It was jubilation galore at the ground breaking ceremony for the Lagos NUJ/NAWOJ housing scheme as hundreds of journalists and well-wishers turned out to witness the epoch-making event on Wednesday.
At the project site which will see to construction of no fewer than 800 housing units for practising journalists, were the chairman of Lagos State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr. Deji Elumoye; National chairperson of the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Mrs. Ifeyinwa Omowole, and board members of Primewater View Holdings led by Prince Adetunji Ogunwusi, among many dignitaries.
The serviced bungalows which comprise of three-bedroom unit and four-bedroom with loft are expected to be ready in thirty-six months, with the first set of 200 units given out by January 2017, on first come, first serve basis.
Elumoye, while speaking at the ground breaking ceremony, said the initiative which began six years back was in tandem with Union’s objective focused on providing decent shelter for its members.
On her part, Omowole thanked the Lagos NUJ for embracing the project, promising that the Union will not neglect the critical development needs like schools, hospital among others.
Ogunwusi, said his firm was glad to have partnered with the NUJ, while assuring that Priimewater View Holdings would neither disappoint nor shatter the expectation of journalists.
“We cannot afford to offend the people of the press. When we signed the MoU with the Chairman, we said there will be stable power supply. Renewable energy is our focus and each home will have its own meter, that is, pay as you go,” he said.
The monarch of the community expressed joy through his chiefs led by the Otun Baale, Mr Solomon Akinyele, who showed the happiness of the community with the project.
Apart from the bungalows, other facilities to be embedded within the 140.237 acres Pen-Jewel Estate when completed an ultra-modern open market, power station, school, mosque, church, police station, fire station, a shopping mall and hospital.