The Town Planners Registration Council of Nigeria (TOPREC) has pledged to strengthen its statutory oversight, eliminate unaccredited practice and enforce the highest ethical standards in the town planning profession.

The newly elected President of TOPREC, Ezenwa Valentine, made the commitment while delivering his acceptance speech following his election as president of the council in Abuja on Thursday.

Mr Valentine said his administration would ensure that TOPREC remained Nigeria’s premier regulatory authority for the town planning profession through improved regulation, professionalism and institutional reforms.

“We will strengthen our statutory oversight, curb unaccredited practice, and enforce uncompromising ethical standards. This is to ensure TOPREC remains a premier regulatory authority in Nigeria and expand continuous professional development opportunities for all members.

“We will also position physical planning at the centre of national land-use policies, economic resilience, and urban development agendas,” he said.

The new president also promised to reposition physical planning as a critical component of national land-use policies, economic resilience and urban development across the country.

According to him, the incoming administration will focus on three key priorities: unity, collaboration and institutional synergy; regulatory excellence and professional integrity; and capacity building for members.

He said the council would work closely with the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) and other regulatory bodies in the built environment to strengthen the profession.

“We will foster a seamless and harmonious working relationship with NITP alongside relevant regulatory bodies across the built environment.

“True regulatory strength is achieved when we speak and act with one united voice,” he said.

Mr Valentine described his election as a collective victory for members of the council rather than an achievement belonging to individuals alone.

“This victory does not belong to us as individuals; it belongs to the entire council and the practice we are sworn to elevate,” he said.

He commended the electoral committee for conducting a transparent and credible election and lauded other contestants for their sportsmanship, assuring them that their contributions remained valuable.

The president also paid tribute to the outgoing Interim President, Mohammed Ango, for providing steady leadership and guidance throughout the council’s transition period.

Earlier, Mr Ango said the interim administration had successfully fulfilled its mandate of steering the council through a critical transition and laying the foundation for democratically elected leadership.

“When I stepped into this role, the mandate was clear: to steer our noble council through a critical period of transition, preserve the integrity of our statutory functions and pave the way for an elected leadership,” he said.

Mr Ango said the administration ensured uninterrupted operations of the council’s secretariat, maintained financial and statutory compliance and provided support for statutory committees throughout the transition period.

He also said the interim leadership successfully facilitated a transparent election, culminating in the democratic emergence of Mr Valentine as president and Olorunfemi Akin as vice-president.

“As I hand over the reins of leadership today, I do so with the utmost confidence in the newly elected president and vice-president.

“The future of our profession is secure, and I look forward to supporting the leadership from the floor as an active, dedicated elder of this council,” he said.

The Chairman of the Election Committee, Allabeh Ndirmbula, while presenting certificates of return, charged the new executives to strengthen the profession and take it to greater heights.

(NAN)