It will also provide 5,000 permanent jobs, the government scribe said.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Pius Anyim, said on Friday that Nigeria’s Centenary City ...project would provide more than 50,000 construction jobs and 5,000 permanent jobs for Nigerians.Mr. Anyim said this at Agbani in Enugu State during the 15th Convocation Lecture of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT).
The government scribe, in a lecture titled, “Celebrating Nigeria at 100, Successes and Prospects of a United Country’’, said the city would host 100,000 people at the end of its five- year development .
He said that the Federal Government would not spend any money on the celebration, adding that the celebration was to reaffirm that the country was not an accident.
Mr. Anyim was represented on the occasion by his Senior Special Assistant on Research and Documentation, Ferdinand Agwu.
He said that the country had played a definite role in international relations in the last 100 years and recorded more than 67 per cent literacy rate.
“Nigeria’s 100th birthday provides a wonderful opportunity for all Nigerians to celebrate and share in the nation’s success story.
“It is only with unity that we can achieve our desires. The Nigerian story is one of admirable and remarkable progress and our democracy is maturing,’’ Mr. Anyim said.
He said it had become necessary for the various ethnic groups to remain together in order to enjoy the benefits of unity.
“The centenary celebrations will present an opportunity for us to count our blessings as a nation, celebrate our dexterity and resilience as a people. The centenary city will have several unique features.
“By the end of its five-year development cycle, this innovative and vibrant city would have created more than 50,000 construction jobs and 5,000 permanent well paying jobs.
“The city is planned for a residential population of about 100,000 people, but it will host about 500,000 visitors daily,’’ he said.
Earlier, in an address of welcome, a former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, said the education sector should be given priority for national development.
Mr. Nnamani, who was represented by Professor Ben Osisioma of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, called on scholars and the elite to proffer solutions to the challenges bedeviling the growth of Nigeria.
The Vice-Chancellor of ESUT, Prof. Cyprian Onyeji, said the topic of the lecture was apt as it would enliven and promote discussion on the centenary celebration as well as challenges of nation building.
Mr. Onyeji commended the staff of the institution for their support in ensuring the development of the university.
“A convocation lecture is one of the cherished traditions in the university system world-wide and I am delighted that the 15th convocation is holding as at when due.
“This is a clear indication of stabilisation of administrative machinery of the university.
“I highly commend the generality of our staff, teaching and non- teaching for commitment to their duties and for ensuring serenity, progress and development of the new university,’’ he said.
NAN
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