‘Nigeria is yet to embrace culture of physical planning’

The Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) has decried the lack of opportunities for practitioners in the country.

NITP observed that Nigeria is yet to embrace the culture of physical planning despite its long history in Nigeria and its positive implications for sustainable development.

NITP President, Mr. Olutoyin Ayinde, made the assertion at the 2021 Mandatory Continuing Professional Development Programme (MCPDP), organised by the institute in collaboration with Town Planners Registration Council of Nigeria (TOPREC).

Ayinde said, Nigeria is under-planned, adding that physical planning has bright prospects but needs awareness creation on role of practitioners.

Speaking on “Mastering Physical Planning Services for Effective Performance,” he charged practitioners to make perfection their watchword on issues that concern members.

Addressing the forum, the Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako, said a lot is expected from town planners as key players in the built industry.

TOPRECT president, Mr. Isyaku Kura, said the theme has been carefully chosen, to call attention to new thinking and practice in the delivery of physical planning services, stressing that it will enhance performance of professionals and yet to be professionals.

Kura, who was represented by Mr. Moses Ogunleye, observed that physical planning and urban development is characterised by such deliverables as master plans, structure plans, sectoral action plans and regional plans.

However, he said in response to new developments in governance, globalisation and environment, the scope of service deliverable has to expand to include critical thinking and practices in areas such as mega cities, smart cities, environmental impacts, security and others.

The guest speakers: a professor of Urban and Regional Planning, Timothy Gyuse, Olaide Afolabi and Faith Ekong, urged practitioners to upgrade their skills, be proactive and developed better understanding of the practice environment.

Earlier, the chairman of NITP/TOPREC MCPDP Committee, Dr. Catherine Uloko, said the forum was conceived to improve the professional competence of town planners and related professionals in the built environment.