A Chief Lecturer at The Polytechnic, Ibadan and a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planning (NITP), Dr Durodola Ogunsesan has stressed the need to engage all Stakeholders in the planning, re-engineering of Ibadan inner-core areas to achieve resilience and sustainable development for beauty and comfort.
Dr Ogunsesan stated this on Saturday in Ibadan while delivering a paper titled: The gasping Ibadan inner-core areas; need for its sustainable resilience at the 50th Founder’s Day Anniversary lecture/ Fundraising of Lagelu 16 Club House.According to him, “glaringly, Ibadan inner-core areas have exhibited unpleasant look in the areas of housing conditions, environmental sanitation as well as components, availability and adequacy of socio-physical infrastructural facilities.
He emphasised that the various governments need to “do more by investing in basic areas such as township roads, drainages,water supply (to reduce the menace of borehole drilling) and sanitation through sustainable waste management to cater for the needs of the proposed planned urban upgrade areas “.
The veteran town planner noted that in ensuring sustainable resilience of the inner-core areas in Ibadan, there was “the need to formulate urban renewal agenda in Ibadan being the regional and state capital of the old western region and Oyo State capital”. “Basically, as planners, we hold the key to transforming the chaotic urban landscape into aesthetic,beautiful, resilient and sustainable well structured environment through urban renewal strategies that can comfortably accommodate the growing population, provide essential services and contribute to national growth and development ”
“Adopting the right strategies, rules and regulations by planners and most importantly collaboration with property owners and all other Stakeholders can create more sustainable, resilient and livable human environment in our neighborhoods”.
Dr Ogunsesan stated further that in order to combat youth restiveness, there was the need for a well coordinated strategy to mobilize all potential facilities and existing resources in Ibadan core areas which harbors majority of jobless youth. While calling on all professional organizations to collaborate with various government agencies to ensure a better, freer and indeed a happier environment, the seasoned town planner said all hands must be on deck to provide facilities for the greatest majority to live comfortably wherever they are.
Responding the Oyo State Deputy Governor, Barr Bayo Lawal assured that the state government under Gov Seyi Makinde would continue to upgrade infrastructural facilities in all inner-core areas within the state.The Deputy Governor who was represented by Prof Abdul Waheed Adelabu, the Commissioner for Education rejoiced with members of Lagelu 16 Club on the celebration of the golden jubilee anniversary. He eulogised the founding fathers and the current members of the club for their positive contributions to the Socio-economic development of Ibadanland and the state in general.
Earlier in his opening remark, the Chairman of the Occasion, Chief Adeniyi Akintola, SAN commended members of the Club for their selfless service to humanity. Represented by the Ibadan head of his chamber, Chief Adeniyi Oyekunle, acknowledged the fact that he was a beneficiary of Lagelu 16 Club scholarship some years back .
In his address, Alhaji Adegboyega Sanni, President, Lagelu 16 Club thanked all invited guests for their support especially the Chief Launcher, Dr Jide Dosu Babatunde, the Are Ago Mayegun of Ibadanland who had graciously promised to ensure the completion of the Club house. Dr Babatunde, a scion of late Dosu Babatunde, one of the founding fathers of the Club and Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes said nothing was too much to commit to the service of Ibadan.