Nigeria’s Ekiti State will join one of the largest affordable housing initiatives in the world, following a new agreement that will see at least 50,000 affordable homes built over the next decade.
“We are very excited to partner with UNOPS and SHS to deliver affordable housing to the people of Ekiti State,” said Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.
“This is how our promise of developing Ekiti and improving the lives of the people can be achieved. This partnership has come at an important time, during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has reminded us of the need to deliver quality social infrastructure to the people,” added Dr. Fayemi.
The affordable homes will feature renewable energy and disease preventative technology – including solar panel roofs, waste-to-energy technology and mosquito-repelling coatings. The initiative is expected to create thousands of local jobs and spur economic growth among a host of local industries.
“We are very pleased to support this contribution to Nigeria’s national development priorities and in particular, to help meet the critical need for affordable housing, through innovative approaches to construction and mortgage financing,” said Vitaly Vanshelboim – Assistant Secretary-General and Chief Executive of UNOPS Sustainable Infrastructure Impact Investments (S3I) initiative.
“UNOPS is strongly committed to helping find new ways to finance inclusive, resilient and sustainable development activities that generate positive social, economic and environmental impacts,” added Mr. Vanshelboim.
UNOPS and SHS will seek to mobilize resources from third-party investors to fund the initiative – which has an estimated gross development value (based on the sales value of completed homes) of up to $2 billion.
