1. Introduction
In the last quarter of the year 2009, the University Administration presented a paper to Council on the need for the establishment of a Physical Planning Unit at the University of Ibadan. This is coming 62 years after the establishment of the University. Council approved (in principle) and thus the Physical Planning Unit (PPU) was born. On-the 23rd of November, 2009, the Pioneer Director was appointed for a three year term. The process of staffing the Unit began in February 2010 with the advertisement, short listing and interview in March 2010 culminating in the appointment of two Planning Officers who resumed on the 1st of June, 2010. The Unit's only vehicle, a Hilux pick up van was delivered on the 24th September,2010.
This report, which is submitted to the Presidential Visitation Team to the University of Ibadan, is to document the activities of the Unit and take a peep into the future.
2. The Physical Environment of the University Between 2006 and 2010
The physical environment is often made up of two components, the natural and the artificial (any change wrought on the natural environment). Most often, the physical environment is very rich, diverse and sometimes uncertain (Agbola, 2006). In interacting with the environment, humans often learn the value of the different objects encountered and their location. In this regard, humans develop an image of the environment based on recurring events and patterns which humans encounter in the course of their interaction with the environment. This is why the environment is nothing more than a composite of behavioural settings (Agbola, 1991).
2.1The Total Size of the University's Physical Environment
The University of Ibadan's physical environment comprises the main campus (currently largely developed) and a contiguous mostly undeveloped land area. The entire University land area is 1,185.04 hectares of which the existing campus area is 670.90hectares. The Ajibode resettlement area is 105.61hectares and the undeveloped extension site 514.14 hectares. This implies that the University has sufficient land to meet its expanding academic and other needs for some years to come.
2.2 Elements of the Physical Environment: The 2006 Scenario
A cursory look at the almost 671 hectare already developed part of the University campus in 2006 showed a mixture of the bad, perhaps a little good and especially the ugly. The elements constituting these could be identified briefly as the: very suffocating approaches to the university (especially the three gates), the decaying and deteriorated physical facilities (roads, the exhumed water and electricity cables), the buildings (almost drab and unsightly until the ongoing repainting), absence of planned neighborhood shops, the non-functional and often disused 'planned' and 'revealed 'sidewalks, the virtual absence of greeneries (except along Oduduwa road), absence of landmark sculptures and staff and students rallying points, and many others we could jointly identify and discuss. I have grouped these into four main areas of concern and these are:
2.2.1 Entrances to the University in 2006
There are three entrances to the University and none of them is befitting to-this citadel of learning. Policy changes, uncontrolled and uncontrollable growth and various other factors continue to assault the dignity of these entrances. The University's three access routes are the main gate and the second gate, both along Oyo road, and, a third access route via the western boundary with the Ibadan Polytechnic. The main gate was a stage post to all categories of vendors, beggars and 419ners. It was a resting place for all categories of vehicles in different stages of depreciation. The second gate is barricaded by a collection of twisted irons placed incongruously on disfigured drums. The third has a gate that could be closed but only insecurely.
For the status of the University, these gates or entrances are not only embarrassing, they may in avertedly even portray us as a collection of carefree and environmentally insensitive institution.
2.2.4 Campus Greeneries
A look at the University in the 1970s showed a well maintained campus with trees, well tamed, lining the roads. Today, those trees are almost gone and those surviving are trimmed out of their beauty with their roots causing road damages.
Perhaps most unforgiving is the lack of appreciation and poor concern for landscaping. Apart from the ceremonial road (Oduduwa) and a few environmentally conscious departments, the campus is bare, uninviting and a shadow of itself. There are unmaintained shrubs, weedy paths around the residential buildings.
Most worrisome is the unceremonious crossing of the lawns by both staff and students. In the days gone bye, staff members serve as role models in environmental matters-not any more. While the 'planned' walkways are small in size compared to the population using them, we have not attended to the 'revealed' walkways, a measure that will prevent further crossing of the lawns.
There are no ornamental gardens where staff and students could appreciate nature, productively reflect and engage the future in a more determined way. Indeed, there are no landmark 'sculptures' (except the University Tower and Trenchard hall), water fountains and other edifices from which we can capture the soul, spirit and history of the University and which the staff and students will relate to.
These then are the environmental situation of the University of Ibadan campus in 2006.It is a pity that there are no photographs depicting the situation, but I am sure this do exist somewhere in the university. Five years after these unwholesome situations, what has changed, how and why?
By 2010, the University of Ibadan campus has pleasant stories to tell and this will be told in five different areas which collectively define our environment. These areas are: the University Gates; Incongruous Activity Areas; Infrastructure Provision; the Greeneries and the Ajibode Extension
3.1 The Gates and Entrances to the University
All the three gates leading to and out of the University of Ibadan today are befitting and well policed. Compared with the 2006 situation, the situation at the main gate is a pleasant site to behold. With a befitting gift of a security tower by the Class of 1952----,the University complemented this with a refurbished sundry selling stalls which then made it illegal for buying and selling along the main arteries in and out of the University. In a bid to make it an offence to park along the exit and entry routes of the University, the University provided a 50-car parking lot each on either side of the main entrance. While the right hand side parking lot on the exit route is heavily patronized, the left hand side is not. Ironically, this is the one that has an elevated level which could be used for sight seeing while you park your car. In all of these, the university has consciously removed the filth, laxity, chaos and confusion that once characterized the main gate of the University.
The other two gates were not left out. The twisted, rusted iron, incongruously placed over dismembered drums that once characterized and served as the second gate along Oyo road have all given way to a well structured iron gate with a befitting guard house with toilet facilities. The third gate aborting lbadan Polytechnic also benefited from this general renovation. For the first time since I got to this University in 1983, the gate has a guard house with toilet facilties. The University's security may now do their work spiritedly without fear of inclemency of the weather or of nature itself when pressed to use the toilet
University of Ibadan 2nd Gate
As if to add value to the rejuvenated gates, the University authorities gave permission for the use of the second gate on Saturdays, thereby easing pressure on the main gate for weekend festivities when the town and the gown meet and interact intensely.
3.2 Uncomfortable and Unwholesome Interrelationships Amongst the Various Activity Areas
Within the context of this subhead in 2006, I noted the incongruous land uses, the absence of neighborhood shops and the absence of or disused sidewalks. It is gratifying today to note that although there is almost nothing that could be done to right the wrongs already perpetrated by these incongruous locations, spirited efforts were made to make the areas look more humane and usable. For example, the entire internal roads within the Law faculty have been paved while the road separating the Social sciences and Law has been widened. The University has not succeeded much yet in the area of designated neighborhood shops although these exist in many places on campus to satisfy students need
One of the problems with which this University has grappled for over 60 years and a factor responsible for the perpetuation of the observed lapses in section two of this paper is the absence of a Physical Planning Unit. A friend once argued that since the University of Ibadan has developed without a Physical Planning Unit for 60 years and we are at this level of sanity,why do we need one now?
A good answer is the environmental mess the University found itself in the late 1980s up till the year 2000 or thereabout. Had we had a Physical Planning Unit, the situation would surely not have degenerated to that pitiful and pitiable level since a virile development control would have been effected.
Nobody seems to know where the colonial master plan is but we are living witnesses to what it contains. We now have an opportunity to put our imprint on our 514.14 hectare land by ourselves and make it more beautiful and functional than the present one. How do we do that?
About eight years ago, the Falase administration (including the present Vice Chancellor who was then the DVC (Adm)) took the bull by the horn and requested that I head the team that would prepare the University Masterplan. The plan was completed and defended before the University Administration and University Council before it was approved. However, the spirit and letter of the plan could not be effected because there was no institutional apparatus on ground to implement same.
It was not until the last quarter of the year 2009 that the University Administration and Council decided to establish the Physical Planning Unit in the Vice Chancellor's office. The offices being used by this Unit have been refurbished while the staff were interviewed on the 22nd of march, 2010. These professional staff resumed work on the 1st of June, 2010.
Progress towards the actualization of University extension popularly called Ajibode is in full gear. Roads are being constructed, the bridge over river Ona is being constructed while the main road arteries from the bookshop to Abadina is making steady progress. Indeed, one of the two arms of the ceremonial road after it bifurcates has been partially tarred..
University Landed Properties at lle-Ogbo, Igboora, Eruwa and Other Places
In addition to the existing 1185.04 ha of land occupied by the University in Ibadan, the University has two parcels of land in lle-Ogbo (2.385ha for hostels and 217.867ha as teaching and research farm) both of which have been re-validated after long years of inactivity. The University also has 45.52ha in lgboora of which only a few hectares have been utilized. There is a 3,000 hectare land at Eruwa for the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine while the university has parcels of land at Aro in Abeokuta just as it has in some other places known to the Registry.
The masterplan for the lgboora and lle-ogbo parcels are being prepared haven just concluded the necessary survey reports needed as inputs for the plan: The perimeter fencing of the Eruwa land is being prepared too.
Revision of the University Masterplan
The final version of the University Masterplan was concluded in 2005. Since then, the University has perfected its strategic plan and its internationalization roadmap. Consequent on these, there have been many serious investors into the University requiring land and many other facilities. While there have been ample provision for future development in the 2005 plan and while master plans are due for revision after ten years, the tempo and quantum of requests have been beyond imagination. Accordingly, there is an urgent need to review the masterplan of the University/to adequately take care of these requests and plan for and with them.
In a bid to have a more accurate land budgeting, I have requested for a topographic survey of the entire 514.4Ajibode land to enable us avoid the mistakes in the initial plan.
Landscaping Environmental Beautification and Development Control of the Campus.
In addition to ensuring that everything is in its rightful place through development control activities, the PPU is also to ensure the beautification of the campus with generous landscaping where needed. Indeed, the greenery of the campus is its most cherished attraction and it is our determination to keep and indeed, increase the greenery. Accordingly, the PPU has identified relevant areas on campus to be landscaped. All we need to do now is to design each of them and cost them, using the UI Ventures as much as practicable.
In addition to ensuring that everything is in its rightful place, the PPU has divided the campus into three with monitoring for developmental control purposes taking place on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Looking into the Future
As the challenges of development increases and as the University community gets to know and appreciate more the functions and relevance of the Unit, it is anticipated that Faculties and |departments and units will relate to it. Presently, there have been requests from faculties and departments for the landscaping and or siting of developmental activities in their respective domains. These are expected to increase significantly in the future.
Accordingly, the Unit will need two additional planning officers-one Senior Planning officer and one Planning Officer in the next few months. In addition, the Unit will need at least one additional vehicle for its operations.
In order to minimize wastage and synergize activities and efforts, the structure of the PPU must be revisited with a view to minimizing wastage And duplication of functions presently being performed by some Council Committees and Boards on campus.
