WHAT IS URBAN AND
REGIONAL PLANNING?
Urban and Regional Planning (URP) also known as Town
Planning, Urban Planning', Town and Country Planning' etc, is a professional
discipline in the Environmental Sciences that deals with the art and science of
ordering the spatial or physical environment and land-uses in order to enhance
its physical, social, economic as well as aesthetic value. Planning strengthens
the growth and development of towns, cities, rural and urban areas. Basically
it is the bedrock of sustainable development of every Town/City and the Country
generally.
WHY STUDY URBAN AND
REGIONAL PLANNING AND WHAT DOES A TOWN PLANNER DO?
This course gives you the required training/knowledge on how
you can shape the environment, strengthen communities and make policy decisions
at National, Regional and Local levels with regards to a sustainable
environmental development.
A TOWN PLANNER'S
DAY-TO-DAY WORK INVOLVES IMPROVEMENTS IN A COMMUNITY.
- He arbitrates between
activities and space. -Being futuristic, he does not limit his
consideration to demands of today but for years to come He predicts future
space needs and accommodate them.
- His predictions help
government and individuals to plan for the ahead years
- He guides the development
of cities, towns and the rural areas. -He advises the Government on ways
to improve the communities and real estate developers who are planning
entirely new communities. -He views a community as d single system in
which all the parts are interdependent
- He deals with the physical
layout of communities
- Prepares physical layout
plans for residential, commercial, institutional recreational, industrial
areas and tourism development plans -Initiates policies designed to make
life comfortable, enjoyable and profitable.
WHAT ARE THE CAREER
PROSPECTS?
URP as a field of study is very broad and so it offers a
wide range of career opportunities. One who studies URP can work in any of the
following public agencies and private firms such as:
- Local Government Local
Planning Authorities
- Regional Agencies (e.g.
River Basin Development Authorities,
- Niger Delta Development
Commission, etc)
- Government Agencies (eg.
Housing Corporations, Mass Transportation Companies, National Population
Commission, etc.)
- Federal and State Government
Ministries and Parastatals/Agencies directly responsible for Physical
Planning matters, Housing, Lands, Environment and those whose activities
have planning implications like Ministries of Education, Agriculture,
Water Resources, Transport, Aviation, Petroleum Resources, Communication,
Health, etc.
- Companies (especially
multi-national companies such as oil companies).
- Non-governmental
Organizations (NGOs), UNDP, UNWTO, UNHABITAT, etc.
- Banks and other financial
institutions. bx. Universities, Polytechnics, Research Institutes and the
agencies governing them, e.g. National Universities Commission and
National Board for Technical Education. Property development and
management firms-Federal Mortgage Bank.
- Non-profit Corporations and
Foundations.
- Private Consulting Firms
and individuals
- Nigerian Army, Navy, Air
Force, Police, Civil Defense, Customs, Immigration, etc.
WHERE CAN ONE STUDY
URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNING? at the undergraduate and Postgraduate levels.
A few of these institutions in the south-south and
south-east regions of Nigeria includes the following:
1. Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State
2. Rivers State University, Port Harcourt
3. University of Uyo, Akwo-Ibom State
4. Enugu State University of Science & Technology, Enugu
5. University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus
6. Caritas University, Enugu
7. Federal University of Technology, Owerri
8. Imo State University, Owerri 9. University of Calabar
10. Cross River University of Technology
11. Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Imo State.
Note: several other institutions in the region are on the
verge of running the programme within the shortest possible time.
