The Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) last Friday in Abuja inducted Chief Steve Ifeanyichukwu Onu as its 20th President along with 16 others as the national executive committee of the institute

In his inaugural speech, Onu said the body will network with other professional groups and governments in the pursuit of sustainable human settlement planning in the country.

He said NITP under his leadership would collaborate with international agencies such as the UN-Habitat in training, research and capacity building for urban and regional planners in the country.

Speaking during his investiture as the 20th president of the institute, Onu said his administration would encourage professionalism and embrace high moral standards and integrity in liaison with the Town Planners' Registration Council of Nigeria.

He also promised to encourage professional entrepreneurship among graduates of urban and regional planning, adding that a mentoring programme for young town planners would be harnessed for the growth of the profession.

Onu said, "during the period of the current leadership of the institute, we shall uphold the constitution of the institute and ensure that the state of urban and regional planning in Nigeria is okay, and expand and invigorate networking with federal and sate governments as well as sister professional bodies in the pursuit of sustainable human settlement planning in Nigeria.

"We shall also collaborate with UN-Habitat and IHS on training and capacity building for urban and regional planners in the country."

In his valedictory address, the immediate past president, Mr. Kabir Yari, said the institute had grown in strength, adding that the membership had increased from a little above 2,000 to about 3,500.

Yari explained that he was able to tour many state chapters of the institute during his tenure and expressed regret over his inability to complete the report on the state of urban and regional planning in Nigeria, which his successor has promised to complete.