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…As Stakeholders in the build sector demand implementation of urban and regional planning law in South East region
The Enugu State Commissioner for Lands and Urban Development, Surveyor Victor Nnam has charged members of the Town Planners Registration Council of Nigeria (TOPREC) to actively participate in governance in order to positively influence policies that affects the profession.
Surveyor Nnam who gave the charge while declaring open the 34th induction ceremony of 2020 registered members of the professional body on Tuesday in Enugu, noted that the involvement of town planners in government will facilitate building a safe environment and advancing economic development.
According to him, town planning is a foundation of physical development in any area that houses humans and animals and as such, it should not be downplayed in planning habitable environments.
While attributing some of the challenges facing the country to unplanned and unorganized environment, the commissioner disclosed that the state government in its efforts to improve land administration and planning of the state, is working tirelessly on developing a 21st century master plan and geographic information system (GIS).
Felicitating with the newly inducted members of TOPREC, Surveyor Nnam advised them to protect the integrity and interest of the profession jealously and be exemplars to allied professionals in the built environment.
Earlier in a welcome address, the National President of TOPREC, TPL Isyaku Kura represented by the second National Vice President, TPL Ogbonna Chime said the event is a statutory function aimed at broadening the professional knowledge and technical skills required for improved capacity throughout practitioners working life.
TPL Kura cautioned the inductees not to cut corners for economic gains in the course of their practice, and also enjoined them to help in fighting quackery and professional misconducts.
“however, you are coming into a profession that is visible and delicate in a way. Every decision therefore, must be widely engaging and carefully thought out before execution. You also need to apply the TOPREC ACT at all times, code of conduct and practices regulations, etc., in all service delivery to citizens and more importantly in the dispensation of any assignment, if you are to effectively and efficiently function as a registered town planner”. He advised.
Speaking on the sideline of the occasion, TPL Ogbonna Chime who is also a fellow, Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, NITP, lamented absence of functional master plan and domestication of the national law, “implementation of urban and regional planning” promulgated since 1992 in the whole of the five eastern states adding that the socio-economic implications are numerous and grievous to be overlooked.
TPL Chime pointed out that the difference between Nigeria and developed countries is the state of urban and regional planning and insisted that government must employ the services of qualified town planners to better the entire society.
He further stressed the need for government and land owners to work collectively in developing comprehensive master plans, frame schemes for orderly development of environs.
In separate goodwill messages, the national president, Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, NITP, TPL Olutoyin Ayinde represented by NITP chairman, Enugu chapter, TPL Emmanuel Asadu, and NITP chairman, Anambra chapter Emmanuel Ifemedebe said the association looks up to the inductees as future of the profession and expects them to demonstrate high level of competence and reflect professionalism in all they do.
Some of the inductees including Mr Emmanuel Egbe and Mrs Ijeoma Harieth Onyejekwe thanked the council for grooming and finding them worthy to be recognized as professional members even as they pledged to make the profession proud.
