Ondo completes N10b event centre, urban renewal project

TOWARDS bringing democracy dividend to its populace, Ondo government has commenced a new round of urban renewal programmes that is expected to boost the economy of the state.

The programmes include infrastructure provision, such as road expansion and construction, provision of another event centre code-named “Dome Glass Hall” and a new industrial park. The new project, “Glass Hall Event centre”, that will complement the existing “The Dome” is nearing completion.

Located at the Alagbaka Government Reservation Area GRA, Akure Township, the new project is part of the second phase of The Dome, constructed to meet the unexpected high demands by the public for event purposes.

Designed and being handled by Messrs Groupo Systemso, the N10 billion worth of project that occupies a 36.05-hectares of land, was made of combined steel and glass materials, with little cement works.

The Project Director, Pastor Joseph Ayo Babalola, who is also Director, Planning, Research and Strategy, Ministry of Housing & Urban Development, said the centre has the capacity designed to contain 2,000 seats at a time, with additional hall of 420 capacities.

Besides, it was designed to have two galleries, large screen for multi-media purposes and car park of 1000 capacities at a time; fire fighting equipment such as smoke detectors, sprinkler and toilet facilities as strategic locations.

Speaking on the imperatives of the project, Ayo Babalola noted that based on the unfolding realities in the state, there is need for event centres that are of international standard.

To ensure the sustainability of the project, he hinted that a facility manager would be employed to ensure that every facility in the centre are properly maintained and functioning effectively.

“From experience, project of this type are always bedeviled by malfunctioning air conditional, bad toilet facilities, among others. But we will ensure that such ugly development is not going to manifest itself here, thus, the need for us to engage the service of facility manager”. He said.

On the possibility of new administration to jettison the idea, Ayo-Babalola noted that, if need be, government would get legislation to ensure continuity. “I am very sure that no reasonable government would do away with this lofty project. This is not about Governor Olusegun Mimiko, but rather, the entire Ondo state in indigenes and residents alike”, he said, adding that the project has made provision for employment to hundreds of artisans, cleaners and other professionals.

He also hinted that plan is ongoing to construct a five star hotel that would serve the teeming population that would make use of the facility.

“Recently, when the Nigerian society of Engineers held an event in Akure, it was the event centre they used. Based on their experience, they argued that the location couldn’t but better than many locations in the country, owing to its serenity, safety and comfort.

“Apart from that we discovered that the week long event overstretched the available hotels in Akure, thus, forcing participants to look for the adjoining cities such as Ado Ekiti, Owo, Ondo and other places for accommodation. It was this reality that made the government to conclude the plan for a five star hotel that would be sited opposite the event centre”, said Ayo Babalola, who said government is in talk with private investors that would midwife the hotel project.

He also stated that it was the Dome that facilitated the need for the recently commissioned Shoprite, located within the same vicinity, because people’s need couldn’t meet by the existing super and local markets.

On the ongoing The Dome, that he said would soon be completed, the Project Director said the delay was not unconnected with certain design technical error that had been corrected, adding that contractor has already back on site.
According to him, the entire project is expected to be due for commissioning by the first quarter of year 2016.

The Ondo state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Kayode Akinmade said the urban renewal programmes are going hand-in hand with other infrastructure development that cut across the three senatorial zone of the state. “We are not concentrating in Akure or Ondo Town ship, but also the entire state. We take the issue of road very seriously, so also the industrial activities like the establishment of Omotosho Park, sited   in Ore, which Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr. Ayo Abiola said would facilitate industrial catalyst for Ondo state.

Abiola also mentioned government’s efforts to resuscitates Ceramic Industry in Ifon, Oluwa Glass Industry in Igbokoda, the Okitipupa palm Industry among others, but that would come by new investors and new names.