On a new episode of the program “YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND YOU”, the host Comfort Omolafe and the sponsor of the programme TPL Ogunseyi Ayodele Joseph were asking some critical questions on Effective communication in planning and the benefits to public policy makers and practitioners from TPL Nataniel Atebije the current president of Nigerian Institute of town planners.
TPL Ogunseyi Ayodele Joseph talked on the mandatory continued professional development program(MCPDP) a compulsory program for all townplanners done annually and the purpose of the program is developing effective communication skills for urban and regional planning practice. In townplanning, Communication skills is one of the basic things needed to be required. He said a townplanner must be able to communicate his/her ideas to policy makers, people and their clients.
What is the take home in day one and what to be expected at the end of day two of the 21st mandatory continued professional development program (MCPDP)
TPL Nataniel Atebije said from the beginning of time, Communication was a reason for living. For instance, God said lets create man in our own image, God specifically talked with others in clear terms to give direction on what they wanted to do. Men also communicated with each other, so communication is a form of interchange of thought and opinions by the use of language, use of writing and expression called body language which is why people say actions speak louder than words. There are various means of making a clear statement, When people communicated effectively they make progress. Just as it is seen in the Bible when people communicated to build a tower so as to reach where God is and God stopped their actions by confusing their language. When there is clear understanding of statement in the direction, it is a sign of good leadership, a sign of good followership. Communication is integral to the development of human beings, development of human environment, to the progress of humanity. The only way a country or an organization can be effective is through effective communication, the only way an organization can realize objectives and goals is through effective communication.
The quality of life of a person is determined by the quality of communication. Words have power and man can be acquainted or elevated by his words, this makes communication important to human’s living.
How can the effective communication from town planners benefit the public, Government officials, politicians and those at the helms of affair?
TPL Nataniel Atebije stated that town planners were trained and taught some ideas which is called standards and then they were planning for the people but now they are planning with the people, It is important for town planners to enlighten the public about what they have for them, town planners plan for the benefits of the community. It is important for town planners to enlighten the people about the things they should have in their environment and these will make them participate. People are also part of the project, they should be included and when people are included, they buy into it and the implementation becomes easy. Town planners owe the public the explanation of what they have in their heart.
To officials and others involved in planning, ideas must be shared between subordinate and the employers for their plans to be implemented and solved. If a leader of a team is unable to tell the people exactly where he want them to go, it becomes difficult. Planners need to communicate effectively as officials.
To the politicians, communication is very important, Politicians makes some sort of promises like building schools, building hospitals, and so on. The town planners make the politicians know that the promise do not take effect unless they are located on land which is why they needed to be planned. Town planners link up with the political class to tell them the importance of their proposals and to also guide them where the buildings promised by them should be located for maximum profit and these are the relationship town planners needed to build with the important figures.
In a democratic settings, how is it possible for town planners to network with politicians, How can communicating planning ideas to politicians be easier?
The guest answered by saying one must first understand the politicians and make friends with them. He said when politicians are campaigning, it is paramount to let them know that all the things they are bringing out can be done through memos. It is more of the reason Nigerian institute of town planners give memos to the politicians to appreciate their campaign agenda and to inform them of the things they planned on doing.
Even when the politician are elected, Nigeria institute of town planners also did memos to congratulate them, remind them of things they promised and give them more like a guide on ways to do the things promised, they also let them know that town planners are ready to collaborate with them. He said nobody reject love, nobody reject friendship and when we appreciate the stress the politicians pass to serve the people. With good language, it is possible to link up with politicians.
Some quarters in the society believes what effective communication means in town planning is kick back, Is the assertion true?
TPL Nataniel Atebije said it is an invention of those who wants to corrupt the society, they came up with the word kick back. He said it is not right, it is not part of planning, it simply mean corruption called in another name. That is why town planner’s preaches to everybody that integrity is a watchword. He said if one makes a mistake for instance, A wrong plan that is done in a wrong location will definitely be a stigma to the location which is a question and a competence of integrity of the town planner that constructed the plan.
What does the future holds for town planners in Nigeria?
The guest believe there is a big and brighter future for town planners, town planning and the profession in Nigeria. He said not much was known about town planning in the past, people were not informed that the prosperity of any community, prosperity of any environment depends upon how planned it is. Planners give values to properties. In the past few years, town planners had embarked on aggressive advocacy for people in the political class, the public to know about what planning can do for them and they will continue to intensify through radio, newspapers, and media. He said plan like district plan, sector plan, regional plan were given out last year in Lagos, Ogun state currently is doing something of sort, Abuja is a practical example and recently Edo state gave the preparation of regional plans. People are becoming more aware, people were not aware in the past but with commission advocacy, the future is bright for town planners. In developed countries, Planners were placed high and were the one of the first five highest paid professionals because if one building is not planned, there will be no value for it.
Were radio stations used for sensitization across Nigeria or just for some states?
TPL Nataniel Atebije said sensitization is done across the whole country using various media which also include social media.
 TPL Nataniel Atebije then encourage townplanners to be more focused, to be professional, to be ethical to their practices, he also said people shouldn’t look for immediate gains.