The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, on Thursday called on Nigerians to join hands to rebuild the nation.
The former Governor of Lagos State said that in spite of the challenges and disagreements among stakeholders and interest groups, Nigerians could work together to build a nation of peace and harmony.
Fashola stated this while performing the groundbreaking and foundation laying ceremony of the proposed ARCON House in Abuja.
He was quoted saying this in a statement by his Special Adviser on Communications, Hakeem Bello.
He said, “This is time for rebuilding our nation, this is time for rebuilding brotherhood, this is time for building our future”, adding that in a symbolic way, ARCON, by the day’s event, “is building its own future”.
He noted that despite the challenges ARCON has gone through, the group has decided to set aside those challenges and build for itself a befitting House, Fashola said, “Therefore, in spite of disagreements, we can still build if we choose to listen, if we choose to work together and if we choose to keep ego aside”.
A past President of ARCON and former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Arc. Obong Victor Attah, who thanked Fashola for brokering lasting peace within the profession, urged him to ensure that Nigeria is being built by Nigerian Architects and where a foreigner is concerned, such foreigner should be registered in Nigeria.
ARCON President, Arch (Sir) Gabriel Oladipupo Ajayi listed the cardinal objectives of ARCON to include re-engineering the Council, harmonising positions with all interest groups with the help of the Minister of Works and Housing, who, according to him, “calls us together all the time” and building a befitting home for Architects as well as maintaining a visible presence in Lagos.
