R-L: Dr. Francis Folorunsho Abudu, Chairman, DTMF, Mrs. Ruby Okoro, MD, DTMF and Bar. Joshua Muwhen, Executive Director, DTMF during the official commissioning of Ekpan Better Life Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society, yesterday.

By Francis Sadhere

In pursuance of the SMART Agenda programme of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, the Delta Trust Mortgage Finance Limited, DTMF, on Monday delivered a thirty-six unit Housing Estate located at Ewhere community in Agbarho, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta state, to the Ekpan Better Life Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society.

DTMF is a primary mortgage bank wholly owned by the state government. The state government under the administration of Governor Okowa had financially repositioned the mortgage bank to support Deltans in their quest to own their homes.

Commissioning the 36 units housing estate in Agbarho, the Chairman, DTMF, Dr. Francis Folorunsho Abudu who was full of excitement at the completion of the housing estate, called on both private and corporate individuals to embrace the housing programme of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and benefit from it.

Abudu commended the management of DTMF for completing the housing unit in less than one year, adding that it was the desire of the state’s government to provide housing for its people even as the economic recession is biting harder on  Deltans.

He said the government will continue to provide the enabling environment for people to own their own houses, noting that the interest rate of DTMF was very reasonable and everyone can key into it.

While congratulating the Ewhere community for their peaceful disposition throughout the construction of the housing estate, Abudu urged other communities to emulate Ewhere community so that development will get to their communities.

He also urged the community to open their doors to other co-operative societies and private individuals who might want to come and build houses in the  community.

He also called on other co-operative societies to come and join hands with them to ensure that similar projects are carried out in  different communities in of the state.

Speaking further, Dr. Folorunsho said, “I challenge Deltans to come forward, they should  come to us so that we can deliver these services to them. They can choose to come as individuals or as a group like the co-operatives, and we will all welcome them and deliver houses to them.

“Deltans should buy into this government programme of providing houses to all through our institution. They should embrace the programme and come to us. We are there to serve them and we will deliver houses for them. As you can see we have delivered houses to 36 people today and we are going to deliver more.”

On her part, the Managing Director, DTMF, Mrs. Ruby Okoro  lauded Governor Okowa for his vision of making sure that Deltans became house owners and challenged those in Government parastatals to always support and encourage those in the helm of affairs.

She said, “I have to congratulate the beneficiaries, but the highest congratulation goes to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa who has made it possible through his SMART agenda. It is very few people that have a heart when they are in power and Governor Okowa is one of them. He has the interest of the common man very close to his heart and this is why we are able to deliver these housing units to these beneficiaries.

‘We have many more of this project coming up in different parts of the state. It is his vision and we are helping him to drive it and by the grace of God he is going to succeed. Once he succeeds, Deltans have succeeded and when Deltans have succeeded the individuals have succeeded.

“The beneficiaries are now proud landlords and home owners and this goes to show that things are changing in this state and there is hope for the state. All we need is people with vision. No matter what parastatals you are, you have to help those with vision no matter what.”

Some of the beneficiaries, who spoke at the ceremony expressed gratitude to the Delta Trust Mortgage Finance Limited (DTMF) for giving them the opportunity to own their own houses.