By Tayo Joseph, Lagos
Mr Layi Egunjobi, the President of Town Planners Registration Council (TOPREC), on Friday decried the high level of unemployment among town planners across the country.
Egunjobi said in an interview
in Lagos that many town planners had been laid off following the economic meltdown in the country.
He said the rate of unemployment among town planners would reduce if the professionals could upgrade their skills and knowledge.
According to him, the town planning profession has the potential to gainfully engage the service of every town planner who operates with new techniques, skills and practice of the profession.
“Though the unemployment issue is not limited to town planners, it cuts across all professions and sectors of the economy.
“However, if town planners can explore and maximise the potential of town planning practice, the level of unemployment will reduce,” the council president said.
He said that town planners could be engaged on variety of jobs ranging from municipal planning functions to land use planning, researching, developing, coordinating and administering land use and planning related projects.
“Planners create the plans and strategies for the use of land and resources in shaping towns, cities and regions.
“They consider the physical, environmental, social and economic needs of communities to develop plans that balance all of these requirements.
“The plans can cover a wide variety of areas including government policy recommendations, transport, disaster preparation, infrastructure and services, natural resources management and conservation among others,’’ Egunjobi said.
