Professionals extol Remi Makinde’s leadership qualities
IT was a glowing evening of tributes and celebration of excellent leadership when professional colleagues, friends, well wishers, students and associates of one of Nigeria’s foremost town planner, Remi Makinde gathered in Lagos, to mark his 80th birthday.
Makinde, a leading light in the practice of physical development, was born on July 1939 in Oyo state. He qualified as a town planner in 1971 from the University of Melbourne, Australia. Makinde was a past president of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) and had 22 years leadership position in the profession.
He designed master plans for Lagos metropolitan, Victoria Garden City Estate (VGC), development plan for Ore in Ondo State, Bwari a satellite town in Abuja, and Victoria Court Cemetery.
Additionally, he is also the executor of the Urban Renewal and Flood Intervention Studies for Ife East Local Government sponsored by Urban Development Bank of Nigeria Pic, a consultant to high profile property firms, the pioneer Chairman of Irewole Local Government Town Planning Authority of Oyo-state and a recipient of about 100 merit awards in his calling, among other accomplishments.
The occasion was attended by the Permanent Secretary, Lagos state ministry of physical planning and urban development, Foluso Dipe represented by Mr. Bola Aliyu, President of Association of Town Planners Consultants of Nigeria and Commissioner designate for Lagos State,
Dr. Idris Salako, President of Town Planners Registration Council of Nigeria, (TOPREC), Layi Egunjobi, past presidents of NITP, Tomi Asenugan, Bunmi Ajayi, current second vice president of NITP, Mr. Toyin Ayinde, Chairman Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria, (APBN) Lagos State chapter, Linda Onefelu and the Chairman of Lagos Chapter of NITP, Mr. Adebisi Adedire.
Highlight of the occasion was a panel discussion, which centered on, “Leadership and excellence in professional practice, a case of Remi Makinde ”. In the words at the forum, the president of TOPREC, Prof. Layi Egunjobi said, “He is a person that is moderate and excellent in every areas of life, he is hardworking and contributed greatly to the growth of planning in Lagos. We wish him more successes in life even after retirement”.
The second vice president of NITP, Toyin Ayinde said, “He is a leader that invest in people as a successful man. He believes in people, very humble, a grateful person and peaceful.”
According to a past president of NITP, Makinde Ogunleye, “He is an expert personified in the designs of master plans. He makes sure that Lagos is the only state that implement the urban and regional plan”.
Expounding on his qualities, another fellow, Mrs. Gertrude Adenekan said,” He always encourages people to study further, he sensitive and caring and instrumental to her joining the profession. The world habitat day won’t be at the purveyor of town planners, if not for the intervention of the celebrant”.