Prof. Gbolahan Elias, SAN Close Prof. Gbolahan Elias, SAN is a partner in G. Elias, a leading business law firm. He has over 40 years of experience in advising on real estate development and other projects. Among the seminal projects that he has advised on are the (1) Lekki-Epe Toll Road, (2) Lekki deep seaport, (3) MMA2 airport terminal, (4) Ikeja City Mall (at Alausa), (5) twin towers at No. 4 Bourdillon Road, (6) Frasers Suites hotel in Abuja, (7) “Red Line” metro rail, (8) Lekki Blue Waters residential blocks, (9) Alaro City, and (10) the Wings office towers on Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue. His work on these projects and other areas of law is recognized in leading international directories of lawyers such as the Legal 500, the IFLR1000 (a Euromoney publication) and Who’s Who Legal. Prof. Elias has been a Senior Advocate of Nigeria since 2005. He qualified to practise law in New York in 1990. He completed his doctorate degree at Oxford University in 1989 after a distinguished period there as an undergraduate. He became a visiting professor of law at Babcock University a decade ago and is currently the Chancellor of the Lagos State University. Next Item Previous Item

Tpl. Ayo Adediran FNITP Retired Permanent Secretary Close Tpl. Ayo Adediran FNITP joined the Lagos State Public Service in 1987 as Town Planning Officer from New Towns Development Authority. He later transferred his service to the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development and retired as Permanent Secretary from the Public Service nine years ago. He worked in different departments and agencies of the Ministry in the State where he acquired experience in spatial planning, urban design and planning administration. He supervised and led the teams that prepared many of the operative development plans in Lagos State. These include Apapa, Agege-Ifako Ijaiye, Ikoyi-Victoria Island, Alimosho and Lagos Mainland Model City Plans, Badagry Master Plan. He retired in 2015 to establish his Consultancy Firm, Urban Planning Smart Solutions Limited. The Firm has prepared many physical development plans including Ise Action Area Plan, Ketu Ijanikin Excised Village Plan, Slum Improvement Plan for Olusosun and Ikota Resettlement Housing, Gbagada Scheme 1 & 2 Review and the on-going Kosofe Model City Plan. He also participated in association with Dar Group in the preparation of Epe Master Plan, World Bank Assisted Ibadan City Master plan and the ongoing Lagos Island Model City Plan. He has acquired knowledge and skills in spatial and urban development planning through many educational and professional development programmes in Nigeria and other cities of the world. As one time Chairman of Nigrian Institute of Town Planners and National Secretary of the Institute, Tpl. Ayo Adediran FNITP is an active member of the Institute in Lagos State and at national level. Ayo Adediran served in the Secretariat of the Mabogunje Presidential Committee on the Redevelopment of Lagos Mega City Region and Reis Lagos State Technical Committee on Policy Reform on Planning Regulation and Building Control which produced the 2010 Lagos Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law 2010. Tpl. Ayo Adediran was appointed as the Chairman, Lagos State Physical Planning and Building Control Appeals Committee by the Governor Mr. Babajide Olushola Sanwo-Olu in 2019 to adjudicate in disputes arising from physical planning and building control in Lagos State. He holds Full Professional Diploma in Town Planning from The Polytechnic, Ibadan and B. Sc (Bus Admin); LLB (Hons) and LLM from University of Lagos. Next Item Previous Item

Mr. Adeyinka Sorungbe Director of Infrastructure at the Ministry of Innovation, Science & Technology in Lagos State. Close Adeyinka Sorungbe is the Director of Infrastructure at the Ministry of Innovation, Science & Technology in Lagos State. He was born on September 4, 1967, in Lagos State. He obtained his West Africa School Certificate from Comprehensive High School, Ayetoro in Ogun State, and later graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with Mathematics from Obafemi Awolowo University Adeyinka Sorungbe has made significant contributions in the field of technology and infrastructure development. Some of his notable achievements include: Leadership in Infrastructure Projects: As the Director of Infrastructure at the Ministry of Innovation, Science & Technology in Lagos State, he has overseen numerous projects aimed at improving the state’s technological infrastructure. Digital Transformation Initiatives: He has been instrumental in driving digital transformation initiatives within the state, helping to modernize public services and improve efficiency. Educational Contributions: he has also contributed to the education sector by supporting programs that enhance STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education in schools. Public Service: His work in public service has earned him recognition for his dedication to improving the lives of residents through technology and innovation. E-Government Services: The introduction of online platforms has made it easier for residents to access government services, such as applying for permits, paying taxes, and obtaining official documents, without the need to visit government offices. Smart City Initiatives: Lagos has implemented smart city technologies, including intelligent traffic management systems that help reduce congestion and improve traffic flow. This has made commuting more efficient and less stressful for residents. Healthcare Improvements: Digital health records and telemedicine services have been introduced, allowing for better patient management and access to healthcare services, especially in remote areas. Public Safety: The deployment of surveillance cameras and other security technologies has enhanced public safety by aiding law enforcement in crime prevention and response. Infrastructure Management: Technology has been used to monitor and manage infrastructure projects more effectively, ensuring timely completion and better quality of public works. These advancements have collectively improved the efficiency, accessibility, and quality of public services in Lagos State, making life easier for its residents. Next Item Previous Item

Keynote Speaker Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) Former Governor, Lagos State. Born on the 28th of June 1963 in Lagos, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN is a 1987, Law graduate of the University of Benin, and after a 14-year stint in private Law practice as a litigator, has had a public service career that spanned over two decades long. In that period of public service, he has served as Chief of Staff and Commissioner in the Lagos State Government, two term Governor of Lagos and in May 2023 meritoriously concluded serving a second term as Minister of the Federal Government having first been appointed in 2015 and reappointed in 2019. Babatunde Fashola was called to the Nigerian Bar in November 1988. His career as a barrister and solicitor started in the law Firm of Sofunde, Osakwe, Ogundipe and Belgore, where he engaged in general litigation over diverse areas of law, in our magistracy, High courts, Appeal courts and the Supreme Court of Nigeria. As an advocate, Mr Fashola has distinguished himself. In August 2004, he was conferred with the rank of the Senior Advocate of Nigeria [SAN], Nigeria's highest legal distinction. He is the first member of the Law School class of 1988 to take the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, and the Second University of Benin Faculty of Law graduate to be so honoured. As a public servant he has served with no less distinction and dedication, and has been acknowledged locally and internationally for his dedication and service. Mr Babatunde Fashola, SAN is the recipient of the prestigious Stephen J. Solarz Award of the International Crisis Group in 2015 for his commitment to building a peaceful and vibrant society; his work to improve social and economic conditions in Lagos including his role in preventing the Ebola outbreak from becoming a crisis in Nigeria. He was listed in 2014 as one of the 100 Top Global Thinkers for 2013 by a global personality assessment organisation, Lo Spazio della Politica (LSDP) based in Italy and Brussels. TIME Magazine has commended him for “the overhaul of Lagos infrastructure” while The Economist Magazine acknowledged him as “a rare good man” and a Governor “who does his job well.” Mr. Fashola, SAN is Patron, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIA), Member, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA); Member, International Bar Association (IBA); Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN); Notary Public of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. . Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN is married to Dame Emmanuella Abimbola Fashola and they are blessed with children. Next Item Previous Item

Dr. Akintunde Otubu Ass. Professor of Property Law, UNILAG Close Dr Otubu joined the Department of Private and Property Law, Faculty of Law in 1997 after a stint with the Faculty of Law, Ogun State University (now Olabisi Onabanjo University) Ago Iwoye. He obtained his LL.M from the University of Lagos in 1995 and PhD from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife in 2015. He was a joint winner of the Femi Okunnu Research Grant in property law and a member of the Faculty Research Committee, and a member of the Board of School of postgraduate studies University of lagos and where he also served in the curriculum review Committee of the school. Otubu also serves as member of the Faculty Examination malpractice Committee and the faculty coordinator for college of negotiation University of lagos. Dr. Otubu teaches Land Law, Conveyancing Law, Housing law and Environmental Law at undergraduate level and Secured Credit Transaction, Planning law and Compulsory Acquisition law at Postgraduate level. He currently supervises 2 PhD candidates in conjunction with other professors in the Department. A scholar of many parts and diverse interests, Dr. Otubu is an associate member and one-time Chairman, Examination Committee of the Chartered Institute of Marketing of Nigeria and a fellow of Institute of Security Nigeria. His main area of research interest includes Land, Housing and Environment. He is a co-author of the book Land Use Policy and Management in the 21st century Nigeria published by the Department of Private and Property Law. Dr. Otubu is a renowned author who has published widely in both local and international peer reviewed journals with over 200 legal citations. He was at several times a consultant with Lagos State Government on law Reforms, Planning law and housing. He reviewed the Ogun State land Policy document and currently serves as the lead consultant on the Reforms of land administration for South West Nigeria, a programme being coordinated by a consortium of NGOs on Land Reforms in Nigeria. Dr. Otubu is happily married with children. Next Item Previous Item

Prof. Ayo Omotayo DG, National Institute of Policy & Strategic Studies Close Ayo Omotayo is a full-bred Alumnus of the prestigious University of Ibadan, bagging all his university degrees from the school. Between 1984 and 1985, he undertook the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) programme at a small village called Ndioulumbe in the defunct Imo State. His journey as an academic started in 1985 with his appointment as an assistant lecturer at the Lagos State University, Ojo. Unprecedentedly and in what seems a record yet unbroken in the annals of the university, Omotayo in 1992, within a short frame of time, rose to become a Senior Lecturer. He founded the LASU MBA programme in 1994.Professor Ayo Omotayo was until his appointment, a Professor of Environmental Sustainability in the Department of Geography and Planning at the Lagos State University. He was educated at the University of Ibadan from 1980 to 1990 where he obtained a Ph.D. from the Department of Geography. Professor Omotayo was appointed as an Assistant Lecturer at the Lagos State University in 1985. He quickly rose through the ranks to become a Senior Lecturer in 1992, at the age of 30 years. He was the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences between 2012 and 2017. He was also the Director of the Centre for Planning of the Lagos State University, until his appointment as the Director-General of the National Institute by Mr. President in November 2021, and confirmation by the Senate in January 2022. Among several accomplishments, Professor Omotayo founded the MBA programme in LASU, helping the university to break new grounds in tuition-paying education. This he did against all odds and in direct competition with well-established schools such as the University of Ibadan and the University of Lagos. In 1995, he left for the United States as a Foreign National Scholar to the Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee. He also shared with Murray State University across at the State of Kentucky at the time. Professor Omotayo is an accomplished entrepreneur in the area of technological development. Some of his start-up initiatives include Netlynk Incorporated, a computer consulting firm in Atlanta-Georgia. This was founded after he obtained training and certification in JAVA programing, EPRD, Novel Networking Engineering, and Microsoft Systems Engineering. Next Item Previous Item

Dr Okesoto John Oyebamiji MNITP, RTP. Close Okesoto, J.O. PhD is an alumnus of Yaba College of Technology, a Chartered Town Planner, presently a chief lecturer in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Yaba College of Technology, Yaba- Lagos, Nigeria. Former Deputy Director of the College Centre for Continuous Studies. Dean, School of Environmental Studies of the institution. Had his Masters of Science Degree in Housing Management and Development at the University of Ibadan. He holds a PhD degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Kwazulu- Natal, Durban South Africa. He is a prolific writer, with emphasis on inclusionary housing, land use development and rural planning. He is a seasoned administrator and he is the 15th inaugural lecturer of the institution. Next Item Previous Item

Host Dr. Olumide, A. Oluyinka Honourable Commissioner, MPP&UD . Next Item Previous Item

Ikechukwu Obiaya, Ph.D. Close Ikechukwu Obiaya is affiliated to the School of Media and Communication of the Pan-Atlantic University where he lectures in the areas of advanced communication and writing as well as on the creative industries and is currently the dean. He has first and second degrees in English Language. His Ph.D. thesis was a study of the impact of state intervention, through the NFVCB, on the Nigerian film industry. Obiaya’s research interest lies in the creative industries, and much of his work has been focused on the Nigerian film industries. Among other things, he has published work on the history of the Nigerian film industry; the role of the National Film and Video Censors Board; and a survey of technical workers in the Nigerian film industry. He is also interested in audience analysis and has carried out some studies on the audience of the Nigerian film. He has a varied practical experience of the media having worked at various moments in both a broadcast house and a publishing company. Next Item Previous Item

Tpl. Nathaniel Mamodu Atebije, FNITP Close Tpl. Atebije began his education at C.M.M.L. Primary School, Adumu-Egume and continued to Ochaja Secondary School, graduating in 1973. He studied Urban and Regional Planning at Kaduna Polytechnic, earning several academic awards. He later obtained a Master’s Degree in Environmental Planning and Protection from the University of Abuja in 2007. After national service in 1981, he worked in the private sector with Habitat Associates for fourteen years. He then joined Kaduna Polytechnic as a lecturer and later worked with the Federal Urban Mass Transit Agency. In 2005, he moved to the Department of Development Control of Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, where he earned several awards for his exemplary service such as the best staff in Abuja Metropolitan Management Council and Federal Capital Territory Administration. A Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, Tpl. Atebije has held various leadership roles within the Institute, including Chapter Chairman, National Secretary, National Vice President, and currently, National President since 2022. He has also served his community as the National President of Egume Ome Descendants Union, contributing to community development and youth employment. He now works as a consultant in urban and regional planning, offering services in development planning, urban renewal, environmental impact assessment, and capacity building. Tpl. Atebije is married with four children and enjoys preaching, traveling, music, and reading in his spare time. Next Item Previous Item

Mr. Bashiru Temitayo Oseni-Ope Close Mr. Bashiru Temitayo Oseni-Ope, born on August 31, 1966, is a seasoned Mathematician, Statistician, and Indigenous Historian. He is the current Director of the Lagos Bureau of Statistics (LBS), overseeing General Administration. A native of Lagos Island, Epetedo, Mr. Temitayo attended Jamma-At-Ul Islamiyya Primary School, Ebute Elefun (1973–1978), and Eko Boys’ High School, Mushin, where he completed his O-Levels in June 1983. He later earned his A-Levels from Igbobi College, Yaba, in June 1985. Mr. Temitayo pursued higher education at the University of Lagos, earning a B.Sc. (Honours) in Mathematics/Statistics in October 1990, followed by a Diploma in Management in October 1992. He began his public service career on September 1, 1992, as a Medical Statistical Officer II at the Lagos State Hospitals Management Board (now Health Service Commission). Before this, he was a Part-Time Lecturer at Lagos State University, teaching Pure Mathematics, Statistics, and related subjects. Over his career, Oseni-Ope has served in various key roles, including at the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, the Lagos State Board of Internal Revenue, and the Ministry of Finance. He has been with the Lagos Bureau of Statistics since May 2008, becoming the Bureau’s Head in March 2013. He has attended over 40 professional courses and workshops and served on numerous high-level committees, including the State Medium Term Sector Strategy (MTSS) team and the Lagos Economic Summit Group (LESG) for Ehingbeti in 2012 and 2014. Mr. Temitayo also coordinated landmark initiatives like Lagos State's first-ever computation of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2010. A Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society and the Nigerian Statistical Association, Mr. Oseni-Ope is also involved in several cultural and voluntary organizations. He is a devout Muslim, happily married with children, and enjoys traveling, reading, and table tennis. Next Item Previous Item

Bunmi Alugbin Close Bunmi Alugbin was born in Lagos, holds first and second degrees in Geography from the Universities of Ilorin and Lagos, Nigeria with doctoral degree in view from the University of Lagos, Nigeria. She also has a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the prestigious University of Liverpool, United Kingdom. An alumnus of the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford, United Kingdom. She is a registered Town Planner and joined the service of the Lagos State Government in the year 2000 where she participated in the preparation of several Operative Development Plans, such as the Apapa Model City Plan, Ikeja Model City Plan, Ikoyi-Victoria Island Model City Plan, Ikota Resettlement Housing Plan, Alausa Slum Improvement Area Plan and Olusosun Regeneration Plan. Bunmi has professional expertise that transect various aspects or urban and regional planning such as planning policy, development planning and stakeholder management. This has earned her a place in several committees on planning, planning policies as well as several speaking engagements. She is also a researcher with bias in gender studies, data management and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). She has written, co-authored a few papers and reviewed some papers. She has also participated in several local and international trainings, workshops and planning conferences. She is a recipient of the Emeka Nwogu Award of Excellence as the 2nd best student, 2012 Town Planners Registration Council of Nigeria (TOPREC) Professional Practice Examinations (PPE). She is also a recipient of the Aig Imokhuede GBP 11,000 Scholarship for Public Leadership Programme. She volunteers as a counsellor at the Rehabilitation Centre for Boys, Isheri; Correctional Centre for Girls, Idi Araba and Correctional Centre for Boys, Oregun Lagos State. She is a member of the Prison Fellowship of Nigeria. She is married. She enjoys traveling and this has taken her to about 5 continents of the world. Next Item Previous Item