Written By: Maduakonam Amaechina
World Town Planning Day is celebrated on November 8th 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. This day, governments, institutions and organizations celebrate their various efforts and achievements in creating more sustainable communities and places.
The Anambra State Chapter of Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) joins governments in Nigeria, particularly Anambra State government, in marking this year’s “World Town Planning Day”.
The main themes of this year’s celebration are four pronged viz: (1) Equality and Diversity, (2) Environment and Climate Change, (3) Sustainable and Healthy Communities and (4) Economic Development. These main themes are, in fact, among the major goals 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”.
Hence, without imputing town planning ideals into the overall development of our towns, urban areas, cities, settlements, neighborhoods, etcetera; we can achieve little or nothing in terms of growth and sustainable development.
Therefore, the Anambra State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) celebrates all the positive efforts of the Anambra State government led by Governor Willie Obiano on infrastructural development, housing provisions, plan preparations, agricultural and industrial development planning as well as land use controls.
However, in doing all these, government is sincerely advised to ensure that the right professionals are seriously involved in their planning so as to ensure that the desired returns on investment 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 use of these talented technocrats and professionals in planning and execution of her programmes. Anambra State is the second smallest state in Nigeria with an area of four thousand, eight hundred and forty-four kilometre squares.
This calls for careful decision taking in management of her land use resources. There is no doubt that the Executive Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, is better placed in terms of experience and exposure in administration to reposition Anambra State, using Town Planning ideals as a major strategy.
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