Housing Minister Emerges UN-Habitat Council President

The Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Ms Ama Pepple, has been elected President of the Governing Council of the United Nations Human Development Programme (UN-Habitat), The Tide source reports.

The news of her appointment was contained in a statement issued in Abuja last Friday by the Assistant Director of Press in the ministry, Mr. Salami Musibau.

The statement said that the minister was elected at the 24th session of the Governing Council in Nairobi, Kenya. Pepple will serve for two years.

Musibau said in the statement that the election was due to Nigeria’s robust and active participation in Africa’s urban development agenda.

The statement added that the minister commended the governing council for electing her, and promised to do her best in the capacity.

“I will be more interested in promoting sanitation during my tenure,” the statement quoted the minister as saying.

It added that Pepple attributed her election to the support and approval given by President Goodluck Jonathan for Nigeria to play a leading and central role in the council.

According to the statement, the minister promised greater support for investment in human capital development.

She said, “Nigeria is taking a cue from America and Western Europe’s increased investment in sustainable urban development.

“Such goals will be geared toward the creation of improved economic opportunities for all with special reference to gender and youth in order to address the growing challenges posed by rapid and poorly managed urbanisation in Africa.”