By Oluseyi Olarinde

The first smart City in Oyo state tagged, the Blue Sapphire district has been flagged off at Ikija, Oluyole Local government area of the state.

The flag-off programme, which took place at the Smart City location beside the First Technical University, Oyo state, along Lagos Ibadan Expressway, had in attendance state government representatives, religious leaders, and elder statesmen.

The programme coordinator, Mr Kolajo Abimbola, who is the Managing Director of Tinath Realties and Investment Limited, noted in a remark that the proposed smart city would provide all basic amenities that would make life comfortable and habitable for residents when completed.

According to Mr Abimbola, international and local partners had shown interest in the project because it’s a circular economy, which would provide an eco-friendly habitat, mitigate greenhouse emissions, and provide entrepreneurial support for its residents.

He said the smart city would provide a decent workplace was cited in Ibadan because of the uniqueness of the city and being the first in so many things.

According to the Board Chairman, of One of the partners in the project, the Asimais Company Limited, which donated the 60 hectares of land for the smart city, Alhaja Kolawole Rasaq, stressed that the Eco-friendly environment would change the status of Oyo state in general noting that the projects would be in three phases and the Blue Sapphire district was the first and others would follow later.

In his contribution, the Oluyole Local Government Chairman who flagged off the project, Mr Akeem Olatunji said the blue Sapphire district was patterned after a district in the United Kingdom which would provide job opportunities for inhabitants of the state, he also commended the mutual relationship between the key players of the project.

The chairman housing corporation of Oyo state, Chief Ademola Omotosho explained that development such as this would boost the internally generated revenue of Oyo state.

Dignitaries at the event included the Chairman Central Council of Ibadan indigenes, CCII, Chief Ajeniyi Ajewole, Mogajis, Baales, Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Apostle Joshua Akinyemiju and the Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Alhaja Sheikh Abdulganiy Abubakri  Agbotomokekere.

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