Town planners have been urged to brace themselves towards navigating various challenges, happenings and changes confronting them in the practice of the profession.
According to a former president of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Mr Olutoyin Ayinde, the ability to study the tide, reflect on it and proffer solutions again and again would make practicing town planners stay on top of the profession and be of immense value to the community they are meant to serve.
Ayinde, who was the guest lecturer during the Association of Town Planning Consultants of Nigeria (ATOPCON)’s Annual General Meeting in Lagos, spoke on: “Situating Physical Planning and Urban Development in Ever-Challenging Times (VUCA.
He explained that VUCA stood for volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity, adding that the United States Military planners with the acronym when they were worried about the complex and unfamiliar security challenges and changes happening at the time of 9/11 terrorist attack.
All the elements of VUCA, he said were basically the key challenges that professionals would need to navigate either at the public or private sector levels.
On how VUCA relates with planning process and practice, Ayinde explained that processes could be volatile and unpredictable, such as the hike in processing fees and the retroactive nature of implementation; uncertainties surrounding planning processes, where no one could determine the accurate timing for applications to be concluded; interconnected parts, systems, and relationships of planning processes; and unclear information.
To deal with VUCA challenges, the guest lecturer said that professionals who are willing to excel during seasons of unpredictable change should possess agility and adaptability, strategic thinking and decision, and resilience.
He said: “An agile professional is one who is willing to adapt quickly to changing circumstances and take calculated risks to experiment and make learning curves of failures. Agility in professionalism implies being – flexible, but more than that, it requires having a -growth mindset and openness to new ideas and perspectives. Flexible professionals would understand that the business environment is constantly evolving and proactively venture innovative solutions to stay ahead of the curve. They won’t be afraid to challenge the status quo, encouraging their teams to think creatively and push boundaries, while fostering a culture of continuous improvement.”
“Making it in a world that is constantly changing, professionals ought to possess strong strategic thinking skills, which anticipate challenges, identify trends, and consider both external factors and internal resources.
“There must be a balance of analysis and intuition. It would require weighing various perspectives and analyzing data for informed decision-making. “Professionals who think strategically will excel at assessing risks and opportunities, which would enable them to make sound judgments in complex and uncertain situations,” Ayinde said.
According to him, professionals should further embrace change management plan, communicate, engage, train and develop, monitor and review.
“Engaging in research – this is to improve on one’s knowledge of practice regularly;
Innovations – learn to do new things or do old things in a new way;
Promote integrity this is the springboard for sustainable practice;
Improve on advocacy – don›t let sleeping dogs lie; challenge status quo.”
“For meaningful future development, it may be wise to consider the following:
Recover District Centres or Growth Centres of Lagos State; review the performance of existing development plans; identify and pursue quick win projects proposed in extant development plans; take an inventory of neighbourhoods; embark on repurposing studies; champion the establishment of a new development/land management model; initiate pilot regeneration projects; rediscover professionalism; and recognize the interdisciplinary planning.
“Secure enduring partnerships for wholesome development: need for collaborations; promote vigorously purposeful stakeholders engagement, and embrace the principles of planning process,” Ayinde said.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman of ATOPCON, Lagos State, Dr. David, seized the occasion to mention some of the achievements of the association in the last one year.
He explained that 2024 annual general meeting centred on town planning practises in relation to the current state of the nation’s economy «which is neither stable nor favourable.”
He urged members that the present nation’s economic challenge called for a serious considerations by all professionals on how to sustain their businesses (practice) in a challenging economy.
In his address, Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on E-GIS and Planning Matters, Dr. Olajide Babatunde, charged planners to ensure food security by protecting agric lands during planning.
He said planners must discourage taking up agricultural land in planning design as food security is becoming a challenge with absence of agriculture land and countryside in most cities.
He challenged planners to come together to form consortium to be able to bid and execute big town planning jobs as well as participate in planning-related activities being implemented by the state government.
Babatunde encouraged the professionals to guide Nigerians on the need to have their property registered with the government and sanction erring members within their fold.
In his goodwill message, President of ATOPCON, Mr Bisi Adedire, said it has become crucial to recognise the significant role that urban planning plays in shaping the future of Nigeria’s cities and communities.
With the rapid growing population and urbanization in Nigeria, he pointed out that the need for effective town planning practices cannot be overstated.
According to him, As Nigerians navigate through economic challenges, it has become more important to harness the power of strategic urban planning to drive sustainable development, create vibrant communities, and ensure a high quality of life for all residents.
He said: “To address these challenges, town planners must diversify its services and this could be done through an organise knowledge-sharing workshops and seminars to enhance its members’ skills.
“As professionals in the field of town planning, we have a crucial role to play in shaping the future of our cities. Through our expertise, creativity, and commitment to sustainable development, we can help build resilient, liveable, and prosperous communities that will stand the test of time.
“Let us seize this moment as an opportunity to reimagining the way we plan, design, and manage our cities. Together, we can create a future where urban spaces are not just functional and efficient, but also beautiful, inclusive, and sustainable.”
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