At the ongoing World Urban Forum 13 in Baku, Azerbaijan, the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) held a strategic sideline meeting with officials of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) on 22 May 2026, aimed at strengthening collaboration on urban planning development between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
The meeting was led by Tpl Dr Ogbonna Chime on the NITP side, while the RTPI delegation was headed by its Vice President, Professor Samer Bagaeen, at the UK pavilion during the global forum, which brings together urban development experts, policymakers, and planning institutions from across the world.
According to details from the engagement, both institutions reviewed progress on the implementation of a previously signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and explored practical areas of cooperation to support capacity building and policy advancement in town planning practice, particularly in Nigeria.
A key outcome of the meeting was RTPI’s commitment to organise a technical workshop focusing on planning tools, professional methodologies, and advocacy strategies. The workshop is expected to draw from the UK’s experience in institutional lobbying, with the aim of supporting efforts to encourage the full implementation of Nigeria’s Urban and Regional Planning (URP) law enacted in 1992.
Both parties also agreed on academic collaboration, including plans for the University of Built Environment (UBE) to provide online training courses for Nigerian town planners. The proposed courses will focus on digital town planning, reflecting the growing global shift toward technology-driven urban development and smart city planning systems.
In addition, RTPI confirmed its intention to participate in the 57th International Conference of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, a move expected to further deepen professional ties between both organisations and enhance knowledge exchange on contemporary planning challenges.
The engagement was formally signed off by Tpl Dr C.J. Nor, the National Public Relations Secretary of the NITP, who noted that the discussions represent an important step toward strengthening international collaboration in the planning profession and improving institutional capacity in Nigeria’s urban development sector.