Obasanjo calls for platform for infrastructure devt--{Vanguard}

ABEOKUTA—Former  President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday,  called for the creation of a platform for   infrastructure development which could address Africa’s environmental challenges.
The  former President  stated   this in  Abeokuta at the opening ceremony of the 3rd  International Conference on Infrastructure Development in Africa.

The theme of the three-day conference is “Environmental Sustainability, Safety and Health In Infrastructure Development in Africa.”
It  was organised by the Bells University of Technology, Ota,  in collaboration with the University of Johannesburg and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.
Obasanjo also called for a change in policies and techniques in order to adequately address Africa’s challenges of human insecurity such as food, power,  transportation and. healthcare.
Obasanjo said: “Without adequate infrastructural base, efforts at socio-economic development, growth and progress will amount to futility and our youths will wallow in unemployment, frustration and premature death.”
He particularly urged participants at the conference to break new grounds for progress in infrastructure development.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee of the conference, Prof. Olusegun Areola, noted that infrastructure was a critical element of the human environment system.
He, however, noted that infrastructure  had been poorly developed and managed in most African countries.
Also, yesterday the former president said  he  remains  one of the easiest persons  to work with, saying he could work only with trustworthy people.
Obasanjo stated this in Abeokuta , while paying host to a team of authors;  Muyiwa Akintunde and Des Wilson, a Professor of University of Uyo on a proposed book on a former  Secretary to the Federation, during his administration, Obong Ufot Ekaete.