In July, Thomas facilitated a workshop in Kogi State, Nigeria, as part of a UN-Habitat team. The session brought together planning professionals and city leaders to discuss the municipal plans of Dekina, Kabba, Okene, and Lokoja.
Applying the Three-Pronged Planning Approach
The studio followed UN-Habitat’s three-pronged approach, integrating legal and finance components with spatial planning. It introduced the Rapid Urban Planning method in Nigeria to support local experts and consultants in laying the foundations for their master plans.
The three-day studio provided participants with opportunities to engage in interactive sessions, tackle planning challenges, brainstorm alternatives, and identify potential solutions through collaborative exercises and dialogue.
By the end of the workshop, participants were able to draft initial urban plans—serving as the basis for further analysis and refinement for official adoption.
Background: Rapid Planning Studio & UPCL Training
In 2012, Thomas collaborated with UN-Habitat to develop a new training methodology known as the Rapid Planning Studio, designed to help cities implement practical and feasible urban planning interventions. This approach was successfully piloted in Kisumu, Kenya.
Building on this, since September 2013, UN-Habitat has been delivering training sessions based on the
Urban Planning for City Leaders (UPCL) guide as part of its capacity development initiative. These trainings have been held in cities around the world, consistently showing strong results in post-training evaluations.
Participants gained advanced knowledge and skills in planning tools and approaches aligned with sustainable urban development principles promoted in the guide.
Aim of the Studio in Kogi
The Rapid Integrated Spatial Planning Studio aims to demonstrate the value of urban planning to city leaders in Kogi State. It fosters collaborative dialogue among leaders, policymakers, and planners, focusing on themes such as:
- Public space
- Densification
- Good urban patterns
- Connectivity
The studio also emphasizes the importance of coupling these design principles with a robust legal framework and a viable urban economic strategy.
