The Nigerian Institute of Town Planners has elected its 25th national president, Tpl. Nathaniel Atebije, FNITP.
The era of Former Lagos commissioner for physical planning Tpl Toyin Ayinde has ended in a grand style as the investiture for the new president took place on Thurday in a glamorous ceremony where Ayinde listed his achievements and also promised to continue to support his profession and the new leadership .
The institute at its investiture ceremony held at the Nikon Luxury Hotel, Abuja, on Friday night for Tpl. Nathaniel Atebije,FNITP, and inauguration of 19 other respected town planners to lead the institute for a term of two years, until the next election in 2024.
The newly-elected president urged the Federal Government to create a permanent ministry for town planning to enable the country achieve its sustainable development goals.
Atebije said, “Planning is part of the Sustainable Development Goals. And a country cannot be said to be sustainably developed if its cities and rural areas are not well-planned.
“The Federal Government is urged to create a Ministry of Planning, to enable the NITP achieve more. With a ministry of planning, most issues leading to environmental disasters would be curbed. And rather than having to look up to the ministry in charge of disaster management, it would be better to have a ministry that would have prevented such disasters from happening, as prevention is better than cure.”
The other 19 elected executives are the institute’s First national vice president, Chime Ogbonna, second national president, Prof. Ogboi Kingsley, national secretary, Ashiru Olugbenga, Muhammed Zayyanu, Agomuo John, Alonge Zachariah, Adamu Sani, Olawale Akinyemi, and Nor Jesse.
Others include the president emeritus, ex officio Olutoyin Ayinde, Ukanwa Austin, Adeoye Taiwo, Adejumo Ayodele , Olarenwaju Samson, Sani Daniel, Baba Ndalai, Atiyaye Barnabas, and Okonye Isiekpu.
The two years of Toyin Ayinde increased the visibility of Town planning profession , also increased advocacy for planning our cities and call for integrity among those in public positions.
