DEPARTMENT OF URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNING (URP)
HISTORY OF THE DEPARTMENT
The department of Urban and Regional Planning started in 1981 as a department in Imo State University, Okigwe (first located at Etiti in Mbano and later in Okigwe). With the creation of Abia State in 1991, the University changed its name to Abia State University, Uturu. The department produced its first graduate in 1986. In 1989/90 and 1990/91 academic sessions it got its first accreditation from Nigerian Institute of Town Planners/ Town Planners Registration Council. It was re-accredited by TOPREC in 2006. It produced its first Ph.D candidate in 2007 and has graduated a number of MURP and PhD holders since. Recently, the department introduced the Geographical Information System (GIS) to make its products relevant internationally. It obtained a full accreditation from N.U.C. in 1999 but lost it in 2005. It got full NUC accreditation in 2015.
PHILOSOPHY
The underlying philosophy is the pursuit of excellence and service through urban and regional planning training and scholarly qualifications that equip students for the overall development of Nigerian cities, towns, village and surrounding regions.
Its aim is to strengthen the National economy as well as to sustain the environment. The department has, therefore, decided to broaden its academic base to produce planners that can compatibly handle diverse planning issues and concepts with in depth focus on some specialized areas.
