1 week ago
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Academicians across the country recently joined their counterparts at Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) at the 4th edition of TPL (Dr.) Abubakar Mobolaji Olaseni Annual Lecture Series to chart the way forward for urban planning development in the country.
Lecture was titled: “Heritage at Risk: Rethinking Nigerian’s Urban Development Trajectory”.
In his speech, YABATECH Rector, Dr. Ibraheem Abdul, acknowledged that the event is not only to celebrate the life and contributions of Dr. Abubakar Olaseni but also fosters critical discourse on the future of urban and regional planning in the country.
Abdul described the theme as both timely and essential and challenged stakeholders to evaluate how cities are evolving, balancing structured planning with the organic dynamism of urban life.
He told urban practitioners, academics, and policymakers that it is their collective responsibility to ensure that planning strategies embrace inclusivity, sustainability, and cultural relevance.
The rector described the celebrant as someone that has inspired the annual tradition, noting, “his unwavering dedication to urban and regional planning, as well as his mentorship to many in this field, remains a beacon of inspiration. We are grateful for his contributions and proud to honor him through this platform.”
Delivering the lecture, a renowned Leverhulme Professor of Planning and Heritage at the Liverpool School of Architecture, who is also a Professor of Urban Management and Governance, University of Lagos, Prof. Taibat Lawanson, undertook a global panoramic view of built and cultural heritage, as intrinsic to creating the intangible value of urbanization.
Prof. Lawanson described heritage as our legacy from the past, what we live with today and what we pass on to future generations. She frowned at poor preservation of Nigerian’s cultural resources and non-prioritization of heritage management, despite its vast potentials.
She said UNESCO acknowledged that Nigeria’s cultural heritage constitutes a substantial part of the country’s tourism resources, and if properly protected and managed, it can contribute significantly to the country’s economic development goals.
Lawanson enumerated some of the significance of our cultural heritage to include strengthening sustainable development, bringing communities together, building resilience and wellbeing among others. This she explained can play a vital role in tackling challenges.
The don expressed worries over poor performance of the heritage sector in Nigeria, as most of the numerous heritage assets in Nigeria are not well protected and called on custodian of our cultural resources to wake up to the call of their duties, noting, “the earlier this is done the better because certain aspects of our artefact will soon become extinct.”
The celebrant, TPL Olaseni in his remarks, explained that the lecture is a stimulating one and in the conversation so far and that our eyes have been opened to the significance of our cultural heritage, its challenges and the urgent needs to address them, and the way out is to have a holistic approach to urban development places and the preservation of cultural heritage in the front burner.
However, he expressed his gratitude to the Rector, Dr. Abdul for being a visionary leader and a patriot, and equally appreciate the guest speaker Prof. Lawanson, and the chairman of the occasion, Prof. Muyiwa Falaye.
In his welcome address, the chairman organizing committee TPL Iyanda Oladimeji, appreciates God in the life of Dr. Olaseni and for his good works and deed in Town and Planning Professional, most especially the academic investment in his students that made them come together annually to celebrate him.
He said just like a dream come true from the Alhaji Waheed Kadiri annual lecture, this is the fourth edition, and that it is best to celebrate him alive, giving him his flowers than in death, stating, “Dr. Olaseni should be assured that to the glory of God this has come to stay and shall continue to even much longer.”
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