Dr. Durodola Ogunsesan, a chief lecturer at The Polytechnic, Ibadan, has called on indigenes of Ibadan to engage all the stakeholders in order to bring sanity and restore the lost glory to the ancient city.
Ogunsesan, who is a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planning (NITP), stressed the need to engage all the stakeholders in the planning, re-engineering of Ibadan inner-core areas.
He said that this will help to achieve resilience and sustainable development for beauty and comfort in the ancient city.
Ogunsesan made these declarations while delivering a paper titled, “The gasping Ibadan inner-core areas; need for its sustainable resilience”, at the 50th Founder’s Day Anniversary of Lagelu 16 Club in Ibadan at the weekend.
Ogunsesan while speaking, lamented the unpleasant condition of many areas in Ibadan.
He then appealed to his kinsmen to engage the stakeholders in order to ensure provision of essential basic amenities in the core areas in the ancient city.
Ogunsesan, said that “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”.
While speaking further, Ogunsesan 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 “.
He 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”.
He further stated that in order to combat youth restiveness, there is a need for a well coordinated strategy to mobilize all potential facilities and existing resources in Ibadan core areas which harbors majority of jobless youth.
He used the opportunity to call 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.
Ogunsesan said, “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”.