The Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has called on Nigerians to patronise locally made goods and services to grow the country’s economy.
The Monarch led this out during a visit by former military Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, and the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, to the newly completed Ojaja Park in Akure, the Ondo State capital, on Friday.
He noted that it was worrisome knowing that Nigerians are growing other countries’ economies through over-dependence on imported goods, which mostly have local substitutes.
Ogunwusi added that all materials used in constructing the Ojaja park were sourced locally in Nigeria.
He said: “Our project here is a city of its own, covering 100,000 square metres. We are demonstrating what is possible in Nigeria. Practically everything you see here, we know its origin in Nigeria.
“Our mantra is that at least 90 per cent of materials used are Nigerian-made because some people may think our products are of inferior quality, but that’s not true.
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“Today is the official unveiling of Ojaja City to the world.This unveiling is to show everyone in this country that where there’s a will, there’s a way.
“Great things can happen here, and if we believe in ourselves, like in this project, if we believe that Nigeria and Nigerians can achieve it, then our housing deficit will gradually reduce.
“The number of young people working here is in the thousands. It’s an extensive project, over one hundred thousand square metres, on land that was once abandoned and condemned.
Reclaiming it took almost two years, and we’ve seen the strength and capability of the youth involved.
“The beauty of this project is that everything is made here. This can truly engage our youth, which is what I represent on this throne.
“So, our aim is to create a model never seen in Nigeria. People are often sceptical about our products, doubting the quality of Nigerian-made goods.
“But we are not sceptical; we went all the way. Everything you see here, we know the manufacturers.”
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