into THE REGENERATION OF IBADAN

CASE STUDYA GROUP PARTNERS

THE CHALLENGEA wicked problem: how to regenerate a Nigerian city in a state of urban decline and help it become a “beacon of 21st Century excellence”?

Nigerians are an amazingly talented, culturally rich and passionate people. And in common with many other parts of the continent, they face huge challenges: poverty amidst oil riches, widespread corruption, tribal and ethnic intolerance, a lack of strong or even working systems, messing by generations of outsiders… It’s a rich mix that we’ve found in differing proportions in all the work we’ve undertaken to date on this amazing continent.

Ibadan is the capital of Oyo State and has an impressive heritage as the intellectual centre of modern Nigeria, the majority of the country’s elite having been Ibadan educated, and home to both Nigeria’s first university and first TV station. However, since the introduction in 1980s of the devastating Structural Adjustment Programme Ibadan has been a city in decline with a still ongoing migration of many of the city’s middle classes and younger population to Lagos, the booming commercial capital less than 100km away.

Ibadan’s problems are compounded by its being an urban sprawl in a largely rural state. With a total of 11 local governments the much-needed strategic oversight and interdependence are sorely lacking and pressures on the Nigerian Government’s limited revenues means that it is unlikely to fund the necessary investment for regeneration.

Yet there is much to celebrate: a population of intelligence, charm, boldness, inventiveness. And most important of all, a deep commitment to change.

Our challenge is to harness our authentic tradition to renew our city as a beacon of 21st Century excellence.Dr Samuel Odulana Odugabe 1 ”“

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QUESTION

What is our vision, direction and strategic framework for Ibadan? One that embraces the perspectives, encourages the contributions of

residents and indigenes, and creates a place to live, play and raise future generations?”

“

THE EXAM

Group Partners involvement was sought by a group of concerned Ibadan stakeholders led by the Omoluwabi Collective, in particular Ade Adjewali, our host and sponsor who had previous experience of our work and whose vision of and commitment to the regeneration of the city were the primary drivers and inspiration for the initiative.

These individuals were behind Mesiogo ’09, a 30-year civic renewal project fully in keeping with Ibadan courage and originality. Our role was to facilitate a critical stakeholder event that was a first for us in more ways than one!

A word about Mesiogo ‘09

The Mesiogo ’09 project is a conceptual and strategic plan for civic renewal of the City of Ibadan, a 30-year Strategic Framework that visualises what the City can become in the 21st Century. Owned by the people, it sets the strategic direction and priorities for Ibadanland and will provide a foundation for taking development into transformation over the foreseeable future. It also sets a context for an infrastructure plan and for projects that a broad range of social and governmental organisations will deliver over the years. Most importantly, it sets the measures for holding government and governance of all political background objectively accountable, and provides a platform for civic contribution of citizens – establishing a partnership for the progress of Ibadanland.

THE APPROACH

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Advance preparation

We started preparing for the main event months ahead of time using a strong mix of old and new tools and techniques. While they embrace the very latest global insights in delivering transformational change in complex environments, they also have at their heart the age-old traditions of conversation, storytelling and visualisation.

In addition we were able to develop invaluable context and data from a broad survey of 1000+ respondents, of all ages and from all walks of life, and small interactive workshops with key influential indigenes and residents. Some messages in particular came across loud and clear: that the infrastructure was in serious need of improvement; that current laws were being ignored or were simply inappropriate for the country and its culture; that people were forgetting the City’s heritage and traditional culture, the very things that once made Ibadan great, and so losing authenticity.

Drawn from the Wants and Barriers identified in the survey, we came up with a vision for bringing the City into the 21st Century that showed a clear way forward based on Taking Responsibility, Thinking Differently and Believing in a Positive Future.

Sess

ion

Stim

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APPROACH

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An action-packed event

As always, we arrived at the venue well ahead of time to set up and familiarise ourselves with the space – and found to our delight an enormous 120ft wall on which to display the vision we’d brought with us and visualise the frameworks as they evolved during the discussions.

Where we were expecting up to 75 people, over 200 turned up, including three kings and 30 chiefs in full regalia. It was hot, 35 degrees, and diesel-spewing generators powered the air conditioners; there was loud and constant noise from singing, chanting,

And what discussions they were!

praying and of course mobile phones. Yet instead of what might have been chaos, we experienced an insightful day of inspirational guest speakers and hard work and open discussion with the varied stakeholders.

In the ‘normal’ course of events, we’re more likely to be working with a group of between 10 and 20 leaders and senior managers who, while they may or may not be used to working as a team, will have been prepared as to what to expect and primed to restrict calls and emails to break times. It’s testimony to the flexibility of our approach and the effectiveness of Structured Visual ThinkingTM that it’s able not only to cope with but to come through some very different situations with flying colours.

APPROACH

The

Futu

re V

ision

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So the marketplace became part of the framework’s foundations since the ‘Art of Trade’ can be followed in all walks of life – leveraging the people’s inherent wisdom and skill and applying it to the regeneration of their city. Using an everyday transactional model to create a transformational one that can continually evolve and adapt, one that is not so rigid as to require inappropriate structure or process, yet structured enough to introduce a welcomed and necessary level of organisation.

The vision developed during the event crystallised the ambition for the city with something for everyone, whether cautious, practical or ambitious – offering a blueprint for a planned, functionally secure, socially reliable climate and a good, politically stable environment – Ibadan as a beautiful place to work and live through the active participation of everyone with a legitimate interest or stake in the city.

It leverages the experiences and practices from other cultures but is not slave to them. Instead, it considers them from an African perspective, organised around laws and structures that flourish in the region. It will be carried out in ways that combine the wisdom of the elders with the insights of youth.

An ambitious blueprint for the future

In the course of discussions, threedistinct schools of thought made themselves heard:

Conservative, advocating an orthodox, cautious approach

Incrementalist, committed to practical, step-by step change

Transformationalist, ambitious, courageous and committed to changing the current realities.

Their needs and views had to be taken into full account if we were to achieve the required lasting framework. In any case it was clear that different approaches and mindsets would be required at different times and at different stages of the journey.

Marketplaces are a rich part of Nigeria and Ibadan is no different. The city thrives on its markets; at its best these are a place to socialise, to trade and to be seen. Their strength and vitality can be equated to the vitality of the city itself; as one has deteriorated so has the other. We wanted to leverage the ingenuity and tenacity of the market trader in our rejuvenation of the city, overcoming at the same time the obstacles so widely reported by residents and indigenes alike.

There is hope in dreams, imagination, and in the courage of those who wish to make those dreams a reality.

A multifaceted Strategic Framework setting the direction and priorities for Ibadanland and detailing how residents and indigenes see the city and surrounding area as a place to live, work, play and raise generations to come.

This was just the start of the story of Ibadan’s regeneration. Arising out of all the hard work and energy during our time in Ibadan was a Framework that is ultimately about raising the level of quality for the man on the street and for people throughout Ibadanland. Helping people once again think like metropolitans and realising development in heath, education, environment and poverty – the governance of the city – growth and economic opportunities.

Its three strands are critical:

Community – greater unity and collaboration, making personal sacrifices to improve the environment within which people live and work

Prosperity – a growth in opportunities for the region. The ability through improved infrastructure and conditions to attract more interest in the city – people who want to do business with Ibadan, to live in and to visit the city

Citizenship – with improved conditions and a better environment there will be an improved quality of life in the area. And a reduction in poverty through healthcare and education engendering greater opportunity.

Back in London, we worked with the studio team to develop the Framework as a 4DTM visual plan that for the first time in Sub-Saharan Africa captured the vision for a city through its stakeholders in graphic and easily understandable visuals. The model is designed to evolve and adapt while at the same time providing sufficient structure for the necessary level of organisation, a platform for action and highlighting critical areas for attention.

THE OUTCOME

The

Stra

tegi

c Fr

amew

ork

The Metropolitan area of Ibadan started its civic ascendance as part of a

constitutional experiment amongst the Yoruba during the decline of Oyo

Empire. It emerged as a Warrior republic and became the last Empire of

the Yoruba before the colonial period. It evolved into the intellectual capital of the emerging Nigerian state

having the first university, the home to the largest network of research

institutes, secondary schools and the publishing capital of the West African Region. It pioneered the cultural industry especially having the

first television station in Sub Saharan Africa. Since the Structural Adjustment Programme of the 1980s and its devastating effect on the middle classes the city has been in decline,

which has meant losing its younger population to Lagos.

What is the Reason for this Plan?

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Starting the JourneyWe began the creation of this Framework with a survey – one that sought the perspectives of a diverse

group of people – in all walks of life, from young to old, communities and individuals. To them all we sent the same message:“This is part of a powerful chance to shape the destiny of our great city, Ibadan. In this fairly new the footsteps of our founders especially the efforts renew Ibadan as a place to live, work, play and raise

our children and their children proudly.Unlike in times gone by we can no longer depend

on the intelligence of the few, but must instead rely on the wisdom of the multitudes. Your responses to

underpin the framework that was eventually created. Over the next 30 years what must happen to make What specifically would be different about Ibadan

2.

How would you describe your future vision for

3.

4.

What specifically do we need to change today to

What are the biggest barriers and challenges to

6.

What group of people would see the greatest

7.

What positive things are happening at the moment, To achieve your vision for Ibadan what key initiatives

9. do you think need to be created, or existing initiatives supported, to create the lasting change How are you willing to help to make this vision The responses were synthesised into a piece

of stimulus that we took with us to the main event. Apart from it being very important that we included the views and insights of the people that took the time

to respond to us, this feedback provided some early clues and showed a number of patterns of thought.There were a number of themes that came up again and again:

The importance of our legacy and heritage

The need for investment

There were very few responses that didn’t feel strongly

that people and circumstances needed to change. There was less clarity in how to make the changes, or what it would take succeed, but all shared a view that change was necessary and overdue.

It is a love letter to the biggest city in West Africa

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Other outputs followed in the form of:

papers and ideas generated over the two days

daispora people of Ibadan descent.

A regenerated Ibadan will stand as a Beacon of Excellence for the region – one that is comparable with other international cities, attractive, authentic and well organised. A city where everyone takes responsibility for its development and maintenance – a city for the people, by the people.

An Omoluwabi Collective Initiative

Group Partners Ltd109 Farringdon Road, London EC1R 3BW

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