Group Builds Ndi Igbo Buru Otu Estate For Members

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

When High Chief Chika C. Nwokedi founded Igbo sociocultural organization known as Ndi Igbo Buru Otu with other members some years ago, the vision was very clear to him and that was to assist and protect the interest of the members in their businesses in Lagos.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the group has gone beyond that by ensuring that members acquired their own land and become landlords themselves, thus the building of an estate called Ndi Igbo Buru Otu located at Ijedodo in the outskirts of Lagos.

The estate, which is being developed for members on the large expanse of land acquired three years ago, has virtually made its members landlords at affordable prices and has made the organization a unique one not only for the Igbo tribe but other ethnic groups living in Lagos.

Chief Nwokedi, while explaining the motive behind the estate, said that when the group was founded, they were receiving complaints from members about their ugly experiences with their landlords and agents, which was of serious concern to the leadership as they had to go to the Police and sometimes Courts to settle matters while some were illegally ejected or harassed.Hence the idea by some stakeholders of the group to acquire the land and develop an estate for members who then pay the money gradually at affordable prices.

Today, majority of the members are proud owners of landed properties, which Nwokedi said the members are happy about their earlier decision as they have started developing the estate and with time will be landlords.

The Chairman of the building committee for the estate, Mr. Michael Ofoegbu, popularly known as De Prof, said that the idea came to light when the stakeholders realised that some members were suffering intimidations and harassments from their landlords. So the association deemed it fit to acquire land and develop an estate for members at affordable prices which they can pay in bits.
He explained that the land was over 15 hectares and they have commenced developing the estate with the office of the association nearing completion. He said that the roads have been constructed and works are going on there as members have been allocated their plots to develop.

Ofoegbu also explained that apart from creating roads, streets were being demarcated and standard culverts being constructed for water channels while other facilities were also being put in place in the estate.

He said that there is room for expansion in order to accommodate more people in the estate stating that the ultimate aim is to make members landlords in order to enable them to secure their future and that of their families.