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New ATOPCON president tasked with targets, values, teamwork

The newly inaugurated President of the Association of Town Planning Consultants of Nigeria (ATOPCON), Mr Bisi Adedire, has been enjoined to set targets and work towards achieving them.

Giving the admonition during the inauguration ceremony held in Lagos, the President of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Mr Nathaniel Atebije, urged Adedire to put value on himself as a means of knowing how much investment to put into the association.

This, he said, would greatly impact his integrity, commitments, sacrifice, ethics, and display of professional competence.

He pointed out that the expectations of the followers concerning the leadership are high and lofty, urging Adedire to prayerfully configure his visions from time to time to lead effectively.

“If your personal value is high, then the outcome of these indices would be glaringly conspicuous,” he said, advising him to work with other members of the executive committee as a team to facilitate the work of each other.

“Monitor the performance of everybody on the team. Address issues squarely without fear or favour. You will see that there would have been a positive difference between the time you started and the endpoint. This is progress.

“Finally, let me remind you that you were favoured by God to be called to serve this team of experts, not because you are the best or swiftest but by the grace of God. Therefore, work with the best of your abilities to serve God and humanity,” Atebije said.

The immediate past president of ATOPCON, in his valedictory speech, chronicled some of the achievements recorded during his tenure, encouraging the new president and his team to immediately commence working on writing the history of ATOPCON.

“With 11 presidents and several executive committee members, we are to put the record straight. No time is better than when one of the early players is at the helm of affairs,” he said

He also urged the new president and his team to carry on with the expansion of the association.

“With eight branches and two study groups, the executive committee should work hard to bring more branches into existence in the near future.

“Many states are getting ready, and we should help them come on stream in earnest,” he said

The guest lecturer at the event, Mr Waheed Kadiri, who spoke on “Strategic Planning for the Future of Town Planning Profession in Nigeria, defined strategic planning as a process aimed at producing a long-term plan of action designed to achieve a particular goal as distinct from reactions to issues.

He urged the leadership of NITP and ATOPCON to pursue this process diligently through the commitment of time and resources of the institute, especially financial resources.

He also called on the state chapter of NITP to be involved in the process, making the case for the review of the constitution as a starting point.

In his inaugural speech, Adedire said that part of his plans to improve the profession hinged on dedication to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing among members as well as aspiring members.

“We will organise regular workshops, seminars, and training programmes to keep our members updated with the latest trends and best practices in urban planning.

“Moreover, I recognise the importance of creating public awareness about responsible urban living, sustainable development, and the role of town planners.

Together, we will launch public awareness campaigns to educate citizens and garner their support for our shared goals of a better environment,” he said.

“In addition, my commitment extends to collaborating with relevant governmental agencies at both federal and state levels.

“By working closely with these agencies, we can align our efforts with government policies and initiatives, ensuring that our contributions have a meaningful impact on urban planning as a whole, either through private consultancy or the public sector.

Together, we will transform our vision into tangible steps, establishing a forum for open dialogue and advocating for policies that embrace sustainability and green initiatives.

“We also intend to become partners, not only with the public sector but with everyone who dreams of a brighter tomorrow.

“With this understanding, my team will be focusing on creating avenues through which town planners can be involved in the governance process of the country.

“We won’t be allowing the government to take actions relating to the environment, physical planning and development of cities alone,” Adedire said

Adedire solicited the cooperation and support of members over the next two years to elevate the standards of the profession.

“This is not a solo endeavour; it is a collective effort where each member contributes to the success of our shared goals,’ he said.

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