Recently, a delegation of the Imo State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Building led by the Chairman Bldr C.C. Ezeh paid a courtesy visit on the Honourable Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Dr Prince Charles Onuoha in his office on MCC Road Owerri. The official visit of the Institutes State Chapter was ahead of a proposed one day state annual Conference/General meeting.
In his address, the Imo state Chapter Chairman of NIOB Bldr, C.C Ezeh stated that the visit was necessary to identify areas of co-operation/collaboration between the Imo state Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and NIOB as a professional body as well as to invite the Honourable Commissioner Dr Prince Charles Onuoha to the oncoming annual conference.
Responding, the Honourable Commissioner Charles Onuoha reiterated the readiness of Owelle’s Rescue Mission a Government to collaborate with NIOB while revealing that arrangement is in place to accommodate professional NIOB accredited members into all major Housing Estate Development Projects embarked upon by the Government. In furtherance, the Commissioner expressed the need to induce synergy between Imo state Government and the NIOB members towards effective production of affordable houses for the lower class (especially the civil servant). While acknowledge the fact that the National Insurance Act has already stipulated NIOB as the pertinent body to handle Building Insurance Matters.
The commissioner stressed the need to re-position NIOB to assume its rightful place in the Building Industry as a major stakeholder in the Built Environment Sector so as to ensure international best practices. Other members of the Imo state NIOB present in the official visit to the Commissioner were; Christian U. Akpunonu (State Publicity Secretary), Ethelbert Onwuka (Chairman state Annual confab organizing committee), Bldr Jonas Oforji (State Treasurer), Bldr Ken. C. Okie, Bldr Esonwuru D (State Secretary), Collins Nwoko, Bldr (pst) Obara Remmy, Bldr O.D. Dike (MOHUD), Bldr A.O. Aharanwa and Bldr Anyamo Obinna.F among others.