesterday, urged political leaders to emulate the housing development strategy of the former civilian governor of Lagos State, the late Alhaji Lateef Jakande, to reduce homelessness in the country.
He also charged leaders to rule by compassion by helping Nigerians have access to affordable housing through pro-poor friendly policies as demonstrated by Jakande.
Reis stated this at the fourth yearly Lateef Kayode Jakande housing lecture organised by Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), with the support of Housing TV Africa in Lagos.
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He said that the late Jakande dedicated his life to provision of affordable housing for people by building over 30,000 housing units across the state.
Besides, he said that affordable housing could be driven through government housing schemes as demonstrated by Jakande.
Meanwhile, President of REDAN, Aliyu Wamakko, said the over 30,000 housing units developed by Jakande enhanced the socio-economic development of Lagos, adding that the legacy is worthy of emulation by the current leaders.
Wammako said the lecture series in his honour had come to stay because Jakande was an icon in the housing sector, saying that REDAN is committed to delivery of affordable housing for Nigerians as it plans construction of rural housing across the 774 local councils in the country.
In a remark, a professor of Housing at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Nubi Timothy, noted that Jakande went into housing out of passion and compassion for the people he wanted to rule, adding that Jakande demystified housing construction, which was supposed to be expensive.
He said the former governor believed strongly that it is the responsibility of the government to provide infrastructure and establish a bulk-purchasing centre for building materials to lower the cost of construction.
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