A representative of Shelter Afrique, Madam Elizabeth Ogonegbu has completed a two-day (Feb. 28-March 1, 2019) feasibility studies on activities of the National Housing Authority (NHA) for its request for a loan to build affordable houses for Liberians who are affected by erosion in the Township of West Point, NHA announced in Monrovia on Thursday.
Madam Ogonegbu is a senior Regional Operations Officer for Central and West Africa, for Shelter Afrique, a South Africa-based financial institution that finances affordable housing in Africa.
At the meeting on Thursday, February 28, 2019 in the conference room of the NHA on Capitol Hill, Madam Tonia D. Johnson, NHA’s Officer-in-Charge, welcomed Madam Ogonegbu to Liberia and expressed the government’s delight through the NHA for her visit to examine activities of the NHA.
She informed her that the NHA has the statutory mandate to provide low cost housing for Liberian families and therefore the government welcomed her visit to Liberia, since her visit indicated that her organization is willing to work with the Liberian government’s pro-poor agenda for prosperity and development, a press release from the NHA says.
Madam Johnson described the relationship between the Government of Liberia (through the NHA) and Shelter Afrique as very cordial and assured Madam Ogonegbu that the government (through the NHA) is in readiness to deepen their partnership in the realization of the NHA’s mandate.
Responding, Madam Ogonegbu, extended appreciation to the Government of Liberia through the National Housing Authority for the warm reception accorded her during the visit and promised her organization’s support to the Government of Liberia through the NHA for its slum upgrading and resettlement programs.
She said the main focus of her visit is to look over the activities of the NHA to be able to provide positive assessment of what her organization can do to realize the objectives of the NHA.
“It is also to gain insight about the country’s objectives in the real estate sector that could inform our decision to provide the needed funding for Liberia’s slum upgrading by the NHA,”. She said the overview from her visit to Liberia will help her to develope a comprehensive agenda and a roadmap for a holistic slum upgrading programs in the country.
Meanwhile, during her two-day stay in Liberia, Madam Ogonegbu was led on a tour of the Township of West Point, VOA Community, site of 65 family heads from West Point are settled, and the NASSACORP Village in Brewersville, outside Monrovia.
Madame Ogonegbu pay a brief visit to some vacant land areas belonging to the NHA alone the Roberts International Airport while enroute to the RIA before her departure from Liberia ..
She expressed appreciation for the jobs being done in Liberia by the Liberian government, through the NHA, and said she has no doubt of a successful partnership between Shelter Afrique and the Liberian government (through the NHA).
Madam Ogonegbu said her stay in Liberia was rewarding as she had the opportunity to meet with several officials, including Mr. Nathaniel F. McGill, Minister of State for Presidential Affairs and executives of the NHA. She departed Liberia on Friday, March 1, 2019 for South Africa.