Amid the growing need to eliminate illegal developments and ensure better living environment, the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) has been urged to provide structured urban development and rural planning.
The President, Commonwealth Association of Surveying and Land Economy (CASLE), Mr. Olusegun Ajanlekoko, gave the charge at the investiture of Olutoyin Ayinde as the 24th president and the inauguration of the National Executive Committee of NITP in Lagos.
Ajanlekoko, who chaired the programme said NITP has a pivotal role to play in the built environment. “The livability of Nigerians, good health and structured development through urban and rural planning is strategic to the future well-being of the country.”
He also urged Ayinde to always seek the support of other executives. “You cannot succeed alone without the support of other members of your executive. You must therefore be open-minded, pleasant, forward thinking and encourage those below you as well as seek counsel of those above you. Your communication, self-confidence and commitment will be necessary ingredient in your success story.”
He has no doubt that Ayinde will succeed because of his drive, strength, energy, dedication, perseverance, strategy, knowledge and humility to achieve greatness. “You must always value excellence, not settle for average and remain committed to what really matters – integrity and sound ethics,” Ajanlekoko said.
Also, President, Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), Mr. Kunle Awobodu and first Vice President, Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA), Enyi Ben-Eboh, called for collaboration and synergy among the professional bodies.
They urged the new executives to strive towards formulation of urban and regional planning standards that will eliminate illegal developments.
In his inaugural address, Ayinde, called on government at all levels to partner with professionals. He said only the professional sector known, as the intellectual base of national development, has not received credible support from the government.
“We have seen the banking sector reflected by injection of financial support, yet we still have hiccups in that sector,” he said. According to him, professionalism did not only need financial support to develop, “but also a deliberate decision by the governments to patronise their own, invest in their own, showcase their own and thus perfect their own.”
Ayinde also called for volunteers and support from members and relevant stakeholders. “If we truly desire a better future for our profession, we must start sowing new seeds of love for one another and for humanity in general, making positive contribution to the development of human settlements and profession.”
The Minister of Works, Housing and Urban Development, Babatunde Fashola, represented by the Director of Urban and Regional Development, Olasunkanmi Dunmoye, congratulated the new president and the executive committee on their election.
Similarly, the Chairman, House Committee on Sustainable Development, Prince Rotimi Agunsoye, urged NITP to ensure better cities, which will benefit the citizenry.
