The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has been given the award of Honorary Fellow by the National Council of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP).

This declaration was made by the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, TPL Olatunji Odunlami at the celebration of the 2022 World Habitat Day, with the theme: “Mind the Gap…Leave No One and No Place Behind”, at Oba’s Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

Odunlami stated that Governor Abiodun was the only individual to be awarded such an honour in the last 12 years and the fourth in the history of the Institute, adding that the award was given in recognition of the present administration’s dedication to elevating the quality of environment in the State.

Delivering her keynote address titled: “Addressing the Challenge of Growing Inequalities, and Challenges in Cities and Human Settlements”, the Co-Director, Center for Housing and Sustainable Development, University of Lagos, Prof. Taibat Lawanson, said it was essential to include people in the development process to engender participatory governance.

Lawanson added that government could achieve effective inclusiveness in governance through data collection and analysis for documenting the plight of the vulnerable, promoting equity-focused and rights-based laws, policies, public information campaigns and frameworks to address stigma and discrimination among the people.

Also speaking, a Human Rights Activist, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin applauded the “Building our Future Together” agenda of the Prince Dapo Abiodun-led administration, describing it as a way of minding the gap in governance, appreciating the Governor’s efforts on rehabilitation of roads for rural-urban linkages, payment of bursaries and scholarships to indigenous students, among others.