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TOPREC wants govt to tackle dilapidated infrastructure

By Murtala Muhammed, Kano
25 April 2016   |   2:21 am
In the wake of recurring structural failures, Town Planners Registration Council of Nigeria (TOPREC) has advocated urgent government attention on dilapidated infrastructure facilities......
Prof. Layi Egunjobi

Prof. Layi Egunjobi

In the wake of recurring structural failures, Town Planners Registration Council of Nigeria (TOPREC) has advocated urgent government attention on dilapidated infrastructure facilities, particularly on power, road, education and health across the country.

The council also agitated immediate review and enhancement of curriculum of town planning education with a view to incorporate entrepreneur skill to build students practical knowledge.

In a communique issued at the end of its two-day mandatory continuing Professional Planning education programme, the council equally demanded regular grants and support for registered town planners working at both public and private establishment to improve their professional calling in line with modern entrepreneur.

The statement was signed by President of the council, Prof. Layi Egunjobi who identified Ttown planner’s inability to acquire entrepreneurial skill to further sustain themselves as major challenge urged for attitudinal change.

According to council “ the TOPREC should be significantly enhanced to enable it provide town planners the vital support they require to establish their enterprises; and to be able mobilize support from the three tiers of government for the purpose. This may be in the form of startup grants and related support to all Planners with innovative ideas.

“TOPREC should promote, at national level, the establishment of alternative methods for raising capital for the Urban Planning entrepreneur such as partnerships; Business Angels; venture capital; crowd funding.

The communique further read “It is expected that all stakeholders especially planners and the government take active and urgent steps in ensuring that all recommendations herein are given prompt consideration and implemented immediately.
TOPREC to publish once in four years (before national campaigns) the State of the Physical Development Challenges and Opportunities of each of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. This is to provide authoritative facts to all intending politicians what the realities are; and to influence what they can realistically promise their electorates. We are as a matter of urgency urging for revise of the curriculum for the training of Town Planners to incorporate adequate entrepreneurship related courses.

The two-day capacity building training was organized by the council in collaboration with Centre for Human Settlement and Urban Development and Federal University of Technology, Minna Niger State, attracted 200 participants across Northern States.

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