PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS
Courtesies
Let me again welcome you all to this annual general meeting (AGM). It is with great pleasure for me on beehalf of the Excutive Council of Atopcon to extend to you a warm and cordial welcome on the occasion of the AGM of our great Association and particularly to those of our memebers who travelled from other parts of the country.
Let me also sincerely thank the BOT memebers, all PPATOPCON, the ATOPCON Council and executive members. Thank you for your support and commitment.We are grateful to God that in spite of the economic lull in the country in the past year, which greatly affected practice of our memebers and in turn affected our programs and activities. But for your dedication and surpport, we have been able to achive notable strides in moving the Association forward.
A year has gone by and it is time for us to take stocks to enable you appraise us and determine how we have fared. I am proud to say that the last one year was full of activities, with positive developments. We were able to to strengthen our relationship with critical groups in the built environment and improve relationships and recognition of ATOPCON in some States and the FCT.
Notable amongst these are:
- Courtesy Visit to the Town Planners Registration Council (TOPREC) and Nitp State Chapters
We have built on healthy relationships with Nigeria Institute of Town Planner (NITP) and Town Planner Registration Council of Nigeria (TOPREC) as evidenced by our presence and contribution at NITP Council Meetings and functions and visitation and interactions with TOPREC.
Atopcon paid a Courtesy/ Official Visit to the Town Planners Registration Council (TOPREC) on the need to improve the existing relationships and create a more enabling environment on issues that touches on the growth, relevance and visibility of consultancy services i.e. private sector practice (ATOPCON) opportunities and to explore ways of achieving TOPREC’s full support and backing.
During the visit to Toprec, Atopcon also had a collaborative meeting with the NITP Abuja Chapter, similar to the one with the Ogun State Chapter to explore avenues for practice and also have joint workshop later in the year and possibly inaugurate the Abuja branch.
- Membership
Between the last AGM and now, our membership has grown to 147 firms with the 3 new firms inducted earlier today. As we established networks with groups within the Town planning family and beyond,we have also been able to strengthen our membership. We have admitted new members to the association, particularly embracing TOPREC ‘s new policy on registration of practitioners. Our concern has been on the glaring lacuna in our memebrship strucutre, admittance of new memwber firms in the last three years have shown there is amajor gap as more senior colleagues in the profession who are retiring form the public sector joins Atopcon, while younger colleagues have not really shown interest in joining the association, however, we hope to bridge the gap with the new Toprec policy. The management had aslo set up a committee to look into this and recommend ways of encouraging and bringing in young practioners into Atopcon.
- Annual Professional Development Workshop
The 2018 professional development workshop with the theme: “Contractual Obligation and Public Perception of Planning Practitioners” was held in Enugu. The workshop despite the harsh realities of the country’s socio economic situation was taken out of Lagos and held at Enugu. The workshop was well attended by heads of member firms, Town planners from the academia and civil service. The Toprec President, represented by Tpl Ogbonna Chime, (fnitp), the Toprec representative of Enugu State declared the workshop open, while NITP President Tpl. Dr. Luka Achi (fnitp), delivered the Goodwill Message. Tpl. Toyin Ayinde (fnitp) 2nd National Vice President, NITP, Tpl Waheed Kadiri (fnitp) Past President NITP and chairman BOT Atopcon, and Tpl. O.L. Odimuko (fnitp) Past President, NITP were also in attendance.
- Annual Atopcon Executive Retreat /Working visit to Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ibogun
The Association’s Annual executive Council retreat was held at Abeokuta Ogun State. The issue deliberated on at the retreat was Contract negotiation process as a key aspect of town planning practice. As part of the retreat, Atopcon Executive Coucil memebers had an interactive session with the Urban and Regional Planning Students of the Olabisi Onabanjo University and also paid a Courtesy/ Official Visit to The Special Adviser, Ministry of Physical Planning Ogun State as part of our “State of the Practice” visit to Ogun State to explore possible ways of improving practice in Ogun State for our members and also to acknowledged and appreciate him for the pivotal roles he’s playing in resolving some planning practice issues in the State.
We also had a collaborative meeting with the exco of the NITP, Ogun State Chapter on possible means of collaborating with the State Chapter and exploring further avenue for practice. Atopcon and the Nitp, Ogun State Chapter planned a joint workshop for later in the year
- Administration and Secretariat Matters
We have also improve on the administration of the secretariat, which I can say was more efficient in the last year. For operational accessibility and a beffitting national secretariat, we relocated to No. 2, Atinuke Olabanji Street off John Olugbo Street, Ikeja Lagos.
- Atopcon / Lagos State Government Community Livability Award Project
In pursuant of one of the objectives of the association , which is to promote the development of an enabling environment aimed at the advancement of Town Planning Practice , the National Council of the Association of Town Planning Consultants of Nigeria (ATOPCON) particpated and gave the 2017 liveability award in the three senatorial districts of Lagos State to 3 deserving Estates at the event to commemorate the World Habitat Day for year 2017.
Also, the 2018 edition was held in Lagos state two days ago during this years world habitat day and the 2018 liveability award in the three senatorial districts of Lagos State to deserving Estates were also presented. State branches of Atopcon ahave being mandated and encouraged to liase with their respective State Governments to have the institutionalise the Livabilty Award in their States.
We also participated actively at the inaugural Femi Olomola, memorial lecture series. Late Tpl. Dr. Femi Olomola,(FNITP,PPATOPCON,PPNITP) was a past President of the Association and the Secretary BOT
Again I wish to also thank the Association for the opportunity to serve, members of the Council are grateful for the immeasurable support we have received. PPATOPCON, PPNITP, Heads of member firms, fellows of the institute, distinguished colleagues, I welcome you to the 2018 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Association of Town Planning Consultants of Nigeria (ATOPCON). I wish all of us a memorable and enjoyable deliberations.
I wish ATOPCON greater years ahead.
Idris O. Salako, fnitp
