Consequent upon my earlier correspondence to you regarding our maiden Planners Conference; I wish to bring you to speed with developments regarding the conference.
The Conference Planning Committee headed by Professor John Enaohwo is undoubtedly moving at a frenetic pace to give us a world class Conference, which will serve the primary purpose of showcasing our Institute as a collection of Persons bent on shaping the future of our beleaguered nation, Nigeria.
As Planners, we must resolve and firmly entrench our resolve through structured processes that will land us at our desired goals. Our collective pursuits at putting Planning in the front burner of National discourse should, therefore be embraced and pursued by all and sundry in order to make a huge success of our first outing.
- I am delighted to inform you that the Honourable Minister for Planning, Dr. Abubakar Olarewaju Sulaiman has accepted to declare the Conference open and also serve as Special guest of honour.
- Dr. Usman Shamsudden, Pioneer Minister of the National Planning Commission will deliver the keynote.
- Mr. Ben Akabueze, Honourable Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget will serve as special guest; whilst sharing the directional road-maps Lagos has had to deploy in their pursuits at Planning and developing a mega city.
- These distinguished Speakers will present papers on the underlisted Sub-themes.
- These distinguished Speakers will present papers on the underlisted Sub-themes.
A. Professor Doyin Soyibo Development Planning & Globalization.
B. Professor Mike Obadan Economic Planning & Globalization.
C. Professor Ezi Herbert Fiscal Planning & Globalization.
D. Dr. S. O. Nwafor Educational Planning & Globalization.
E. Professor C. F. Mafiana Academic Planning & Globalization.
F. Professor Celestine Bassey Governance, Public Planning & Globalization.
G. Dr. Imhanlahimi Charles Medical & Preventive Health Planning.
H. Mr. Marvel Akpoyibo Rtd DIG Security, Safety & Effective Emergency Management.
I. Dr. Akpobolokemi, DG NIMASA. Transport Logistics & Supply Planning.
J. Mr. Festus Keyamo Esq. Legal Framework of Development Planning.
5 Whilst the Conference Planning Committee members are fervently reaching out to corporate bodies, State Governments, Ministries, Departments and Parastatals with a view to raking in participants, I am of the firm belief that our present body of Planners should constitute the core of attendees during this conference.
As I stated in my previous mail, your kind word on the Conference to persons within your immediate environs will go a long way in creating better awareness on the forth-coming Conference.
My final thought to you as a Planner is to stop navigating your careers as if you were paddling across a lake; the reality is that you are sailing across an ocean with varying competitive interests. You must therefore focus on completing the task at hand, sail more than one sea to avoid getting on a shore you didn’t plan, expand your horizon with other people’s perspectives, open yourself to new ideas and importantly network outside your spheres of influence.
These and more, are some of the realities this conference will bring to dawn in this new consciousness of Planning which you have rightly chosen to embrace.
Please do endeavour to begin early preparations for your attendance, in order to avoid the needless bottlenecks that usually attends late preparations.