The Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, Akwa Ibom State Chapter has joined it’s counterparts worldwide to mark the 78th World Town Planning Day!
The ceremony which took place at the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners’ Secretariat , Goodluck Jonathan Boulevard, Uyo, was declared open by the State Chairman of NITP, Akwa Ibom State Chapter, Tpl. Effiong Akpan.
In his welcome address, the chairman charged Town Planners, individuals and the government to do more to promote better and a more resilient settlement in the state.
He said the theme of this year’s event: “Home Starts with Planning”, will rekindle the commitment of members to always reflect on the imperative of planning and housing development and to tinker out ways of partnering with government to ensure that Town Planners are involved in housing and environmental policy formulation and implementation in the state.
He re-iterated the need for Akwa Ibom State government to engender deep cooperation with Town Planners to ensure that built environment are adequately planned for the overall benefits of human existence.
Earlier in his nationwide address, the National President of NITP, Tpl.Dr. Ogbonna Chime FNITP, who was represented in the event by the Assistant National Public Relations Secretary, Tpl. Akpabio Ufot-Akpabio took time to elaborate on the imperative of
the annual event said, it has become a yearly anniversary worldwide which he noted with admiration that the November 8 date has become memorial having been set aside to celebrate how good planning has improved people’s and society’s lives, thus, creating sustainable places for people to live and work.
He however regretted that about 100 million people are homeless in the world saying, one in four lives was likely to be in terrible conditions that undermines his health, safety, and prosperity.
The President observed that, while accurate data on housing is still a challenge nationally, the country has over 20 million housing deficits noting that, challenges of policy drift in the sector, access to land, mortgage, high cost of construction and general inflation in the country, infrastructure, political instability, weak institutions, and lack of robust private sector involvement, among others, were possible factors undermining development of the housing sector in the country over the years.
He called for collaborative actions by all key stakeholders – communities, private sector, civil society, governments, and professionals to be involved toward making housing affordable, accessible, and inclusive.
The high point of the event was the inauguration of students executives of Urban and Regional Students Association of Nigeria (URPSAN), University of Uyo Chapter which saw to the emergence of Mr. Etim Augustine Aniefiok as President, Miss Justina Usher, Vice President and Daniel Oladele as Secretary.
The event also featured Panel of Discussants which dealt on the topic:’Creating a Sustainable Environment’ with audience participation which was very beneficial to the wider public.
