MADUAKONAM AMAECHINA
The Anambra State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) joins the governments in Nigeria, particularly Anambra State, in marking this years World Town Planning Day, also known as World Urbanism Day. The focus of this years celebration is on the social pillars of equity, diversity and inclusion, aimed at creating a space in which all community stakeholders can join hands together for the benefit of all.
The focus summarizes the major goal of town and country planning. For avoidance of doubt, Town and Country Planning is defined as the process of making decisions on development and use of land with a view to facilitating growth and minimizing wastages through inclusive participation.
Therefore, ignoring Town Planning Profession by our governments and their agencies is at the peril of the drivers of governments agencies which unfortunately have direct effects on the society and environment. This is the bane of our present democracy and the expected dividends.
World Town Planning Day is celebrated on the eighth of November every year. It was first celebrated in 1949 through the efforts of Professor Carlos Mariadella Paolera of University of Buenos Aires. Since then, it has become an annual International event in many countries (including Nigeria), during which governments, institutions and organizations celebrate their various efforts and achievements in creating more sustainable communities and places.
Consequently, the Anambra State Chapter of NITP celebrates all the positive efforts of the Anambra State government on infrastructural development, housing provisions, plan preparations, agricultural/industrial development planning, land use controls, etcera.
However, in doing all those, government is sincerely advised to ensure that the right professionals are involved in their physical planning so as to ensure that the envisaged results on sustainable societal growth and development are achieved.
The Anambra State Chapter of NITP is among the strongest Chapters in Nigeria in terms of qualified and experienced members. It is populated by nine fellows, forty-five corporate members and over Seventy graduate members.
The government of Anambra State is therefore urged to make use of these talented technocrats and professionals in planning and execution of her physical planning programmes.
Anambra is the second smallest state in Nigeria with an area of four thousand, eight hundred and forty-four square kilometres. This calls for careful decision taking in management of her land use resources.
The call is further strengthened by the efforts of the World Health Organization (W.H.O) which currently uses town planning ideals on space and population/crowd management to develop various protocols for control of COVID-19 pandemic.
We have no doubt that the Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano (Akpokuedike Global) is better placed in terms of experience and exposure in administration to reposition Anambra State, using Town Planning ideals as a major strategy. May God bless Anambra State, the light of the nation.
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