DEPARTMENT OF URBAN & REGIONAL PLANNING
The changing phases of development and the demand on space require an articulate physical planning ideals, hitherto used to be the monopoly of developed countries are now being disseminated by Nigerian Higher Institutions but with its attendant problems and prospects. Despite an avalanche of training grounds for Town Planners, the country still experiences shortage of planning professionals and technicians.
The Town and Regional Planning as a course was introduced into the Yaba College of Technology in the 1972/73 academic session. It started as a two-year full time programme leading to the award of the Ordinary Diploma. The programme which at inception was a section of the Department of Civil Engineering and Environmental Studies became in 1980 a full fledged department in the School of Environmental Studies. The department in addition to the National Diploma programme commenced in 1978 the Higher National Diploma programme, and in 1989, aimed at training professional Town Planner, the Post-Diploma Professional programme in Town Planning was introduced at the Department.
Enrolment of students has increased from about 20 in 1972, to 150 in 1995, and 380 in 2009. There has also been a corresponding increase in the number of lecturers over the years. The total number of staff in the department stands at 22. In the administration of the school, 2 members of the department had served as Director’s having won popular elections and furthermore, another senior member of staff of the department has served as Dean, student affairs and subsequently, the Rector of the College between 1992 and 1999.
Currently, the Deputy Rector (Academic) of the College is a member of staff of the Department. The National Technical Board for Education (NBTE) Syllabus has just been reviewed to accommodate the recent state of the art and science, and new developments in the ever dynamic planning world. Indeed, the ND and HND programmes have NBTE accreditation till 2014. To season our students, ND final year students are made to write a terminal term paper, while the Post- Diploma and HND final year students are required to solve a practical problem and prepare a dissertation under the supervision of a staff member. The students at all levels receive class instructions in a 2 – semester year session which is complemented by a well supervised industrial attachment usually during the first year break at the ND level. During this period, they gain practical experience from various Town Planning Departments, both in the public and private sectors.
A proportionate number of staff members liaise with the host consultancy firm or ministry, and the students are required to write a report on the practical experience acquired during the period of industrial attachment. It is worthy to note that students who have graduated from the department are successful professionals holding important post in both the private and public sectors within and outside the shores of the country.
GOAL AND OBJECTIVES
Graduate of National Diploma, Higher National Diploma and Professional Diploma programme in Urban and Regional Planning should be able to perform with expected degree of efficiency appropriate to the level of their training. Hence our goal is to produce skilled personnel at both the intermediate and high levels of manpower for public and private Town and Regional Planning organisation and for the several other organisations which activities/services have planning implications. In attaining this goal, the performance objectives include:-
Understand and analyse a planning problem in any given situation and write out alternate solutions
Understand the administrative institutions, legislative framework, environmental conditions and political atmosphere within which planning operates in Nigeria
Carry out surveys and field work leading to Town and Regional Planning Design
Carry out simple design and drawings of estates, small and medium sized towns in collaboration with other Town Planners and relevant disciplines; Make simple planning models
Collect and analyse data on Town and Regional Planning issues; Teach Town and Regional at appropriate levels in institutions offering Town Planning programmes
Formulate policies in the area of Town and Regional Planning; Give sound professional advice and reliable consultancy services in the area of Town and Regional Planning
Be useful to and employable by Town and Regional Planning organisations in both public and private sectors; Demonstrate adequate skill in basic techniques of land use planning (surveys, site planning division, computer application).
CORE VALUES OF THE DEPARTMENT
Quality in our services – teaching, research, consultancy etc
Customer satisfaction
Commitment and innovativeness
Effectiveness and efficiency in resources utilization
Transparency and accountability; Partnership
Continuous learning; Integrity
Team work
VISION OF THE DEPARTMENT
Become a department of excellence for training an effective, efficient, transparent and accountable professional urban planner who will contribute to the sustainable urban development in an urbanizing and globalizing world.
DEPARTMENT/UNIT ADMINISTRATION IN GENERAL
The programme is accommodated in Urban and Regional Planning Department. Urban and Regional Planning was established with ND programme in 1972. Personnel Administration The Head of Department oversees the general affairs of the department and co-ordinate the input of the academic staff administrative and support staff. He monitors the students through programme coordinators, class managers and the individual class governors. The class managers are academic staff appointed to monitor each class. They are responsible for collating the class examination results. They also offer advice to such classes on any problems and relates back to the Head of Department. The Lecturers are academic staff allotted appropriate work load based on their designation.
The Class Governors represent the students and through them the students relate to their class Managers and class Managers in turn relates through programme Co-ordinators to the Head of Department.
1. The staff members are involved in decision making and general administration of the department through discussions and contributions in monthly departmental meeting, emergency meetings and committee arrangements.
2. The policy and practice on staff development accords with that of the College. Staff members are encouraged to embark on short courses through departmental votes and long term courses leading to Higher Degrees. And many had benefited from this arrangement.
3. Staff members who are due are promoted to time, subject to meeting the laid down criteria of the College and the NBTE.
OTHER RELEVANT DETAILS
The Department has been organizing an annual conference for the past four years consecutively. The 5th edition held between 21-24th of September, 2010. Publication of Proceedings of Annual Conference for three consecutive years; Publication of three editions of Departmental Journal – Journal for Sustainable Development; Publication of number of text-books by staff of the department including:- Basic Principles of Research. Edited by Olaseni, A.M.; Solola, O.O., Laoye, L.L. and Alade, A.A. Ecological Considerations in Planning and Managing the Environment by Dele Siyanbade; Rural Development Planning in Nigeria by Olaseni, A.M. Issues in Urban Planning and Management by Aledare, Kayode. Population and Urbanisation in Nigeria by Fagbohun, P.O. Disaster Management in Nigeria: Preparedness and Prevention by Dele Siyanbade. Millennium Development Goals and Poverty Reduction: Issues and Constraints. Edited by Omolabi, A.O., Aledare K.D. and oke, J.O.