Drive to transform Ogbomoso receives major boost as NITP partners Soun on ‘Green City’ initiative
Lanre OKE
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The drive of Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, the Soun of Ogbomosoland, to enhance the status of Ogbomoso zone, transforming it into a modern Green City, has received a major boost, following a working agreement forged between the paramount ruler and the National Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Oyo state chapter.
NITP during a working visit to Oba Olaoye Thursday in Ogbomoso, presented a draft document, titled, “Ogbomoso Green Infrastructure Plan,” which contains its year-long effort on producing a theoretical model that will turn Ogbomoso into a model city that will proudly bear the tag of a “Green City,” a key component of a Smart City.
The project was initiated by the Soun during a courtesy visit of the association to him after his coronation in 2023 and is an integral part of the the monarch’s 25 year-development plan.
Giving insight into the project, chairman of the state chapter of the association, Town Planner (TPL) Prof Musbau Omoakin Jelili, in an interview with ogbomosoinsightonline.com, said, “The Ogbomoso Green Infrastructure Project (OGIP) is an important sustainable development agenda/plan, which is one of the strategies by which His Imperial Majesty Oba Olaoye wishes to actualize the 25-year development plan for the growth and development of the ancient city, which is a laudable strategic plan that every well-meaning son or daughter of Ogbomosoland is keying into.”
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TPL W.O. Alli-Balogun, general secretary, NITP, giving a background of the project also told Ogbomoso Insight, “Sometimes last year after the coronation of His Majesty, as an institute we paid homage to the new king to familiarize ourselves with him and he engaged us on physical development project for the town, his mission is to transform Ogbomoso into a modern city, a green and smart city. We consequently worked on the assignment. Today, we came for a formal presentation of what we have done.”
He added, “And as you said looking at the palace, it is one of the things we discussed with the king, the palace is the first contact, in era of smart city, we wouldn’t want an environment like this that will be all paved, and so, we are starting the project right from the palace, you can see that the palace building itself has been renovated and we now want to work on the environment, in a very short time you will see the environment greenish, you will see trees, and you will see a convenient environment that will make the place all-pleasing to visitors, a grassy area.”
Also, TPL Emmanuel Oyewale, chairman of the committee that produced the draft, remarked, “Kabiyesi gave us this task, that he is interested in turning Ogbomoso green; there will be parks, gardens. In fact, he said he wanted something like a Boulevard, right from Ogbomoso High School area to LAUTECH area, and when we were leaving he emphasized, ‘Don’t throw my request into the dust-bin.’ That was a challenge.
“So, we constituted a committee of which I am made the chairman, to prepare a very good and something that can be implemented towards greening Ogbomoso. Kabiyesi is the visioner of the project, he’s the one that really suggested it and we took it up as an institute. There are about ten locations we have picked (for parks and gardens). He promised that he will look further into what we have suggested. So, the next step now rests with the Kabiyesi, that will give us an insight into the next step we are going to take.” and
Alli Balogun expressed confidence the project will see the light of the day, noting he saw commitment in the comportment of the Oba.
“Implementation is a very key thing in the development of a city and that is our concern at the first visit we made but the king made us know that implementation should not be the problem that he is working on it, and we are happy to hear from him today that he has contacted some indigenous sons of the city and they have made promises, and he had contacted some agencies both locally and internationally, that are ready to key into this project and we believe with the set of the people, set of agencies he has spoken with, the project will come to limelight in a very short time.”
He was excited that the project would transform Ogbomoso, “It will definitely do, when you talk of physical development a lot people are going to be engaged in it, let’s start form professionals, artisans. In a development plan of a project like this, professional town planners will be engaged, quantity surveyors will be engaged, architects will be engaged, engineers will be engaged, all professionals in building projects will be engaged, this will boost the economy of the town. It will equally boost the social status of people and the city as a whole, it will create an environment where people will not only work but relax at home, people will have the means to see a city devoid of slums, a city that will surely be devoid of a dirty environment entirely.”
Similarly, TPL Ayanyinka Ayankanmi, a member of the committee, submitted, “Kabiyesi showed us a blueprint of how he is going to achieve this so we are rest assured this is not going to be thrown into the dust bin. As a matter of fact, subsequent on our discussion, Kabiyesi has given us another project to add to this one, he has told us to be at peace, to go and rest concerning what he has done, that any moment from now two of our members are going to be in the committee that is going to implement that. Kabiyesi has a 25 year-development plan, so, we have been incorporated into that plan and so we have been working towards achieving that, about not achieving it forget about it, it will come to light.”
This is as TPL John Ogundipe another member of the committee stated, “I can boldly say it, we have seen Kabiyesi is interested in this project. He urged us not to throw his request in the dust-bin, the very first day we came here, and the institute had to take money from its purse to fund this proposal, which we presented to him today.
“It is going to affect the economy of Ogbomoso positively because the infrastructures that will be provided, people will go there to relax, it will boost economic activities.”
Soun responds – ‘Where there’s vision there’s provision’
Oba Olaoye, enthused by the development assured the project would be implemented while commending NITP for “their diligence,” and calling on his people to embrace the vision of transforming the city.
“I deeply appreciate their visit and commend their diligence, expertise, and unwavering commitment to the Ogbomoso Green Infrastructure Project—a transformative initiative aimed at developing parks and gardens to enhance our city’s landscape,” he said in a post on his Facebook wall.
“As I listened to their insightful and well-researched presentation, I was greatly impressed by the depth of planning and excellence they demonstrated. Their vision for a greener, more sustainable Ogbomoso is truly inspiring, and I applaud them for their remarkable efforts.
“I want to assure them, and all sons and daughters of Ogbomoso, that this vision will not remain on paper—it will come to life. Where there is vision, provision follows. The greatness of any city is built on the collective efforts of its people, and I have no doubt that Ogbomoso’s sons and daughters, both at home and in the diaspora, will unite to make this dream a reality.
“This project goes beyond aesthetics; it is about fostering a healthier, more livable environment for future generations. It is about laying the foundation for a model city—one that honors our rich heritage while embracing sustainable development.
“Together, we will transform Ogbomoso into a city that exemplifies progress and innovation. Let us all rise to the occasion and turn this vision into reality!”
Note: Watch out for the full interviews of these key actors in the preparation of the draft, for fuller insight into the project, what smart city actually is, the meaning of a green city, the benefits to Ogbomoso, challenges faced by urban and regional planners etc
