Lagos ATOPCON commits to professionalism

Lagos town planning consultants have reiterated commitment to promote professionalism and standardisation of practice. The new chairman, Lagos branch of the Association of Town Planning Consultants of Nigeria (ATOPCON), Dr. David Olawale, who made the pledge after his election at the yearly general meeting of the association, assured that the branch would work with relevant Ministries, Department and Agencies of government, enforce all established standards, adhere to regulations and ensure that members continue to be regarded as experts in the field.

He stated that the new leadership will take the association to the next level through inclusive governance that would make it stand out and be the foremost branch to be reckoned with.

According to him, more focus should be on capacity building by encouraging training and retraining of heads and staff of member firms and equipping them with tools and knowledge for the current realities in consultancy.

He said: “We will work hard to ensure that members have a voice in our activities. We will encourage training programmes and networking opportunities, as well as foster a sense of community among our members and strengthen partnerships, which are key to achieving goals. We intend to explore new avenues and opportunities that require our professional competencies, which were unexplored before now.”

Olawale further assured members on the commencement of ATOPCON housing scheme, which would enable town planners access land at subsidised rate for their housing development and as investment for the future.

“We have a responsibility to advocate for the interests of our members and wider profession. My team will work with relevant stakeholders to raise awareness on the relevance and importance of our profession and its impact in the society.