Ayomide Awe
The Ogun State chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) has officially kicked off its Town Planners’ Week with a thanksgiving service, expressing gratitude for a successful year in office.
The ceremony, held on Sunday at the Victory Life Bible Church, Quarry Road, Abeokuta, saw key figures from the town planning profession and notable community leaders in attendance.
The event was led by the Chairman of the Ogun State NITP chapter, TPL Adefela Shogbesan, who, alongside his executive members, expressed heartfelt thanks to God for guiding them through various challenges during their one-year tenure.
Prominent members at the service included former Permanent Secretary, TPL. Taiwo Megbope FNITP, former Senior Director TPL. Gbolade Badejo FNIP and Former Special Adviser to Ogun State Government on Physical Planning and Urban Development – TPL. Steven Adewolu FNITP and TPL. Oladunjoye Arowosegbe FNITP- Director – School of Environmental Studies, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta
During the service, Reverend Adeoye Adeyanju, Assistant General Overseer of Victory Life Bible Church, delivered a rousing exhortation.
In his sermon, Rev. Adeyanju encouraged the town planners to remain steadfast in good deeds, aligning with their profession’s mandate of creating sustainable and organized urban environments.
He remarked, “Do not be weary in doing good as your name implies.”
The cleric drew a parallel between the current socio-economic challenges facing Nigeria, such as the ongoing fuel scarcity, and the failure of leadership.
According to him, some Nigerian leaders are disconnected from divine values, leading to widespread disillusionment among citizens.
“Some of our leaders do not know God, while others may know the Bible but do not know God,” Rev. Adeyanju emphasized.
He also took the opportunity to address the growing trend of Nigerians seeking opportunities abroad.
While migration for education and career advancement is important, Rev. Adeyanju advised that the ultimate goal should be to return home and contribute to the country’s development, rather than permanently settling abroad.
In his remarks, TPL Adefela Shogbesan, the chairman of the NITP Ogun State chapter, expressed his gratitude for the progress made under his leadership despite several obstacles.
Shogbesan highlighted welfare and financial stabilization as major accomplishments of the current administration.
He noted that when his team assumed office, they prioritized the well-being of members, which resulted in financial improvements for the chapter.
“In terms of advocacy, we have also made strides,” Shogbesan said.
“We have been working to make town planning more popular by engaging with the media, including television and radio stations, to educate the public about the importance and impact of town planning in Ogun State.”
He further emphasized the chapter’s commitment to building relationships with its members, including outreach to elders, assisting those facing personal challenges, and providing support to the families of deceased members.
“Visiting and engaging with our elders and supporting the families of our late members was part of our goals and objectives when we came into office,” Shogbesan added.
In closing, Shogbesan made an appeal to the general public, urging Nigerians to allow town planners the necessary space to carry out their duties effectively.
He noted that certain policies and bureaucratic hurdles were obstructing town planners from performing their roles optimally.
“There are laid-down policies that hinder town planners from fully executing their duties, and this needs to be addressed,” he concluded.
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