The immediate past president of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Olutoyin Ayinde, has called on governments at all levels to involve town planners in their activities.
Speaking at the sixth Dosu Babatunde annual lecture held at the Polytechnic, Ibadan, Ayinde emphasised the importance of continued dedication and efforts in the field of physical planning. He noted that the sector is an evolving discipline, and practitioners must adapt to changing circumstances, technologies, and challenges.
The program included the unveiling of a research fellowship program and the awarding of scholarships to some of the best students in the department, and others from various regions of the federation. Ayinde paid tribute to the late Babatunde, describing him as the pioneer of the Urban and Regional Planning profession in Nigeria.
“The government has eminent domain and the budget power to take care of the people. Town planners are professionals trained to advise the government in terms of human settlement. For development to occur, there must be collaboration between the government and town planners.
The government must understand the language of town planners; otherwise, they won’t be able to implement policies, and the beauty of any plan lies in its implementation,” Ayinde stated.
He praised the late Babatunde’s contributions to the development of his homeland, highlighting his indelible activities in the discipline of Urban and Regional Planning. Ayinde remarked that it seemed Chief Babatunde dedicated his entire professional life to Urban and Regional Planning, setting an example for the younger generation.
Dr Olajide Abiodun Babatunde, the Chairman of the foundation, emphasized that town planning is a powerful tool and guide for the development of any nation. He explained that the annual lecture serves as an opportunity for examination and education based on the works of the late Babatunde.
“The centre we are using for the lecture today was commissioned last year; it’s a centre in honour of the late James Ola Oladosu Babatunde, one of the pioneers of town planners in Nigeria.”
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