By Mustapha Jarju
Liberian housing giant Ms. Stephene Audrey Kpoto has promised to replicate her Liberia-
Mini City project in The Gambia if the Gambia government opens up avenues of cooperation with her in the housing sector.
Ms. Kpoto is currently on a visit to The Gambia and on Thursday, she visited the National Youth Council (NYC) Office in Kanifing, where she was received by the council’s executive director.
As part of her NYC visit, the Liberia-born housing giant held a “constructive” discussion with NYC officials on issues affecting youth.
Shortly after her engagement with NYC officials, Ms. Kpotoaddressed a press conference in which she expressed her desire to build a mini-city in The Gambia if the enabling environment is created by the government.
She is currently embarking upon an ambitious minicity project in her native country of Liberia.
“So for me today, if The Gambia is ready and put all the mechanisms in place, I am ready (to build a minicity). I know how to lobby. So if you are ready, I am ready. It’s all in your court. It is The Gambia now that has to put the card on the table,” said Stephene.
She explained that any minicity project in The Gambia will be guided by agreements between her company, the Gambia government, and development partners. She added that the project will be timebound.
“Because when we are to build this city, there will be goals and objectives. For example, if I build this city, I want 90% of the youth to have jobs. I will expect the expectations to be met,” she added.
Stephene explained that she has the vision to work through Africa as a youth empowerment ambassador.
She expressed the conviction that young people can harness their many potentials to shape the future of Africa.
Meanwhile, Ms. Stephene’s Banjul visit was facilitated by Gambia’s High Commission in Sierra Leone, and according to the high commission’s Charge D’Affaires, Bulli Dibba, the commission is working towards providing every single opportunity for The Gambia, hence the efforts for bringing Ms. Stephene to The Gambia to meet some key ministries and institutions with a view to exploring ways and means of replicating her Liberia minicity project here.
“She is very good at what she does and we don’t just bring people here to be just here. Those days are now over. What we do is that we introduce you to our leaders, and make sure we are convinced that you can do it and you can contribute to the national development goals of this country. Anything that doesn´t go with our national priorities, we don’t accept that,” charge d’affairs Dibba emphasized.