The Ekiti State Government is set to employ more architects and partner with the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON) to ensure that the state’s urban renewal projects meet international standards.
Gov. Kayode Fayemi made this known on Monday, December 28, 2020 while receiving the leadership of ARCON led by its National President, Mr Dipo Ajayi, who paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Ado-Ekiti.
The governor said the state would require the technical expertise of the umbrella body of architects in its bid to build a world class agriculture processing zone and knowledge zone (Smart City), which are two major projects designed to drive industrialisation in the state.
“We are definitely going to increase the use of architects in our urban renewal projects. We need architects and experts in the design of the Agriculture Processing Zone and the Knowledge Zone (our Smart City) projects.
“We need the knowledge, expertise and support of architects and ARCON leadership in making these projects world class,” he said.
Fayemi also disclosed plans by his administration to deploy Geographical Information Science (GIS) technology for accurate enumeration of properties in the state.
He told his guests that the state was also reviving its farm settlements, to boost agriculture, food security and industrial development.
He said the next focus of the administration was the revitalisation of the Orin Farm Settlement, having successfully revived the Ikun Diary farm, in a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement with Promasidor, which he described as a leading name in diary business.
Earlier in his presentation, Ajayi lauded what he called the development strides of the Fayemi-led administration.
He urged the governor to ensure that the state took advantage of the services of certified architects and professional support of the umbrella body.
ARCON, according to Ajayi, will make its expertise available to the state government whenever deemed necessary, in a partnership that would accelerate the infrastructure development of the state.
He also said the body was building a N500 million hostel project in Oye-Ekiti, headquarters of Oye Local Government Area.
He also thanked the governor for the appointments of professional architects who are manning very important positions in government, including Mr Tope Ogunleye, Special Adviser on Special Projects, and Mr Wale Ajayi, Senior Special Assistant on Public Buildings, among others.
By Ariwodola Idowu
