Oiwona Launches Two Books

NEWS

MPPUD MARKS WORLD HABITAT DAY

BY LEO EZEKIEL and CHIDINMA OLU

The Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development of the office of the Lagos State Government has pleasantly marked the World Habitat Day at Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos with the theme. Frontier Technologies As Innovative Tool To Transform Waste to Wealth.

Speaking to the audience the honourable Commissioner of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development TPL (Dr.) Idris Salako did welcome all and sundry to the World Habitat Day as declared by the United Nations many decades ago adding that the special guest of honour, governor of Lagos State Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo – Olu who was ably represented by his deputy governor Dr. Obafemi Hamzat has graciously granted uncommon supports to the ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development in marking the World Habitat Day. He told all the participants that they should not be in hurry to leave the venue as the guest speaker Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, chairman, senate committee on Judiciary, Human Right and Legal matters at the National Assembly, Abuja had prepared a very nice lecture to wake up dead horse from the world beyond. And of a truth the guest speaker senator Bamidele did not disappoint the audience with his presentations the theme of the World Habitat Day.

He presented about 100 pages of well researched master piece which he delivered through slides and he spent about 120 minutes delivering the well worded presentations to the audience. When he rose from his presentations the audience accorded him a standing ovation with accompanying applauses.

The event had panel of discussants and again the pandists showed their mettles that they are really masters in the areas Physical Planning and Urban Development as they shared more insights from the guest speaker presentations. The celebration of World Habitat Day generated lots of comments and questions from the audience and of a truth the panellists pragmatically, efficiently and effectively provided answers to the questions fielded. As the event was winding down the chairman , Lagos branch of Association of Town Planning Consultants of Nigeria (ATOPCON) TPL Kamil Ademola Sanni read a three page well researched welcome address on 2019 Livability Neighbourhood Award as he said that the 4^th award in the Livability Neighbourhood Award series jointly given by the Lagos State Government and Association of Town Planning Consultants of Nigeria (ATOPCON) adding that they had indeed come a long way in ensuring sustainable environments are created for good living standard for the good people of Lagos and Nigerians.

Speaking again TPL Sanni said that they want to appreciate Lagos state government for ensuring that the award is awarded to deserving neighbourhood through their collaborative efforts with ATOPCON to create nice neighbourhoods for the teeming masses adding that Lagos state government on her own had created various neighbourhoods since the Lagos Executive Development Board (LEDB) days in the early 20^th century. TPL Sanni said that it would be practically impossible to make a home available for the over Twenty million persons of the state is actually an indication that the state government cannot do it alone adding that this is why they had decided to join hands with the state government to encourage neighbourhoods and developers of such neighbourhoods to create a sustainable neighbourhoods in the state.

Speaking further TPL Sanni said that they had given two sets of the Livability awards to a total of six neighbourhoods in the state since 2017 when they began the collaboration as this marks the fourth year of the award to deserving communities in the three senatorial zones in the state adding that early this year, the national council of their association directed that with the successes recorded in Lagos state, that each branch of the association should start same, therefore their branch had become the first chapter to take up the challenge in presenting  this year’s award in collaboration with the Lagos state government through the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.

TPL Sanni said they sincerely appreciated their immediate past president TPL Dr. Salako who delivered a speech as ATOPCON President during 2018 award, but, pleasantly, today he is the Hon. Commissioner for Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development. TPL Sanni in his words (We want to use this medium to appreciate the state government for appointing heads of our member’s firms as Honourable Commissioner in the ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development. The current Commissioner is the third of our heads of member’s firms to be so appointed. We are grateful to His Excellency, the governor of Lagos state Sanwo – Olu, for putting a round peg in a round hole.

We assure you of our support at all times in your efforts at setting Lagos in the right pedestal. We buy your THEMES agenda and our member firms are ready to do more to help the government in solving the myriads of housing, traffic and transportation, healthy, slums, upgrading, urban renewal and other physical planning challenges in the state. Lagos is a centre of excellence and must continue to excel). Speaking again TPL Sanni said that they did arrive at their award this year of nominees after rigorous assessments based on predetermined criteria as well as fairness and even distribution they based their nominations and selections on the three senatorial zones in the state adding that the selections were done on merits and also the result of their study of various neighbourhoods in the three senatorial districts in the state. TPL Sanni finally presented:

·        Nicon Town Estate, Lekki corridor – Lagos Central HC

·        Ogudu GRA, Ogudu, Lagos East SA

·        Diamond Estate, Isheri Olofin, Alimosho – Lagos West PS

Speaking with Iconblacemagazineonlineportal one of the exhibitors at the venue of Adeyemi Bero auditorium the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, (MD/CEO) Admos Hotel and Suites, Imota, Ikorodu Tajuden Adekoya said that they came to showcase their worth and work in the land of Lagos on the World Habitat Day adding that tourism and hospitality are intertwine in all ramifications. He said that Admos Hotel and Suites, has event Hall, SUPERLATIVE Accommodation, Laundry, Barbing, Conference Hall, Swimming pool, Restaurant and Bar. He said that World Habitat Day is a programme which the United Nations use as a barometer to check the living standards of people of the globe adding that everybody should make Lagos state clean, make Lagos state lovable place and also that Lagosians should recognise and patronise Admos Hotel and Suites for maximum relaxation and all hospitality applications.

The permanent Secretary Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, ARC. Foluso Dipe did give all time vote of thanks to wrap up the World Habitat Day ceremonies at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium Hall.